The New Federalist, webzine of the Young European Federalist

• Pros and Cons: Great Britain in the EU

  13 January 2012  02:48, by Sutton

  wow as a Brit, a young Brit in my twenties I have got to say its great how you all generalise a nation and its people. Bland food, bad weather geez mate cheer up, you live up north right, global warming will have the place baking in no time. We’re a mixed multi cultural pain in the ass nation who don’t want to be in the EU, don’t want to be the US’s plaything and just want to live it up, I love it here. Every government needs reform to some extent every government is corrupt so singling out Britain just sounds like some pro EU bitterness that we don’t generally want to be in. yeah the EU sucks cause its corrupt and panders to France and America push us around but we are a charitable nation who even when we’re poor we donate to other nations who are in crisis. I’m proud to be English and can’t wait for the day when our government decides to put aside the EU and gets some new mates. Wait for it you know it’s coming…common wealth, I know you’re disappointed but I’d like some free movement with Australia and Canada please. I know its not practical but a girl can dream.

• After the European Council, JEF-Europe calls for a shift from the intergovernmental perspective to a federalist EU integration

  23 December 2011  15:07, by ?

  @Charles : JEF is a political organisation, it is therefore definding its views. A pertt of the EU is already working according to federal principles. The present crisis demonstrates the need to move further forward on that road. When you mention “The French” I guess you think of its political elité. Most citizens are aware that we need a European political Union but also that such a Union cannot exist if it is not democratic. Only federalism allows to do both.

  The Britsih government is trying to slow down that progress because of an ideologicalk romantic and passeist stance. Other governements arer usually more realists, hence will make the moves that are needed fot the Union, therefore will g*have to make progress towards federalism.

• After the European Council, JEF-Europe calls for a shift from the intergovernmental perspective to a federalist EU integration

  23 December 2011  10:50, by charles

  JEF can deplore British actions all it likes, but what difference will that make? The French, who believe the EU is their creation and somehow it belongs to them, have no desire for a Federal Europe. The Germans quite rightly no longer feel they have to be the “Good Guys” and don’t want a Federal Europe. Probably only Belgium, mostly dysfunctionally governed for the past few years and their Verhofstadt feel that Federalism is a solution, plus a few delusional individuals here and there.

• Europe vs. USA: Whose Economy Wins?

  7 December 2011  11:27, by Duke

  In response to:
  10 April 2008 13:46, by MCG
  (and ignoring all the other comments, because it’s just too much to respond to)

  “The new IMF stats show Europe starting to trash the USA even when it comes to GDP per capita. [The Netherlands] was 2k behind the USA [and is now] 6K ahead in just a year! Both France and the UK are now projected to overtake the USA (the UK in 09 and France in 2010+) and the former is especially impressive seeing how much hours they spend NOT working compared to the states.”

  Brief updates since then - According to IMF (PPP) GDP Per Capita, the USA is $5887 ahead of the Netherlands, $11081 ahead of the UK, and $12950 ahead of France.

  America, hell yeah.

  Really though, it’s time you realized that even if you think Ohhhh we’re better off than them, if our economy or debt bubble collapses … well, you’re coming down with us. The WORLD will come down with us. Don’t forget it. We’re in this as a species, now, not by national or economics borders.

• The Reluctant Partner

  7 December 2011  00:32, by Niklas

  Thank you very much for this article. It becomes increasingly not understandable for me how this paradox stand can have its conviction. Indeed Britain cannot go back to some romantic world of the 19th century, but has to face the fact that it is depending on the European market. On the one hand Cameron wants to have the crisis solved with a bazooka. On the other he blocks every kind of treaty change, even if this would involve tougher budget rules, which are after all only a benefit for Britain, not to mentioning possible opt-outs. Such a behaviour only fosters a CoreEurope. As the polish foreign minister Sikorki said in his speech in Berlin: “Britain should stop pretending that Brussels is some kind of dictate from bureucrats, but is build upon democratic procedures”. To underline: This was a indeed a Polish man!! and not the voice of somekind of conspiratory new German Nazi, which obviously the British media now draws up. Of course we have to deal with legitimate fears, but this Nazi comparison makes me angry as it is a simply a disregard not only of today but also of the past!

• Simon Hix on Democracy in Europe and a brief Comment

  5 December 2011  01:46, by Simxn

  Niels,

  With regards your categorisation of, “core countries”, could you please explain to me precisely what the difference would be between this and actually comprising, in essence, a provide of one new super-country/state?

  From the noises Merkozy are making; being part of the Eurozone, in the very near future, will in effect be to concede all sovereignty and be amalgamated as ’part’ of a single new nation.

   Simon

• Fighting fascism in the XXI century

  30 November 2011  16:21, by Joe

  If you really care about blunting fascist ideas, you need to get serious and recognize that these fascists aren’t “the far right”. In fact they espouse tradisionally leftist ideas such as economic nativism, employment nationalism and a high level of state social intervention.

• Simon Hix on Democracy in Europe and a brief Comment

  29 November 2011  13:23, by Niels Thue

  A two speed Europe, might be the only solution. But it also has to regain popular support and be based on democratic institutions, or else it will surely fail like the Soviet Union did.

  EU should consist of Core-countries and of Rim-countries, thus creating a federal room and a confederal room in the European house.

  To become a Core-country, you would have to be part of a much more integrated euro-zone with a common economic and financial government. This government should be formed from a majority in the European Parliament, only Core-countries would have elected representatives in this new powerful European Parliament.

  Rim-countries would only have a vote in the EU-Council, but wouldn’t have any seats in the European Parliament. After all, Rim-countries such as Britain and Denmark have opt-outs on critical parts of the EU-project and shouldn’t interfere in the governing of the Core-countries.

  This would add much needed democratic legitimacy to the EU-project and stabilize Europe’s future economic growth.

• Bulgaria and Romania - The winding road to Schengen

  17 November 2011  19:33, by ion

  Surprising enough, most the problems at the Romania boarders are with cigarette or alcohol smuggling. Even people smuggling is relatively low. The Italian, Spanish and Greek boarders have far greater problems.

• Simon Hix on Democracy in Europe and a brief Comment

  10 November 2011 14:34, by Vincent Venus

  Hi Asymeric.
  That was a good idea. I found a more current video of him, so I chose the latter.

  Thank you nevertheless,
  Vincent

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