Pesky Constitutions and Referenda causing trouble for the EU again

[Shekwan]

Despite committing themselves to entering the eurozone by 2012 as part of their entry agreement to the EU, it now seems like a referendum will be needed in Poland to adopt the euro.

Spoiler :

Poland may get referendum on euro

Poland has agreed to adopt the euro - but the question is when.

The Polish government says it wants Poland to adopt the euro in 2012, but opposition to the plan - including from the president - may force a referendum.

The pro-EU government of prime minister Donald Tusk approved a roadmap for eurozone entry at a meeting on Tuesday.

But opposition Law and Justice (PiS) leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski and his twin brother, President Lech Kaczynski, favour a referendum on the euro.

Poland committed itself to adopting the euro under its 2004 EU entry terms.

Poland's constitution would have to be amended to enable its currency, the zloty, to be swapped for the euro.

Mr Tusk said eurozone membership would make Poland more secure in the long term.

But PiS opposition in parliament to the plan could force a referendum. The PiS believes switching to the euro could undermine Poland's strong growth and national sovereignty.

"If there is no other possibility and I need the opposition's support on this matter, we may have to decide to organise a referendum," Mr Tusk said, quoted by the AFP news agency.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7695487.stm

This could set a worrying precedent for all the other states that agreed to join the eurozone as part of their entry in 2004. The EU can't continue the way it's going, it seems every few months theres some referendum threatening their plans of centralising power.

 

[kronic]

They are mostly doing the current Eurozone members a favour with this. Go ahead, I say.

More importantly, I hear Denmark is gearing up for another referendum. Any more information about this?

 

[RedRalph]

Kick them out for even suggesting it, ingrateful ingrates

 

[warpus]

I'm gonna miss the zloty

 

[Riffraff]

So where excatley is the problem in having a referedum in Poland?

Will the Euro collapse if the polnish population decide to keep their currency?

 

[h4ppy]

Whine whine whine, besides, I'd be surprised if they voted no.

 

[Arwon]

Some people are missing the joke the Irishmen are making.

 

[Riffraff]

Some people are missing the joke the Irishmen are making.

I think some Irishemen are making some bad comparisons...

 

[Winner]

Despite committing themselves to entering the eurozone by 2012 as part of their entry agreement to the EU, it now seems like a referendum will be needed in Poland to adopt the euro.

Spoiler :

Poland may get referendum on euro

Poland has agreed to adopt the euro - but the question is when.

The Polish government says it wants Poland to adopt the euro in 2012, but opposition to the plan - including from the president - may force a referendum.

The pro-EU government of prime minister Donald Tusk approved a roadmap for eurozone entry at a meeting on Tuesday.

But opposition Law and Justice (PiS) leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski and his twin brother, President Lech Kaczynski, favour a referendum on the euro.

Poland committed itself to adopting the euro under its 2004 EU entry terms.

Poland's constitution would have to be amended to enable its currency, the zloty, to be swapped for the euro.

Mr Tusk said eurozone membership would make Poland more secure in the long term.

But PiS opposition in parliament to the plan could force a referendum. The PiS believes switching to the euro could undermine Poland's strong growth and national sovereignty.

"If there is no other possibility and I need the opposition's support on this matter, we may have to decide to organise a referendum," Mr Tusk said, quoted by the AFP news agency.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7695487.stm

This could set a worrying precedent for all the other states that agreed to join the eurozone as part of their entry in 2004. The EU can't continue the way it's going, it seems every few months theres some referendum threatening their plans of centralising power.

If you think that this will help cover up for your huge screw-up with Lisbon Treaty, you couldn't be more wrong.

No EU treaty says when exactly should the Euro be adopted as a national currency and staying out of Eurozone doesn't hinder the rest of Europe, unlike the Irish extortion and blackmail with Lisbon Treaty.

So, what about this: you first clean up the mess your own country created, and then proceed with criticism of much lesser problems elsewhere in Europe. Deal?

 

[Verbose]

Considering how smaller currencies keep depreciating in relation to the Euro in the current financial Troubles, odds are the Eurozone will see an expansion soon.

 

[Winner]

So where excatley is the problem in having a referedum in Poland?

Will the Euro collapse if the polnish population decide to keep their currency?

BTW, PiS is just bluffing. Like most opposition parties in Central Europe, they have yet to learn how to deal with defeats in general elections.

There is a tradition of zero tolerance for the ruling cabinet in most Central European countries, the opposition rarely hesitates to undermine the ruling coalition by any means necessary.

In Czech rep., the opposition Social Democrats threatened to bring down the cabinet just months before Czech EU presidency and they're undermining the credibility of the country by saying they will cancel the already signed treaties with the US about missile defence. In Slovakia, the opposition threatened to reject the Lisbon Treaty in the parliament, in Poland, PiS President is undermining the liberal Prime Minister, in Hungary, the rightist opposition suports far-right militias.

Despite all the economic, cultural and international succes, Central Europe still has a lot to learn about political culture.

 

[Winner]

Considering how smaller currencies keep depreciating in relation to the Euro in the current financial Troubles, odds are the Eurozone will see an expansion soon.

Maybe, maybe not. Czech Crown is doing good, so far. Even if it went down, most export-oriented companies would throw a party, since they've been cursing the strong crown for years.

BTW, what most of you are missing here is that neither Poland or Hungary are actually able to adopt Euro fast with their deficits and volatile exchange rates. Slovakia will adopt Euro next year, but hadn't they launched the preparations years ago during their economic boom, they wouldn't have get the approval of euro area countries. And even so there were doubts they're ready.

As for the Czech Rep., there is no political will to adopt Euro soon. Our idiot-on-the-throne President is completely against it, the government isn't willing to bind itself with all the regulations and monetary/budgetary restrictions, the population doesn't care and the exporters' lobbying isn't strong enough.

 

[RedRalph]

This is the worst type of non-equatism

 

[Shekwan]

If you think that this will help cover up for your huge screw-up with Lisbon Treaty, you couldn't be more wrong.

No EU treaty says when exactly should the Euro be adopted as a national currency and staying out of Eurozone doesn't hinder the rest of Europe, unlike the Irish extortion and blackmail with Lisbon Treaty.

So, what about this: you first clean up the mess your own country created, and then proceed with criticism of much lesser problems elsewhere in Europe. Deal?

First of all it's not my screw up. Nor is it really a screw up. Nor is it something that I want ''covered up''. The EU were well aware of what it would take to get approval for the Lisbon Treaty here and it failed, simple as that. If they can't face the fact that centralisation of power will be hard to sell to the public then that's not my problem. That said however the rejection of the treaty will be a non issue when it's passed here in the near future when the Irish government decides to have another vote on it like they did with Nice.

I'm not criticising what's happening in Poland either. It just highlights the fact that the EU seems to always have problems with a referendum somewhere at any given time. These votes recently have emphasized the unpopular opinion held by europeans of the EU. However countries that have joined since 2004 probably won't be as negative, but we shall see. These countries only recovered full independence not so long ago and joining the eurozone does give up a lot of economic independence. So I guess what I'm asking is how can the EU continue on the path it's going if its so unpopular with the public at large?

 

[Rashiminos]

So I guess what I'm asking is how can the EU continue on the path it's going if its so unpopular with the public at large?

The "answer" to that is represented in Winner's 'tar.

 

[really]

Accession to the EU involves accepting the acquis communautaire. In 2003 joining the Euro was part of this.

Working towards the criteria for entry is also a commitment made on joining, though there is no fixed date this has to be achieved by.

 

[Rossiya]

If Italy was allowed to join the euro, so should Poland.

 

[Mise]

I really couldn't care less. Forcing Poland to join the Eurozone is just cutting your nose of to spite your face.

 

[Winner]

First of all it's not my screw up. Nor is it really a screw up. Nor is it something that I want ''covered up''. The EU were well aware of what it would take to get approval for the Lisbon Treaty here and it failed, simple as that. If they can't face the fact that centralisation of power will be hard to sell to the public then that's not my problem. That said however the rejection of the treaty will be a non issue when it's passed here in the near future when the Irish government decides to have another vote on it like they did with Nice.

I'm not criticising what's happening in Poland either. It just highlights the fact that the EU seems to always have problems with a referendum somewhere at any given time.

Then you picked a wrong example. Totally wrong example. Poles can't have a referendum about whether or not to adopt Euro, that's aready been decided. An it's not some public move, but a bitter attempt by a loser nationalist party which can't accept defeat from the hands of liberals.

These votes recently have emphasized the unpopular opinion held by europeans of the EU.

No, the votes proved that Europeans are an ignorant bunch who don't know a first thing about the EU and are easily manipulated by anti-EU media.

However countries that have joined since 2004 probably won't be as negative, but we shall see. These countries only recovered full independence not so long ago and joining the eurozone does give up a lot of economic independence. So I guess what I'm asking is how can the EU continue on the path it's going if its so unpopular with the public at large?

Again - ALL THESE COUNTRIES AGREED TO ADOPT EURO WHEN THEY JOINED THE EU. It's part of the accession treaties. And BTW, we had a referendum about this treaty (so your referenophile soul should be satisfied) and 77% percent of those who voted accepted it. In Poland it was (contrary to the popular belief in Western Europe, that Poles are eurosceptics) also 77%, which means that 2/3 of Poles voted for Euro as their national currency.

Another referendum would be pointless.

 

[klazlo]

Despite all the economic, cultural and international succes, Central Europe still has a lot to learn about political culture.

Well said. Unfortunately we are cursed with morons and criminals like Fico, Klaus, the Terrible Twins of Poland or any Hungarian politician of your choice.

The biggest fear about the Euro (at least in Hungary) that it will make everything more expensive. Other than this I don't think most people care or have any ideas what does it mean to be in the Eurozone. They just project their disappointment in the EU onto the Euro.
But we are running toward bankruptcy, so it's not an immediate issue for Hungary...