tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post2242667279231678082..comments2023-09-28T12:28:57.598+03:00Comments on Grahnlaw: EU external action: General provisionsRalf Grahn http://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-53930081144910257502009-02-15T23:17:00.000+02:002009-02-15T23:17:00.000+02:00The more I am interested in European issues the mo...The more I am interested in European issues the more I meet a point of view "Let us co-operate but let us not unite, let us preserve the independence of ourselves". You were right: the Europeans live still in the past.citizen of Europehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16351547139010003857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-57291138236471330082009-01-31T13:05:00.000+02:002009-01-31T13:05:00.000+02:00These are gloomy words...These are gloomy words...citizen of Europehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16351547139010003857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-81386710456213894812009-01-30T19:35:00.000+02:002009-01-30T19:35:00.000+02:00Citizen of Europe, The Americans were truly except...Citizen of Europe, <BR/><BR/>The Americans were truly exceptional, while the European leaders and member states seem to live more in the past than in the future.Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-55840154441706816402009-01-30T16:32:00.000+02:002009-01-30T16:32:00.000+02:00"... have often taken decades, if not centuries ....."... have often taken decades, if not centuries ..."<BR/><BR/>The independence of the north American British colonies was declared 1776, the Articles of Confederation proposed 1777, current valid federal constitution adopted 1787. An exception?citizen of Europehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16351547139010003857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-39090947111877532292009-01-29T04:54:00.000+02:002009-01-29T04:54:00.000+02:00Citizen of Europe, Hamilton said it very well in t...Citizen of Europe, <BR/><BR/>Hamilton said it very well in the Federalist Papers, when he explained that the new Union needed means commensurate with the aims. <BR/><BR/>During six decades The French paradox has been to will a powerful Europe (Europe puissance), in the image of France, but without the robust institutions which would make it possible. <BR/><BR/>When I read the Haenel Report of the French Senate (on the problems caused by the non-ratification or delayed ratification of the Lisbon Treaty) I was struck by the jubilant tone of the committee discussion, when they assessed how the EU had moved towards intergovernmentalism thanks to the French Council Presidency. <BR/><BR/>After expansion, with the unanimity rule preventing meaningful change and with the national political elites and their followers set against real power and real democracy for the European Union, it is becoming increasingly like the Holy Alliance of paternalistic autocrats (a brittle alliance, at that). <BR/><BR/>Freeing the serfs or establishing representative democracy have often taken decades, if not centuries, after enlightened people have started to undermine the old order and to propagate a new one. <BR/><BR/>My own views are quite simple. We as citizens of the EU need a effective, democratic and solidary Europe. <BR/><BR/>The challenges are obvious, as are the solutions. <BR/><BR/>But I am also aware of that obblivious powers and cultures in the past have marched into oblivion.Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-24064427250484137222009-01-28T22:03:00.000+02:002009-01-28T22:03:00.000+02:00It is ironical that it has been spoken constantly ...It is ironical that it has been spoken constantly about a deeping of unification, but present intergovernmental substance not seems to be changed. The national governments have the EU firmly in their hands and want not release their power. The father-founders in 50ths of 20th century judged the initial economic organization to be a first step to the European federation, but since then, we have been waiting for more than 50 years for a progress towards the federation but none (almost none?) progress is visible. Will we wait for next 50 years or maybe ad infinitum?citizen of Europehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16351547139010003857noreply@blogger.com