Thread: Should European Union have all European countries

The European Union currently has 27 member states in it. It was established in 1992. I actually wondering if the European Union should have all the European countries, even though it has all the major European countries in it..

I depends on a lot of things, like if those countries respect human rights. We could also get together with the US well, that's if they would respect human rights.... :whistling:

Originally Posted by Behind Bars

The European Union currently has 27 member states in it. It was established in 1992. I actually wondering if the European Union should have all the European countries, even though it has all the major European countries in it..

Switzerland won't join, they would have to lose their traditionnal neutrality and their very "free" bank laws
The real problem is to define what's Europe. Is Russia in Europe for example?
Are we using this geographical definition, or a cultural one? Then what's the "European culture"?

Originally Posted by Kyryahn

Switzerland won't join, they would have to lose their traditionnal neutrality and their very "free" bank laws
The real problem is to define what's Europe. Is Russia in Europe for example?
Are we using this geographical definition, or a cultural one? Then what's the "European culture"?

I don't see it so much something clutural. I think it's just some romantic idea that started only because of money and has developed to a union.

Originally Posted by Behind Bars

The European Union currently has 27 member states in it. It was established in 1992. I actually wondering if the European Union should have all the European countries, even though it has all the major European countries in it..

Why not countries outside Europe. They already do. Well kinda. Turkey is partly inside europe.

I don't think Norway will be joinging the union anytime soon either. They got too much oil to be bothered by anyone else.

Originally Posted by TenGig

Why not countries outside Europe. They already do. Well kinda. Turkey is partly inside europe.

I don't think Norway will be joinging the union anytime soon either. They got too much oil to be bothered by anyone else.

Sorry, but that is plain wrong. First of all, they do not already have countries outside of Europe as members. Turkey is not a member of the European Union. There is a debate in Europe as to whether they should be, and they have applied. By most estimates, it'll be another ten years before they even comply with the EU's strict human rights guidelines, and even then many Europeans would frown upon the idea of muslims in the Union.

Second of all, the reason Norway is not in the EU has NOTHING to do with oil, but rather fishing and farming. Joining the EU will endager Norway's highly subsidised farmers, and open the coast of Norway to EU fishermen.

As a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), which is kind of a "EU light", Norway already pay through the roof for the privilege of being part of the EU common market. This pricetag is unlikely to skyrocket should Norway join the Union, and as a sovereign nation, no one can lay claim to their oil reserves. The oil argument is therefore false.

As it stands, the EU has 27 members, and not much room for growth. Apart from Norway, Switzerland and possibly Turkey, only minnow nations such as Iceland remain outside the Union. Unless a change of direction is called for by the leaders of Europe, thus opening the EU up for other regions, the EU is unlikely to grow much further.