[Kyle]

We all know Britain is but a shadow of it's former glory and the same can be said for the other Western European former Colonial powers.

China and India could well be the states of the future, Russia has always been a behemoth of a nation and the United States will always look out for their own interests.

Is it time that European Union member states pool together their resources and make a United European military or would it just end up being a poor parody of NATO?

Would it save money if we shared nuclear weapons! technology and man power across the board in Europe and also stop nations like the U.K and France going off and doing their own things in Mali/ Afghanistan etc?

Would the language barrier be too problematic? Or the delegation of power? Would a citizen levy per country be the answer? Do we all actually need to keep our own military's considering the feudal Europe of the past is long since past us?

[lostalex]

The last time someone tried to bring all of Europe together it resulted in the worst war in history.

I think it's better to keep European nations separate. They are more manageable that way.

I think NATO is Europe's best military bet, because when things go wrong you can just blame it on the US. SO you get all of the benefits of a large military with none of the responsibility.

The goal should be to diminish the powers of all individual nations, not develop competing empires.

It's a pointless exercise to try and compete with the US militarily, as they spend as much the 13 highest military spenders combined. We can't compete with the Chinese and Indians in a race to the bottom to pay the least, so creating a super-Europe seems more about 17th century ego than anything else.

Besides, the politics of Europe aren't really compatible as a whole. Why should we force liberal Sweden to have to take on other countries regressive politics?

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by lostalex

The last time someone tried to bring all of Europe together it resulted in the worst war in history.

I think it's better to keep European nations separate. They are more manageable that way.

I think NATO is Europe's best military bet, because when things go wrong you can just blame it on the US. SO you get all of the benefits of a large military with none of the responsibility.

Yeh I definitely don't think the 3rd Reich were attempting to unite Europe democratically.

The method I would have proposed would be a member state opt in for a combined military presence with each country giving a levy dependant on its size. Do away with each little country having a pathetic token military and train a European Peace keeping force.

Hopefully with more nations the chances of going into pathetic conflicts with nations that nobody gives a **** about is diminished and then we can forget about the Russians and Chinese veto'ing everything that suits their agenda.

[MTVN]

Nah I think European countries aims and interests are too divergent for this to happen, presumably to ever deploy a European military you would need unanimous agreement from every nation involved which is unlikely. If we ever do need international military intervention then there is always NATO and the UN

[Nedusa]

No..!! better apart, linked together by virtue of common cultures and religions but still ALL separate nation states NOT this illegal United states of Europe...

VOTE NO in any referendum.........let's get our Country back !!!!!

[Kyle]

I only said united military funding not a single unified constitution.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Simple Minds

I only said united military funding not a single unified constitution.

No its Stinking Corruption.



Funding like that is stolen
at the edges.

[Livia]

Better apart. To have a referendum though would mean people would have to vote Conservative and I know that'd be out of the question for some.

[Me. I Am Salman]

I don't know & I don't care because it doesn't affect me whatsoever.

[Z]

I think it's better to be part of the EU. Europe is now full of nations with marginal influence but when pooled together constitute another world power. The USA, Russia and China are undoubtedly the world leaders and Europe's interests are only protected if they fall in line with what the USA wants. The difference between the USA and Russia is that the US likes to hype up their "special relationships" with all the individual European countries like a married man reassuring all his girlfriends; Russia treats the countries it considers part of its sphere of influence like a circus trainer - if they comply, they are treated well (Belarus), if they don't, they're punished (Ukraine)...

Europe needs to remain a collective unit in order to have some self-sustainability. It's the economic playground for the US, Russia and China and any one nation within the EU and all related inter-European institutions would be a fool to walk away from that network.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Zee

I think it's better to be part of the EU. Europe is now full of nations with marginal influence but when pooled together constitute another world power. The USA, Russia and China are undoubtedly the world leaders and Europe's interests are only protected if they fall in line with what the USA wants. The difference between the USA and Russia is that the US likes to hype up their "special relationships" with all the individual European countries like a married man reassuring all his girlfriends; Russia treats the countries it considers part of its sphere of influence like a circus trainer - if they comply, they are treated well (Belarus), if they don't, they're punished (Ukraine)...

Europe needs to remain a collective unit in order to have some self-sustainability. It's the economic playground for the US, Russia and China and any one nation within the EU and all related inter-European institutions would be a fool to walk away from that network.

This for me. Really well said Zee.

Not sure as to the military aspect of union, however it does have its appeal but I am pretty certain other Countries would not go for that.

As to referenda on Europe, I don't want any anyway,I would vote to stay in no matter what.
I however will never believe with our media that the electorate could get a fairly reported balance as to any plus and minus elements of being in Europe.