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Originally Posted by Exarchus
Yeah it does.
For a part because some countries:
1st: See the USA as an extension of their culture and are reminded the good old times of their empire.
2nd: Are still terrorised by the idea of Soviet tanks rolling on their capitals and support everything from the other side of the atlantic. Including illegal jails were people were imprisoned without charges.
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Originally Posted by Exarchus
There is something great here. It's "stop peddling your prejudices" and puting "France has always been trying to shape Europe in its own image" right next to it.
You know, Britain has never been interested in Europe. It's only goal is to build a "free trade zone", so you can say whatever you want people were cheering in Britain when France (and The Netherlands) turned the constitutional treaty down. Why do you think Blair postponed (until forever?) the referendum? Because he would have lost, and it's more convenient to use France as the boogeyman. But it takes more than that to fool people. Why do you think Britain is so favourable to the Turkish membership. Do you believe any second a political union with a country having the most powerful demographic of the Union and one of the poorest not to mention most of it is in asia will be possible?
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Stop trying to blame Britain. There is nothing to stop France and Germany (and whichever other countries want to join...) from dissolving their nationhood and becoming one. However I see no enthusiasm for that idea in either country. France has recently voted against the EU Constitution and now persues a policy of "economic patriotism" which is totally contrary to the spirit and letter of the EU's single market.
Britain has become a very good European. We have paid more into the EU budget than any other country aside from Germany. We were one of the only countries that opened up full and immediate freedom for citizens from the new EU members to work/settle here in Britain. Britons own more properties in other EU states than the citizens of any other country. We have established the best transport links with the rest of the EU. We do not protect our companies from foreign takeovers - we respect the single market ideal.
And I think it's France's relations with the US that are unhealthy - not Britain's. Britain sees the US as an ally and a fellow democrat. France's combination of ingratitude for American protection, envy of her success and power, and pointless bloody-minded hostility, seems totally counter-productive. Why do the French see hostility to America as a necessary part of being "European"? I have never understood why agreeing with America somehow compromises your independence. Is France really saying that the only independent foreign policy stance is anti-American? That's absurd!!
And I want to bring Turkey into the EU not to destroy it but to save it from economic decline. Europe faces a formidable economic challenge from America and Asia and the best way to meet that challenge is to give our companies, especially our manufacturers, the opportunity to seek the lowest possible costs within our own customs borders. Europe's problem is not its' lack of political integration but its' lack of economic dynamism.