The limits of EU

[Steph]

Supposing EU can solve its internal problem and reform, so it can theoretically incorporate as many new members as it wishes and still have institutions that work (OK, it's a big if).

What should be the limits, or the conditions to accept new candidates countries?
- They should be the same religion?
- They should be strong economically?
- They should geographically be in Europe?
- They should have a similar culture?
- They should be democracy?

I've included in the poll a few examples of countries, so you could tell in your opinion which one could join EU, and which shouldn't

 

[Stylesjl]

Must be democratic
Must be geographically in the EU
Switzerland
Turkey
Belarus
Ukraine

I think that is acceptable at a minimum

 

[Tenochtitlan]

Must be secular

 

[William GBTW]

Must be Demorocy;
Must be in Europe;
Must be cultrually close.
First of all Quebec is a Province in Canada not a Nation.
I think that Belarus isn't democratic enough; I find Ukraine to be democratic enough, I find Switzerland okay. I find the EU to be very complex; I've been reading that LONG Treary governing the EU. Its confusing with the Commission, Council & Parliament; you always got to get the Parliament's permission & all this.
BTW I would have voted Turkey as well but I didn't see it at first. Turkey is bearly cutrually close & since it qualifies for membership in NATO it should also qualify for membership in the EU.
*
When it comes to the ECU I think a Country should have to have a strong economy.

 

[Steph]

First of all Quebec is a Province in Canada not a Nation... I find the EU to be very complex; I've been reading that LONG Treary governing the EU. Its confusing with the Commission, Council & Parliament; you always got to get the Parliament's permission & all this.

I know for Quebec, but the poll was inspired by the Quebec independance thread..
About the complexity of EU, I agree, that's why I'm speaking of the reform. The question is more "are this country "European" ?", I mean no technical hindrance due to the EU mecanism

 

[Grisu]

well, first off the country should actually want to join the EU

 

[William GBTW]

I think that a Nation must meet the following geographic requirements first:
"A State applying for membership in the Community must lie within the following bounds:
1) West of the Ural Mountains;
2) North of the 40 N Latitude;
3) West of 24 W Longitude;
4) South of the North Pole."
or:
"...
1) South of the North Pole;
2) North of the Mediterranean Sea;
3) West of the Ural Mountains;
4) East of the Atlantic Oceans."

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Geography, but beyond the "borders" of Europe a bit. ... Or it could just change it's name to "Eurasian Dynasty" .
Democracy
Economicaly strong

The culture and the religion have nothing to do with it.

 

[GinandTonic]

Must be secular

So the uk has to leave? We have a state religion.

 

[Truronian]

Anyone in Europe and democratic. If Canada suddenly wants to join then we should rename the EU to something else. Limitting membership to European countries is stupid, but so is keeping the term EU for an extraEutopean alliance IMO.

4) South of the North Pole.

Whats north of the North Pole?

 

[soul_warrior]

democracy.
strong economy.
and culturally close.

states can and should include:
swiss, turks, belaruss, israel and ukrain.

japan, india, russia, etc, (not to forget the us of a) all have thier own trade networks.

i see the world economy going towards a bunch of huge empire like areas (US, E-Asia, EU, Indo-china)
the rest will have to fit somewhere in there.
i have left the mid-east out, as they have nothing except oil.

 

[Grisu]

it must be a democracy, and must have freedoms like freedom of religion, speech, press, etc

what religion the state has (if any) is not important, as long as they guarantee freedom of religion (or from religion )

 

[Steph]

So the uk has to leave? We have a state religion.

You are in ?

 

[Steph]

democracy...
states can and should include:
belaruss

Isn't there a kind of inconsistency here?

 

[William GBTW]

1. SE Asia dosen't have a good economy; its all American or European owned.
2. Isreal?!?!?!A state sponser of terror...berlarus...communism.
3. I think the ME will see the rise of a Great Empire, they are a thirfty determined people; they will rival the West once again in sceince & economical power, after all one World War is all that it takes to change EVERYTHING!

 

[Bill3000]

Must be secular

Even if you ignore the UK, that's bye-bye Greece, Ireland, and Sweden.

 

[William GBTW]

Also let us not forget the following:
"DETERMINED to lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe..."
They EC/EU wasn't made to be an international organisation to suplant the UN or to create a Universal Central Bank; the EC/EU was made "...to promote throughout the Community a harmonious, balanced and sustainable development of economic activities, a high level of employment and of social protection, equality between men and women, sustainable and non-inflationary growth, a high degree of competitiveness and convergence of economic performance, a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment, the raising of the standard of living and quality of life, and economic and social cohesion and solidarity among Member States...". Not to Create a Eurasian Empire; not to include Japan or the US. That is for the IMF & World Bank.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

Democracy + economic advanced + culturally close + geographical in Europe

Switzerland, Ukraine: yes

Belarus: problems: dictatorship, economy; otherwise yes

No because of geography: Turkey, Russia

 

[Hakim]

What does "Could this country be in Europe" mean: today or ever?

 

[Steph]

It means, in several years (10,20 50, or 100).
The question is more "Should EU remains EU, or do you think it could expand beyond?"
Of course, in that case, we would have to rename it. I propose EU (Earth Union ).
If you have answered "must be geographically in Europe", does it mean for you:
- European Union cannot be outside of Europe or it has to be renamed, but if it become an Earth Union then there is no limit
- European Union should remain in Europe because you don't want to join with other countries?

In other word, is it the word "European" that is a limitation, or the concept of Union?