Harry Plopper

There is quite a difference between these two concepts: EU vs USA.
While US is a federation (just like China, Russia & India), EU is still a union of independent national states (some kind of mild confederation). Also EU consists of 27 independent nations, and many other authentic ethnic groups (not to mention a huge amount of legal & illegal immigrants ) - while there is only one nation in USA: American nation (+ many ethnic groups + immigrants).

Imagine EU being a formation like USA, Mexico & Canada would form a union with a single currency, cancel border control within union, have some common governmental bodies, common base legislation, common anthem, common flag etc.

EU is still much more complex & fragile formation. And therefore much more admirable due its latest success. Because till 1945 (and in some parts even later) European countries have been often involved in armed conflicts , and Europe was a very unstable area.

A certain amount of corruption & fraud is always present when state's money is in question, but in very insignificant amount. The laws & controls are very strict, EU judicial system is working, fines are high, so everything is more or less working quite fluently.

To get more info on EU, please visit - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER & search on Wikipedia.

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Choleric

I was thinking more about the USA during the first 50 years or so of its existence, where the states still had a lot of power over the federal government and were more independent.

You have to admit the EU is very similar to when The US first formed, the colonies or states were all pretty much there own nation, with their laws and people living in them unique to each to state. Once they joined they agreed on a federal government, which at first was very weak and had little power and they later even agreed on a universial currency. Also as more territories met certain requirements they could apply to join The united states.

It was not until a few certain presidents and policies did the power shift from the states to the federal government and therefor become more like the United States we know today.

Granted the EU is made up of long established nations and governments, as you pointed out, so its not completely the same, but there are similarities between the EU and the US in its early days.

MikeJ

Not much as far as I know. There's pretty strict control over the EU funds. There's a lot of small stuff though - in Finland cattle is being shipped up north (to areas receiving higher-level agricultural subsidies) to be raised and then back south to be slaughtered...

MikeJ

That is true. What many people do not necessarily know is that the (probably) biggest reason for the forming of the European Coal and Steel Community (which later became the European Economic Community, then the European Community, then the European Union) was to prevent Germany and France from going to war again.

C.Charles

I hope you loose every last cent and become broke and you are forced to live in the gutter.

Alfie

Charles, at least put a smiley in your post to show that you're joking

Too bad Eni, for a second there I thought your were American but as I read the thread I remembered you weren't. Sweden voted on the issue of converting to Euros a few years ago and a few weeks ago some "expert" said that Sweden had lost many billion SEK financialy by not converting back then. So while you get more coins in your pocket you will get a richer country

C.Charles

I was joking?

Harry Plopper

Obviously you haven't read all the posts and seen what was the catch of my "no longer a millionaire" claim.

C.Charles

Nah... us roo landers are way to lazy...

Mirage77

Still, the EU is a far more impressive feat as what Eni has mentioned; Germany, Britain and France fought wars before and now in just a few decades, the EU is a thriving community that represents one of the most cultured and developed areas of the world today.

I'm quite unfamiliar with the formation of the US, thanks for enlightening me.

Curb Zone