Why Germany Wants to Change the EU

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On Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz outlined his vision for what the EU could look like going forward. So in this video, we break down why he makes to reform the Union, what he'd specifically like to change and whether he has a chance of succeeding.
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[@mktosaft4255]

I am a German listening to an Englishman telling me what our chancellor said about the EU with the UK just left.

[@Wazzzup2009]

Didn't ask

[@deehaytch8442]

best open your ears then.....

[@seimen4348]

Me too^^

[@B1_66ER]

Didn't you hear his views on your news?

[@Arcaryon]

@@B1_66ER Of cause but when you discuss in your native language, you obviously do not get the added international perspective from actual people ( aka, these comments ).

[@harmenschouten4370]

As a businessman, i really appreciate the free trade zone. Thats literally an amazing system. Its like selling and shipping within your own country. Its amazing.

[@nostromo2244]

That's what the UK signed up to in the 70s. Unfortunately, the UK public were mislead, specifically that the ultimate goal was creating the United States of Europe. This was far beyond a trade zone.

[@Th3_Gael]

@@nostromo2244 correct, was gonna say the same

[@thomasherrin6798]

Yarp!

[@thegreatdane3627]

as a small business owner, i agree. My company couldn't survive without easy access to customers and suppliers in Europe. I had to replace a british supplier when the UK left the single market.

[@LordCoeCoe]

@@nostromo2244 I think the UK is worse off now...

[@cyb3r1]

"Turkey wishes to join the EU". Right... this has been the realm of science fiction for quite some time now, Australia has a better chance at joining the EU. Turkey wants the EU funds and financial benefits while keeping as far away from European rules and responsibilities as possible.

[@sigh7731]

The Hog Rider is a fast ground troop with medium hit points, low damage, and the ability to jump over enemy Walls. He is unlocked from the Spell Valley (Arena 5). He is a quick building-targeting, melee troop with moderately high hitpoints and damage.

[@williamzk9083]

When Britain applied for EU membership it tried to negotiate Australia's entry as well. It would have been a marriage made in heaven with Australian resources and European technology.

[@williamzk9083]

Turkey has 75% inflation an indicator that it is not a suitable EU candidate. Since their very bad Wiemar Experience Germany's constitution demands a balance budget and a maximum 50% income tax. Thjis has kept Europe stable. Polical stability and peace comes from economic responsbility.

[@jgoncal13]

@@sigh7731 LMAOOOO

[@thomasbohl6924]

Wanting only the funds and nothing else hasn't stopped other countries from becoming members.

[@ShyRaven2161]

As much as I want these changes, I doubt they're going to happen. It seems more realistic to create a second "tier" of the EU that those members can be part of that actually want to cooperate and are willing to give up the veto. And if that works out then maybe the rest will decide at some later point to take that step too.

[@Bobogdan258]

I feel like this will just create another Schengen where a single country can keep other countries from joining out of fearmongering for decades like what the Dutch are doing to Romania and Bulgaria. We already feel like second tier citizens, don't make it a third.

[@sigh7731]

The Hog Rider is a fast ground troop with medium hit points, low damage, and the ability to jump over enemy Walls. He is unlocked from the Spell Valley (Arena 5). He is a quick building-targeting, melee troop with moderately high hitpoints and damage.

[@jan-lukas]

That was how I always imagined it. First some key countries like Germany, France and Benelux will form this new "United States of Europe" (that stays part of the EU) and then others might follow later

[@donttrustyourself]

So you are asking for the sovereignty of these people's nations to be cancelled. Once they enter EU they will have to apply the EU laws without any consensus? The dream of a totalitarian state. Well, it's happening anyway, the E.U is already preparing us for war without our consent.

[@hendrikdependrik1891]

Nope. I still think the veto should be respected. That's not hindering expansion that much. The EU only needs a big crisis to justify enlargement. Just see the war in Ukraine. Albania and Ukraine might get into the EU in the near future and even Turkiye might have sufficiently fixed its reputation to continue the EU's ascension process.

[@masofist]

The reason an EU federal army has not been formed is the presence of NATO

[@FarsightAE]

And because nationalist politicians block any attempt at it.

[@masofist]

@@FarsightAE it's an American institute, a true nationalist, or a true EU FEDERALIST would be against NATO for it's influence on each member country.

[@dontanton7775]

@@masofist The EU is licking US thinktanks boots. The transatlantic organizations are everywhere, and no higher-up politician in the big EU countries who's got a say in something really relevant is not either closely tied to, or largely influenced by one of the many transatlantic networks, dare I say "fraternities".

[@williamzk9083]

@@masofist The reality is that the EU's quality of weapons is so low compared to US weapons any EU common army would be hopeless in most areas.

[@peterfireflylund]

@@williamzk9083 We are working on it: DG DEFIS, Thierry Breton, PESCO.

[@pascalwatteel2095]

And the rest of the eu doesn't care about what sholtz has to say.

[@Elixir9]

i don't care what the french globalist poodle has to say

[@Welgeldiguniekalias]

EU expansion is going slowly, not because we fear Albania's veto, but because we impose lots of very specific demands on aspiring members. While a common defence policy would require a more streamlined decision making process, I don't think foreign policy should be dictated by a majority. This video mentions the relationship between Hungary and Russia, but what about the relationship between Lithuania and China, for example? They could be forced to close their Taiwan office by member states who want to export more goods to the PRC. So let's get the more urgent matter of defence sorted first, and worry about foreign policy later.

[@sigh7731]

The Hog Rider is a fast ground troop with medium hit points, low damage, and the ability to jump over enemy Walls. He is unlocked from the Spell Valley (Arena 5). He is a quick building-targeting, melee troop with moderately high hitpoints and damage.

[@ReekyCheeks]

Nah has to be done at same time. Leaving anything to unanimity is a recipe for chaos imagine when one country isn’t satisfied w something that needs to be done urgently like how Hungary was. By themselves, they can block like 30 other countries. It’s too much power.

[@MichaelTavares]

Perhaps a majority in both the council and the parliament. Giving the parliament more of a say

[@Andre-by4su]

Foreign policy is the 2nd most important aspect of defense. A military is just a tool in diplomacy.

[@rosshilton]

Defence?????? DEFENCE??????? David Cameron, arguing to stay in the EU, said “suggestions of an EU army are fanciful”. Many EU leaders supported him. “We are just a trade agreement” they screamed. Now they want an army. Didn’t Germany have European battalions in 1939? Oh yes, they had 180,000 Ukrainians, 47,000 Spanish, 1,000,000+ Russians, the Ostlegionen was 175,000 of Azerbaijani, Georgian and Armenian volunteers etc Anyone see a pattern here?????

[@eskilsolberg6116]

Great video, thank you.

[@Jesus2030King]

Due to the current system that’s been set up makes it hard for any reforms to be made. The only solution I can see is forming coalitions with member states that agree with the vision of the EU and create a second tiered voting bloc.

[@goodphone156]

Right i agree in full.

[@Anashadk]

Your solution would create competing factions within the EU, weakening it. Just look at all the religious variations that have emerged due to the same point of view, in fact they have much the same message but they fight each other for power. That would be EU´s future with a 2 tier approach.

[@coderentity2079]

That second tiered voting bloc would like to propose rules on the full bloc? Good luck with that. If not then it's just like any other country in the world.

[@Jesus2030King]

@@Anashadk I admit there is no easy solution. We are either stuck with the current system and slowly die over time, or we make major changes. I don’t have all the answers I admit - but a conversation does need to be had.

[@mysticmarble94]

@@Anashadk dude ... we already have factions anyway ... and no way to get rid of semi fascist governments like Hungary. The EU needs to change or it will inevitably die.

[@spritemon98]

This video ending felt more complete and not on a cliffhanger like the majority of their video's have been with ads

[@AB-zl4nh]

The EU isn't complicated. it's basically the French or Switzerland system of government. Head of State/President/Monarch = EU Council Head of Government/Prime Minister = EU Commission President Lower House of Parliament/Congress = EU Parliament Upper House of Parliament/Congress = Council of the EU Supreme Court = EU Court of Justice Central Bank = European Central Bank

[@KhaalixD]

Great video!

[@mathieuleader8601]

fun fact did you know that UK Harold Macmillian and French PM Guy Mollet proposed an Anglo-Franco union in the 50's but it never materialised

[@sigh7731]

The Hog Rider is a fast ground troop with medium hit points, low damage, and the ability to jump over enemy Walls. He is unlocked from the Spell Valley (Arena 5). He is a quick building-targeting, melee troop with moderately high hitpoints and damage.

[@whitezombie10]

It was actually proposed many times after the birth of Germany but the French and the British just had too much hate

[@nostromo2244]

@@whitezombie10 actually, many in the UK government and Parliament supported the idea. It was actually rejected on the French side for fear of losing influence and sovereignty.... oh the irony.

[@mitchjames9350]

The French and British where in charge before the Americans got involved in world politics. I think it’s time for there alliance to restart it self.

[@Kapsb]

Hey Italy is a founding member of the EU too, alongside France and Benelux, and it played a crucial role in the reunification of Germany and the creation of the single currency as well. KZbinrs tend to forget it.

[@whitezombie10]

Yeah but nowadays it it too weak to make a difference and politicians are too busy creating crisis to get elected instead of getting involved in European affairs

[@Invisiblehand123]

Irrelevant at this point in time. What matters is what is happening now and Italy with it's extremely wild politics and corruption is beginning to be a problem.

[@Kapsb]

It's the 3rd economy in Europe, and the 2nd manufacturing power in the continent. Northern Italy is part of the same chain of value of Western Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. And it played a crucial role in the Next generation EU program, and in European vaccination programme during the pandemic. The first country to propose the fuel price cap in Europe and the G7 was Italy, the others came months later. And these are just a couple of facts from the top of my head. Before calling a country "irrelevant" get your facts straight.

[@tombrunila2695]

Italy has created only problems for the EURO! The EURO made it possible for Italy to borrow money on the same interest rate as Germany! And wow have the Italians borrowed money! Today Italy wants other EU countries to pay its debts! Today Italy has a debt of 2766236 MILLION EURO's! That is 2.7 TRILLION.

[@Invisiblehand123]

@@Kapsb But Italy is not competitive. The reality is that the debt level is growing and Italy has been stagnant for over a decade. This is not sustainable.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Well, at least the Germans and French agree on something.

[@berxandre]

Il y a tout de même une différence notable, la question de l'élargissement. Les Allemands ne parlent que de Mitteleuropa et comme l'a souligné le documentaire le chancelier se réjouit du décalage à l'est faisant de l'Allemagne le véritable centre de l'Europe. Or, franchement, quelle serait l'intérêt d'intégrer la Géorgie à l'UE (la patrie de Staline) ? Franchement, à part nous créer des frontières dangereuses et difficiles à défendre, je ne vois pas. En plus on sait aujourd'hui que l'élargissement à l'est fut une erreur. Ces pays ont utilisé les institutions européennes pour bloquer les réformes nécessaires depuis des années. Veut-il soigner le mal par le mal ? Il y a du bon (majorité qualifié etfiscalité) mais il ne faut pas se leurrer sur la volonté hégémonique de l'Allemagne derrière ce projet.

[@seb0rn739]

@@berxandre Eastern Europe isn't "evil".

[@IsomerSoma]

@@berxandre There's a great deal of projection going on in your comment.

[@berxandre]

@@seb0rn739 I did not say that ! And they are not all the same. I often go in Bulgaria and I like it. But as french I can tell u that Poland has a complex of superiority worst than ours (I talk about politics) and Hungary has always been since 200 years a very conservative country.

[@Pascal_Mueller]

@@berxandre France is more hegemonic than Germany tbh. Where are those hegemonic goals of Germany? I only see a self-destructive country that exports too much products. I love France but to say Germany would have goals to a hegemony of Europe is absurd.

[@SurinderSingh-rg2ru]

Very well said

[@Monkey341]

And why should the rest of the EU members listen or follow his vision?

[@anonglakmoonwicha2726]

The real question is why are they wasting time flogging the dead horse that is the EU.

[@cezaryadamski8786]

The EU needs some changes

[@Elixir9]

change in giving separate countries more power to choose or taking away because it's not the same thing the majority of Eu don't want to give more power to some unelected globalist aholes

[@Arthur-lq7ix]

I live in Germany and it's hard to see if Scholz will get the support he needs. Support for him is lukewarm at best, and the coalition government here doesn't agree on everything. They currently are unable to agree on a relief package for the energy/cost of living crisis!

[@dxxxad1431]

Die momentane Regierung ist die unterirdisch Scholz wird 100% wieder abgewählt, da verwette ich alles was ich habe drauf Wenn die Umfragen jetzt schon schlecht sind für spd will ich nicht wissen was in 1-2 Jahren ist Kann der AfD sogar zutrauen das sie mehr Prozente holt als die spd bei den nä wahlen

[@1000fAttemptsLater]

Considering how many things Scholz keeps getting wrong, lets hope he will not be the one who leads Europe into any kind of future.

[@DaDunge]

It's by making mistakes we become better than we were.

[@zlechu1]

@@DaDunge Have you already bought warm pants for the winter? Or maybe you have a Russian "kufajka" instead.

[@DaDunge]

@@zlechu1 I'm Swedish I always had warm clothes.

[@zlechu1]

@@DaDunge Varma kläder och kaffekask så kan man fortsätta lyssna på valdebatten aka kvalificerat skitsnack.

[@DaDunge]

@@zlechu1 Om du inte tycker politikerna ör ett bra jobb så föreslår jag at du går med i ett parti och gör bättre själv.

[@jessicalindo7977]

"Create space in the East" Never thought I'd be hearing that came from a German and it being a positive thing lol

[@boarfaceswinejaw4516]

Until the EU implements a system wherein nations can be kicked out for not following EU laws and agreements, The EU will slowly become little more than an economically focused UN, which is not good. contrary to popular belief, you cannot separate economics and politics.

[@chiaraimpeduglia1308]

Well, I suppose that would be a good start. I mean, why would you ask to enter a Union if you disagree with the rules that exist for all members? If you want to do things your way, stay on your own!

[@Florian0799]

Great idea than we have no hand in intervening in that case before a country goes full authoritarian. Why was the EU so keen to finally push proper sanction possibilities through when that would now be a thing. No it is far better if they stay in and can be brought back to the right course than kick them out into china's and russia's arms...

[@maddog5284]

Eastern and Southern Europe have different ideas of the EU then the core in the north western parts

[@bLd321]

What if EU itself does not follow EU laws?

[@4cps777]

@@bLd321 Then you can just sue the specific organ that didn't follow the EU laws, something which has also happened in the past.

[@michealoflaherty1265]

Energy saving checklist 1) Insulate your attic. Youll feel the payback the night after its installed. Payback in maybe 3-5 years 2) Insulate the walls. Payback 10ish years 3) Check your windows. Maybe have a pro check the seals. 4) Heat controls, timer and thermostats Sorry If you have already done all these but they are all easy wins

[@Natsukashii-Records]

I know a huge energy saver: Stop doing US's dirty work, stop supporting the bloodshed in Ukraine by providing more weapons and fix relations with Russia to get gas 3 times cheaper than US offers instead of trying to force a deal-break because uncle Sam said so and wants a piece of the EU market and uses Ukraine to get it. Do I need to constantly remind people of Nuland and Pyatt's leaked phone call about Ukraine that very specifically and noteably said "Fuck the EU"?

[@olafspetzki]

With the EU it is like with my friends: The smaller the circle the more we have in common, the larger the circle the more different we are. The more people there are and the more different they are the less we can agree upon. The EU has the same problem: We are already to big and therefore to different to function on all levels, e.g. the € does not work. Free movement of labour did a lot of harm to the wages in countries like Germany. I am in favour of a pieceful and prosper Europe. But this blind and agenda-driven expansion course of Scholz is madness. Instead of one institution and an all or nothing membership I favour a number of treaties, so that countries can gradually associate with each other to form a stable and save continent.

[@assertivekarma1909]

The multi tiered approach is best, a larger EU with some basic cultural/policy requirements being necessary, and another tier, maybe multiple federations that have different rights/responsibilities as part of membership. More cooperation is beneficial, but more respect for cultural differences and sovereignty is needed also. Broken immigration/migration system is one of the largest failures.

[@aghileshemdani3144]

@@assertivekarma1909 ...lol hindou speak about Europe and what système IS faillure or not. This funny and ridicules in same Time ..before you Speaking about eu ..trie to respect human right in your country first .... You are not qualified to speak about topic which IS high to your IQ .....

[@natalias50]

Applied on a country level can mean life and death, looking at recent decisions of Germany. As a Polish person who was very much pro-EU until German-Russian Nord Stream I and II gas pipelines which has exposed whole Eastern Europe to Russian aggression, I don’t see that closer ties in EU will be safe for my region. That war in Ukraine would have never happened if the gas infrastructure was kept untouched- Yamal in Poland, Transgas in Ukraine. Ever since Putin went to power, Russian army has been practicing in Kaliningrad oblast attack on Poland and Baltic states. Russians oil companies has been pumping to Poland contaminated oil to damage Polish refineries. Not to mention information war between Russia and Eastern Europe. All those incidents mentioned hundred times on a European forum but Germany still went ahead with Nord Streams. Now Scholz is constantly making excuses not to deliver heavy weaponry to Ukraine.

[@xx-cj6ew]

@@assertivekarma1909 People always talk about sovereignty, but the problem with it is it requires both soft and hard force to ultimately defend, which individual EU states don't have sufficient amounts of vs for example the US or China. A combined EU-like structure with a united military force has a far greater chance of being able to defend the interests of its member nations against outside powers than staying separate ever would.

[@assertivekarma1909]

@@xx-cj6ew I don't disagree in need for shared security pacts and better cooperation, but cultural/national sovereignty needs to respected more than currently. Broken migration system degrades national cohesion and causes people to blame the larger union when it bungles such an overreach.

[@SittingOnEdgeman]

Thoughts on QMV: 36% of population can block a vote. France and Germany together are at about 34% so as long as they act in concert with at least one other state, they can block a vote. Effectively they retain a huge chunk of their veto power so moving to QMV does not disempower them much. Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland collectively represent 66% of the EU population. QMV effectively gives these top 5 nations a collective veto over policy. If you can't get at least one of these larger states to agree, it is numerically impossible to pass a policy. QMV makes membership even more transformative and changes power blocs massively. Turkey for example is far more similar to Poland and Hungary than it is to Germany, but it is the size of Germany. It would be similar for a lot of the balkan states. If all current candidate states were admitted, the Polish bloc would likely have well more than the 35% of population it needed to block votes. It remains to be seen whether smaller states would accept an arrangement that disempowered them so much. There's a reason we established a Senate and a House here in the United States - smaller states were afraid of being made powerless, and big states were afraid of being outvoted by a bunch of empty patches of dirt. Exactly the same dilemma facing the EU today, and QMV doesn't seem to be a great solution to that as it still heavily weights the powers of the large states.

[@plasmacannon1198]

You’re partially right, because there is a min required number of states that need to agree too, so big countries can’t just push through their agenda as they need a lot of support from multiple states, regardless of population. They can still block things, but a lot less than currently and same goes for smaller nations which is useful. I would not want a system like the senate as it’s very gridlocky and not very representative of the population. Remember the US is one country (albeit of many states) while the EU is a collection of independent countries working together. (I come from a smaller country so this would be giving up power but I’m totally for it)

[@megasin1]

maybe it would make sense to rearrange the double majority rates to be more fair. 60% of member agreement with only 55% of population requirement. That way blocking would require 46% of population disagreement, still a minority, but quite capable for negotiation.

[@tobiwan001]

Smaller EU states could block any policy decision too hence QMV is also called "dual majority". It is essentially a system applied by many federations and therefore itself should not be controversial. Additionally, smaller states are overrepresented in the EU parliament. Turkey would have the population of Germany, but it is very very unlikey that they join in the next decades. They were somewhat close for a brief period which was used a scare tactic by the Brexit-campaign, but in the last two decades they have marched strongly towards autocracy. Currently, they would not fulfill any political or economic criteria. I really hope Turkey can shake off the Erdogan years, but at the moment it does not look like that.

[@juliane__]

France, Italy, Spain and Poland are NOT 66% of EU citizens. They are roughly 200 to 210 Mio people out of now 450 Mio. What is near 45% of EUs population.

[@kosa9662]

@@juliane__ He probably forget to add Germany population to this "top 5" in EU

[@michalkuc1719]

The question is why in my opinion it will not work. Because many Central and Eastern European countries felt that Russia could be beaten and Germany wanted Russia to be an important part of the European strategy. Eastern Europe in Tum Polska, the Baltic States will never agree to Berlin and Paris to decide for them about Russia and will never agree to lift any sanctions against Russia.

[@krzysztofgorecki1667]

someone here has a brain

[@ravanpee1325]

The Baltic states have inflation as hell, so they might not have a say. Beggars can't be choosers

[@Natsukashii-Records]

And the rest of EU and Russia doesn't give a fuck if the baltic states won't lift sanctions. In fact, a lot of people are voting for more pro-russian governments, in Italy for example, and next is Greece too. The sentiment of the people is contrary to that of the government and in turn of the rest of EU. You might feel comfortable letting EU being a pawn in US's foreign poltics game against Russia. A lot of people can see through it though.

[@Schwachsinnn]

Hungary is Eastern European if I am remembering correctly. France never wanted to deal with Russian too much anyway only the Germans tried to reconcile with every former enemy of the 20th century hoping to install lasting peace by diplomacy and trade. Well that partially failed. The thing is that Russia is not the matter the EU is split on. It used to be more split, before the war on Ukraine, but now we are mostly united. It’s more about single nations trying to force their way with using their veto rights (best example Hungary) on sometimes unrelated things to get a EU wide change that only their country benefits of (like Turkey in NATO, same problem). This has the potential to even get worse as now some countries have presented this „possibility“.

[@natalias50]

Eastern Europe has been already assign to Russian influence zone. Do you think why Germany built together with Russia, Nord Streams and now Germany is dragging its feet to arm Ukraine?

[@Robert_H.]

I see an EU of different velocities. Here, the current EU would be divided in terms of its structures into the EU 1.0 and the EU 2.0. The EU 1.0 uses a structure similar to the one adopted in the 1990s to keep basic economic and legal decisions of the member states uniform. The protection of external borders with Frontex should also be included in EU 1.0. EU 2.0, on the other hand, is a smaller circle between member states of the EU that want to cooperate more closely with each other, be it in education or defense policy, for example. However, decisions are made here with a 2/3 majority of the member states, so no veto right. I think that all member states would be satisfied with this structure.

[@Arcaryon]

I agree. I think reforming the entire EU as a whole is an overly complicated thing. The so called „Europe of different speeds“ theory therefore proposes this very concept.

[@ireminmon]

Eurocrats keep (silently) repeating that "member states do not get to cherry pick the eu policies". Otherwise you could break eu into large amoumt of smaller treaties, such as customs union, schengen treaty, free movement of goods tteaty, free movement of services treaty etc.... You could have the EU parliament and council same as they are but mp votes only count if their member states participate in those treaties. But the eurocrats hate this option because more or less all the states would go for the Switzerland-like limited integration (by far the best choice) and the 'ever closer union' fantasies would be dead in a couple of years. Euro currency would also probably collapse.

[@sigh7731]

The Hog Rider is a fast ground troop with medium hit points, low damage, and the ability to jump over enemy Walls. He is unlocked from the Spell Valley (Arena 5). He is a quick building-targeting, melee troop with moderately high hitpoints and damage.

[@saldownik]

I doubt 2.0 would want to keep the trade with 1.0 free.

[@j.p.5013]

I also propose multiple EU 2.0

[@dylangtech]

Germany's at it again. This time using the "Continental System" idea from Napoleon.

[@billcipherproductions1789]

Wasn't the Continental System used to embargo the UK during the Napoleonic Wars? But some did not follow, such as the Empire of Russia, causing Napoleon to invade, lose, and start his downfall.

[@maghambor]

Also, wasn’t Prussia on the same side as the UK against Napoleon?

[@walideg5304]

Napoléon again was too much advanced.

[@johnburgh]

Scholz is definitely the man to do it (sarkasm off). Seriously, he is barely even in control of his own gouvernment.

[@tobiwan001]

True, but really who is in control these days. Britain doesn't have a government and is progressing to ever crazier morons, Macron is under fire from the right and left, I barely understand what happens in Italy and the US probably has another coup attempt either at the midterms or in 2024.

[@WiewiurTV]

As a Green/Green voter I strongly deny with these "Ideas", while France is very welcome in Europe this would create a German Oligarchy which sadly Germans cannot understand unless they come from Eastern Europe, nobody wants a "Central" form of Governance in any form, as we had it and it was called "Soviet Union", then to give leadership of the European Army to Germany would be very unpopular in most EU countries, Germany paid about 1% of the GDP to the Military, foreshadowed Ukraine in Military deliveries that even such countries like the Czech Republic, Latvia, Estonia and Greece have donated more to Ukraine than Germany did, nobody wants a Central Europe like Federate States of Europe but a European Coalition, if you look at %, UK left for exactly that reason as they are terrified that EU would become exactly what Scholz is now talking about, and these terms won't be accepted in the Czech Republic (My Homeland), Poland or any eastern European country if I would choose any country to steer EU I would do it on the NATO basis with strong cooperation with such countries like France which are very neutral and non-aggressive while having one of strongest armies in the EU. I am a quarter Czech (Born there), quarter Silesian-Polish descent and Half German (Ethnically German) and I strongly disagree with most policies which Germany does and how it treats some European countries, I am a very leftist-center focused (Green voter), they do not understand the hardship of some post-communist states like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia or Hungary (Honestly Hungary is a lost cause), these countries aren't wealthy enough for Electric Cars, High-speed Trains or even CO2-Neutral alternatives, my Family in the Czech Republic earns about 1100 euros and barely can survive, food costs about 70% of what it costs in Germany and rent in Prague is about 790eur for 2-room flat, we need EU of two speeds where some countries will be helped, so they keep a steady GDP growth and are able to open Nuclear power-plants (That is only viable alternative to these countries), solar and wind-energy cannot substitute fully a normal power grid but rather support it, with Germany forbidding Atomic Power plants near German border this is pulling some countries like Poland to a corner where they cannot use their Natural resources and also cannot substitute it with Nuclear power grids which would reduce CO2, decrease inflation and establish new industry to use nuclear energy which would overall benefit European Union. Overall, I think this is a Dream of Scholz, and he will get a veto from half of Eastern EU, as this is exactly what I do not want from EU, I want free-trade between countries, to have Skoda built in Czech-Republic, ICE-Trains soldered in Poland and then brought to Germany and with other countries same...

[@Shadowguy456234]

As someone living in Switzerland... Good luck!

[@henningbartels6245]

Encom, so, when France makes this proposal then it's fine... interesting. Do you realize that one quarter of Germany is a post-communist state, too?

[@WiewiurTV]

@@henningbartels6245 If you want to compare DDR to the Ukrainian republics or Polish one then you clearly misunderstand how the Socialist republics were handled, a person in Berlin was poor with half a bread but still had bread, person in Ukraine had to giveaway the bread and starve, in Poland you had quarter of that bread and in Moscow nobody produced the bread but had an entire cake. The thing with France has to do that look at decisions which France did in their past and look at WW2 Era Germany and pre-WW2 and their attitude to all of Europe, Otto-Von-Bismarck and the time before it, it was always aggressive and arrogant towards Eastern Europe and it stayed the same way today, German state is very stiff and not flexible at all. I am not German-Phobic as I am myself a citizen of Germany but have a deep issue that the attitude towards Germany HAS NOT improved since WW2 and needs healing, this hyper-integration would only hurt the relationship even further and make the feelings of hate toward eastern-europa or handling them as 2nd class citizens even more hurtful, whereas France always had good attitude towards Eastern Europe and we never had any issues with them, nor pre WW2 and not even in Medieval ages. Best candidate would be probably Holland, Danmark or Great Britain (This mostly) cause of their neutrality towards ALL and very good relations with ALL European states.

[@henningbartels6245]

@@WiewiurTV 1. you are the one who started to compare the GDR to Ukraine: it would be the same as comparing Czechia to Moldovia. 2. Bismarck is almost 125 years dead. 3. It might be that Eastern Europeans admired France ... but in reality the French just don't care a lot about Eastern Europe and the people are foreign to them. 4. yes, Germany is stiff and less flexible, because people are in favour of security and stability - I guess, due to historical experiences.

[@WiewiurTV]

@@henningbartels6245 Your fourth Paragraph made me personally laugh, what was funny is that French don't care about Eastern Europe which is actually a GOOD THING if you do not mind, this is basically the same why we liked Imperial Japan and had an agreement with them from the polish side, exactly cause they did not care about us and didn't make any issues, we are comparing hundreds of years of oppression which do not go away, this is a reason why as example you got wars between people in such regions as India where the History will never be forgotten, we should not live in the past but embrace the past towards a brighter future. Neutrality is actually a thing which makes Leadership very good, it is a reason why France is so beloved, and Luxembourg is a favourite place for paying Taxes even if Ireland can offer similar agreements (9% vs 9.5% taxes negotiated through a broker in case of my company), nobody wants a county which was overall aggressive through the past or extremely friendly, just look at the relation between Poland and Lithuania, you had good relationship and close to becoming one but then everyone agreed and we split ways making today no issues between Lithuanians and the polish, neutrality is a very good thing, but you can look at EU Politics in any way and see that Western Europe wants too big changes while ignoring the hardships of Eastern Europe and tbh. totally going balls with such countries as Greece and they barely making a living, expecting them to be CO2 friendly, this is seen as being blind, exactly as you had ignored the whole paragraph of mine, sadly you will not change your perspective and see only one side, to change the perspective you would need to move far far away from Europe to very distant country in my case it is Japan since 2011 to see two sides of the spectrum. Once I was asked in Japan to describe a German and I told him to imagine a very well polished piece of Steel with polished off rust standing out in a field of aluminium, this is actually a thing which I learned from the Americans while working at Rhein Metal as a Military consultant and Americans also question that the past cannot be forgotten what Germany did, they should be not judged upon it but not disrespect the victims, such as the murdered Germans in my city of Görlitz by the Soviets and then they got a statue in middle of Berlin cause of Socialism still standing to this day, to simplify it for you it means that no matter how much you polish a piece of metal you cannot call it stainless anymore, even if you try to make it the most polished piece of alloy on this planet it will still have a stain which should not be forgotten as it stands out in some places. Also why do you delete your Comments? anyways I said enough to explain it to an Ape so hopefully this is enough, so I will not continue this conversation.

[@krzysztofgorecki1667]

we all know how the will to rule Germany in Europe ended. Poland will never agree to this

[@tummlo1]

PIS is a anti-democratic and anti european party

[@henningbartels6245]

These Polish scarestories from 75 years ago are getting tiresome.

[@The_Bricklayer]

Always the anti german sentiment. I'm pretty tired of the anxiety about germany. We germans are one of the most peaceful persons out their. Let the past be the past.

[@krzysztofgorecki1667]

@@The_Bricklayer Germany has yet to settle accounts with the past. let Germany not pretend to be saints because they are not.

[@The_Bricklayer]

@@krzysztofgorecki1667 like i say, anti german sentiment. The people of the past are gone or will be gone soon. The new germans are not better or worse than the people from poland, france, UK or the united states.

[@mariosathens1]

As a Greek i understand that the EU needs reforms but i am against of the so called "common foreign policy and security without vetos". It is proved many times that the big member states make their decisions according to their Markets and Banks and they don't care for the national interests of small member states. For example, when Erdogan sent drill ships to the waters of Cyprus the EU failed to put sanctions on Turkey for its violation because the German and Spanish Banks are heavily exposed to the Turkish Market. So, i am against of such common policies without veto because we know what will happen in the future. As for the common EU Army i am in favor.. It is a MUST.

[@attilakovacs2231]

Yeah! Don't worry! The dream of these dumb servants of the Evilness about their bolshevic dictatorship will never happen.

[@mehmetkaytan3246]

Say hello to your new swimming teacher already, cacıki.

[@jackholler3572]

It is because that waters are not Greek or Greek Cypriot waters. It is a ridiculous claim by greece that cant be explained to world by EU.

[@Natsukashii-Records]

@@jackholler3572 Who knew the waters around greek and cypriot islands are not greek, guess our islands are in Turkey, maybe we should just hand them over too since they are not on greek waters. Fucking mental. This is why EU will never federalize. If you make such claims for every country the only thing they are giving you is the finger.

[@tedesims1724]

The issues raised are like those of the Sovreign American States of 1787 and their Articles of Confederation. Surrender of some Sovereignty (locally "States Rights") was in part motivated by fear of European adventure and the difficulty collecting revenue for National purposes. Sound Familiar?

[@SadisNic]

Does the US senate and electoral college sound familiar? You're making the argument for direct democracy protecting the rights of the majority against representative democracy protecting the rights of individuals. Italy, France, Spain, and Germany hold the absolute majority of the population and the GDP of the EU. France and Germany are already aligned politically for the most part and Italy is likely going to have a Nationalist Coalition in charge of the government. So you would have what amounts to four countries forcing economic, military, and social policy onto the other 23 member states. This is the reason in the US we have the electoral college (or a candidate could secure the Presidency only campaigning in maybe 10 states) and the senate (or the Pacific Northwest and Midwest would have nearly zero representation).

[@zambani]

@@SadisNicYou could have a system weighted votes based on states. Still no need for Electoral Collage.

[@maghambor]

Also, there was slavery.

[@ritarossi1805]

L"Unione Europea è composta da Nazioni Con radici secolari e identità nazionali ( anche se dal 1945 vive in regime di Libertà Condizionata dall'America).....mentre gli USA sono un agglomerato dei discendenti dei colonizzatori da insediamento ( genocidio nativi😭) che continuano a trattare il resto del mondo come se fossero gli sceriffi giustizieri del Far west.. l'America è sempre lontana e noi siamo i morti per procura...no MORE Bloody Dollars..

[@smoothjazz2143]

@@SadisNic The US already has governors whose full job is to represent their state. The president should represent all population, not 5-10 "swing" states.

[@chrisendrey5481]

Unfortunately, the interests of each state are far too diffuse for an idea like this to succeed Imagine if Germany was forced to boycott Russian gas in February or if Austria was forced to abandon its neutrality. Domestic populations would likely vote to leave the EU.

[@huzarion3814]

I agree with you , I am Pole and i have voted in 2003 for Poland joing EU , but now 2022 is not the same EU I voted for , I wanted union of coutries that trade and travel thrue Europe withou issue ... but now i hear that some Belgian bustard want to tell Poles how they should live in they own coutry ... and he dont even speak Polish and understand Poles , that is messed up , I am 100% against to turning European Union to United states of Europe , that could work in North America where majority of states was represented by migrants from Great Britain and they used same language had same enemy ... "England" and same goal ... Independence ... I dont want EU to disolve , I just want that EU stay European Union with INDEPENDENT states as members .

[@EdgelordOfEdginess]

@@huzarion3814 it was clear what you signed up for in the 2000's. Pretenting you didn't know the goal of the EU is quite pathetic.

[@huzarion3814]

@@EdgelordOfEdginess Pathetic is to subscribe Playstation ... but more pathetic is what you are writing , because if you wasn't clueless , you would know that in 2003 there was NO smarphones , internet was just in internet cafe so acces to information was only from TV ... You would know that but I bet in 2003 you was in dipers ... I was at that time in military so I had limited access to information because we where training for 2nd Iraq tour , but we discussed whole "issue" , and there where no mention about creating Europen super state ... dont spread bullshit , because even Germany now dont have any clear plan. 🤣🤣🤣

[@JohnWellingtonWells]

​@@huzarion3814 The way I see it, since the EU contributors invests an ungodly amount of money into Poland, they should have some say in how you spend it, like any other investment. Of course you are free to not take any money, but you can't have your cake and eat it too.

[@huzarion3814]

@@JohnWellingtonWells Do you relize what kind of bullshit you are saying ? "investing" ? , May 2004 - September 2020 Poland payed to EU budget 60.905.966.657€ and recived 188.845.090.936€ so Poland got around 128B€ 2004-2020 ... meanwile every year Poland loose about 84B€on average (period 2004-2021) in taxes ... because forigen companies that are active inside EU chose where and how they pay specific taxes , and there where study and if Poland leave EU , Poland would exit EU tax zone , and because many investment in Poland are long term investment , would be worth for companies from outside Poland to keep production in Poland ... experts says that 35% out of those 84B€ would be gone but 54.6B€ would stayed = 2004-2020 = 873B€ - 188B€ = 685B€ ... face it Germany need more Poland that Poland Germany , because after all location , location , location that matter , and Polish location in past was curse , but in 21 century is blessing ... so buddy STFU Poles know how much they are worth, that is why Germany do everything to get deal with Poland.

[@markdanielmagyar7925]

So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause . . .

[@mikel9138]

Lmao I wish

[@drscopeify]

@@mikel9138 Well if you like the way Russia acts then you do wish for it but be careful because Russia will use force to always get their way so if you disagree on ANYTHING you get in to trouble. Is that the world you want to live in? I don't

[@mikel9138]

@@drscopeify you live in that world already, you just refuse to see it, buddy.

[@drscopeify]

@@mikel9138 Not true at all, you can have a conspiracy in your head but that does not mean its true, you are just telling a lie to yourself. Don't lie to yourself its not good for your health.

[@mitchjames9350]

Liberty died when the EU destroyed a nations sovereignty.

[@uplink-on-yt]

The EU would have to start functioning more like a federation, and citizens would have to start feeling more European than members of their own nation, before these changes gain any traction. Right now each country still functions like its own national unit, and is very reluctant to switch that view. Everyone is still too afraid of yet another empire that forces its will upon them - which would just lead to further "independence movements". Before unanimity is replaced, there's a lot of work to be done on the topic of convergence, to the point where one nation wouldn't feel dictated to on the basis of their differences.

[@assertivekarma1909]

The rules, rights: responsibilities of States within the federation can be formulated in many ways, a better balance of incentives for cooperation with allies AND more sovereign respect for cultural differences is possible.

[@assertivekarma1909]

@@kreight_ Large reforms are needed within our lifetimes, that aid in necessary and beneficial cooperation, while respecting cultural sovereignty. Citizenship will always be a difficult dimension, but the current system is seriously flawed.

[@ISAACcookie]

let's hope that never happens. the bigger the goverment the less influence individuals can have on it and the les it represents them. this is part of why people are so EU skeptic and why countries like switzerland want to stay out of it as much as possible. they want to define their own laws and policies, not have it imposed on them by some beurocrat in another country whom they never voted on

[@marcodiepold8620]

Europeans don't have to become the same in order to form a federation! That's a big misconception, countries like Switzerland, Canada or India also have different cultures in different parts of the country and can still work together. And you will always have the problem of people feeling their laws are dictated by other parts of the country. We can see that with the UK and France which feel dominated by their capitals, rivalries between states in Germany or ethnic groups in Balkan countries. However that doesn't stop them from forming countries

[@d0rian87]

On the contrary, I think that in order to function properly, EU should not forget/ignore that there are 27 sovereign nations. Trying to federalize is essentially an attempt to shut down nationalist feelings, which are real whether we like it or not. Let us not put the equal sign between "nationalism" and "fascism", "racism", etc. That would be a start. Going too left was never a good idea and it seems we are doing it again ( this time as a continent)

[@mohameabubacarrkamara441]

Superb

[@paulleigh7792]

The EU is a bureaucratic nightmare that will never work.

[@csibesz07]

Let's say some parts not work. Some do work or could work if done better.

[@Crosmando]

Are you some Ukipper or something?

[@paulleigh7792]

@@csibesz07 Pointless trying to polish a turd!

[@zyanego3170]

It worked for decades.

[@moniquehenry4041]

A single market which is a success is nothing ? 70 years of peace isn't something that is worth taking into account ? Freedom of movement of people to travel, settel, study, work or retire isn't a wonderful thing ? On the world stage, the EU isn't a major bloc comparable to the USA or China ?

[@damian4926]

Someone in this video apparently forgot that just like Hungary, Germany (Scholz) were supporting Russia in the first days of war. He felt persuaded to change mind only AFTER Germans were against supporting Russia and the reaction of the rest of Europe. If we would give him more power (yes that's what his proposal is about) he could just veto attempts of the rest of EU to help Ukraine. If that would happen, Ukraine would be probably partitioned by now. Terrible idea leading to the fall of EU just as any other Scholz proposal.

[@illusionlife9962]

I firmly disagree. I agree in the sense that Scholz was far too slow to act when the war began, but his intentions definitely aren't to stop aiding Ukraine. He isn't pro-Russia, at the very least not anymore. In fact, the proposal would favour a common European interest while giving less power to those acting selfishly, pro-Russia, and against the common interest.

[@illusionlife9962]

Additionally, Germany was never supporting Russia in the war, they were just slow to start sanctioning them, too non-partisan and slow to implement alternatives to their dependence on Russia's gas etc.

[@derenkov]

@@illusionlife9962 he is just a puppet and cant actually do anything (you can see him going to canada 3 times to ask for gas and get rejected 3 times, so he took a bunch of pictures with nordstream 2 turbines and posted that he is trying to fix the problem), you can clearly see he has no clue where germany is heading, even if he wants the best , thats why these morons are chosen tp become scategoats (total deindustrialisation and total collapse of germany) its the main objective of Baerbock and ursula von crazy , because its funded by WEF

[@damian4926]

@@illusionlife9962 Sorry pal but apparently you have slept through last 30 years. German official strategy in the east of Europe is to: - Control central Europe with help of Russia through giving them technology for resources (nord streams were part of this) - Use Russia to get rid of americans so they can be stronger in Europe - Boost their competitiveness on market with russian resources This is why Germany was always ok with Russia being not democratic, killing journalists, poisoning Navalny, invading countries, killing EU citizens (shooting down the plane) and many more. The reason why Scholz was so slow was because he thought that Russia will take Ukraine in 3 days and germany will continue the partnership with russia. He changed his mind ONLY when he felt persuaded by the public and this happened because Ukraine got aid from Americans and Central European countries. IF he could veto the help of central European countries to Ukraine, Ukraine would surely fell and would be partitioned into several states. That's what would happen if his proposal would become reality. This would mean that he sold the security of EU countries for good ties with russia, this would break the EU apart.

[@illusionlife9962]

@@damian4926 Some of these things have truth to them, but the exclusivity with which you're trying to explain everything with them is borderline crazy.

[@AB-zl4nh]

The EU isn't complicated. it's basically the French or Switzerland system of government. Head of State/President/Monarch = EU Council Head of Government/Prime Minister = EU Commission President Lower House of Parliament/Congress = EU Parliament Upper House of Parliament/Congress = Council of the EU Supreme Court = EU Court of Justice Central Bank = European Central Bank

[@prsimoibn2710]

the only constant here is the Central Bank 🏦

[@AB-zl4nh]

@@prsimoibn2710 What are you talking about?

[@Zirror]

That's a massive simplification. Parliament has way less power for instance than the national parliaments do (for example, they can not propose their own laws, which is a huge deal). All laws are proposed by the (unelected) EU Commision.

[@mateobravo9212]

@@Zirror Agreed, the structures are one thing, their accountability and function, most definitely another!

[@octavianpopescu4776]

It's actually more complicated than that. I'll give you an example: the EU Parliament doesn't have the right to initiate legislation, which is something a normal parliament can do. It should be that simple in my opinion, but unfortunately the egos of different countries led to all sorts of institutional compromises which mean the European Parliament and other institutions aren't exactly the same as their national equivalents.

[@SittingOnEdgeman]

For me there's a difference in foreign policy between sanctions, committing troops on the ground, or being ordered to make decisions about national defense. The latter two should continue to require unanimity. The first in that list - sanctions - does make more sense as part of the EU Common Market and it would make sense to swap just that to QMV. But "foreign policy" is a very broad topic and I don't think you can class it all in the same bucket. Or at minimum shouldn't.

[@benjaminlamey3591]

Guys, you should have a proper look at what scholz said about the european defense. or more about what he didn´t say. His view of it is totally different from the french view. it is even diverging more from the french position than what it was when germany just ignored geopolitics ... There is a clear opposition between france looking for autonomy (also from the US) and germany that wants to get a industrial leadership under the control of the americans

[@duhni4551]

Germany really don't want USA to be on control of the EU's industry. For one, EU exports 3 times more in value than China, Germany being 3'd largest exporter in value in the world what comes to individual countries. Also he proposes EU to become Federation in all reality, on top of him wanting to dismantle NATO from EU, as that is what happens if EU army becomes reality. On top of this it would mean that all European military industry would be European, nothing would be bought from USA and guess who would be there to benefit from it the most? You people have been parroting this USA thing so long that you really don't bother to even look at the very basic things that shows in reality how wrong that assumption is. EU made official decision back in 2008 that it starts to separate from USA, this was due to our foreign policies being so different that our interests doesn't meet almost at all.

[@lulo08]

The Circus that is the EU continues

[@Praecantetia]

Oh no

[@2011Matz]

This video was not "bought" to us, it was "brought" to us.

[@Tjalve70]

Unanimity doesn't work unless everybody are generally moving in the same direction. Both NATO and EU should AT LEAST change the unanimity to a 90% majority. Even that is too high, but at least it means that you need 3 members to disagree before they can stop something.

[@eliahabib5111]

Unanumity requirement is a statment that authority was NOT delegated by the country. Any percentage or qualified magiority means that countries have delaged their autority in the area under discussion. NATO require unanimity on new member BECAUSE new members can be used to dilute opposition (and to force resolution of conflict by making the all parts members). Example of not unanimity requirement that was pretty tight is the European constitution (didn't pass). Shultz is threading dangerous waters and he is wrong what would be accieved. Any requirement for qualified magiority can be manipulated by a minority opposition. Changing the rule, if they go forward, will not gain what Shultz think but will alienate all the smaller members

[@theabaddon7457]

Unanimity is the glue, that holds together the EU. An EU without unanimity is an Empire, not a community of nations. You could literally order nations, to give up their interests, for the sake of bigger countries and the decision makers would not experience any backlash. A simple example of this would be the oil embargo: Hungary, Czechia and Slovakia would be f*cked in the ass, without russian oil, with their economies quickly crumbling and poverty rates would skyrocket, yet the EU decision makers would not experience any backlash, as their voting base rests on rich western european countries. Thankfully, without even mentioning these 3 countries, around 10 other countries have spoken out against majority voting.

[@coandageorge1488]

@@theabaddon7457 It's sad that people think so small in the curent environment of the 2 super power China and USA end 1 emerged super power India do you think for a second that one contry in Europe can't face up to the global competition the day of national state are fast approaching the ended of their life if we don't get our stuff right we will be demolished by this hegemonic power end we will be absorbed by Then exemplu Russian so by this the emerged of super state its the only way to protect our way of life .

[@theabaddon7457]

@@coandageorge1488 There is no problem with the concept of an European super-state, however if the whole scheme is built upon larger countries exploiting smaller countries and we add the lack of workforce mobility, due to the language barriers, then we will get a situation, where the smaller countries are essentially tributary states of big countries. You want a super-state? Sure. Then make the big countries give up their extra benefits. Limit the voting power of big countries to max 5% of people and change the current economic cooperation model, from "market domination" to "local business growth". Imagine how enthuastic the big countries will be to the these terms! Come unite with us! See? This is a 2 way road mate. Its not like the big countries like Germany and France don't have a way to quickly unite the EU, its just they don't want to give up their benefits, just like the small countries don't want to submit to them, bc they don't trust, that these big countries will look out for their interests.

[@coandageorge1488]

@@theabaddon7457 the language barrier for the work force is not big a impediments for the work force people will always migrate where there is good jobs end that it's happening already at a big scale in many places of Europe . One the other hand I feel that the fears of giving up control of your own external and internal policy it's just came from the fear of national state which the root on the reason of forming from small regions with the same ethnic majority from the thread threatens of constant war now more than often the political elite use that argument to safe guard there privileges ex Victor Orban that's way I think the solution to this would be for the electoral constituencies to be divided not on national borders but on borders that would include different areas from different states in such a way as to maintain a political balance by the voters in such a way that the politician is not loyal to the national state and is implicitly loyal to the EU and European citizens.

[@Davdit]

Why would independent countries agree to less autonomy?

[@Ohhiohh]

Ask the Germans they love to take control over their neighbours

[@fra604]

Because it makes sense. Why do you think countries joined the EU, if it means less autonomy?

[@Ohhiohh]

@@fra604 stop the cap

[@Davdit]

@@fra604 Most countries joined because of money

[@moustaphadiallo600]

Could you do a video explaining how the Euro currency works and who gets to choose how much of it is created and where it goes?

[@mecho68]

Because, any system after a certain amount of time, either change in something else or die.

[@MaxpunchIDK]

Funny hearing the polish president talking about institutional reforms.

[@jirislavicek9954]

What exactly is funny about that?

[@dontanton7775]

@@jirislavicek9954 Without knowing what he pointed at, it is pretty obvious from his test that he thinks poland's institutions need a reform themselves and that is why he finds it funny.

[@williamzk9083]

@@jirislavicek9954 Because Poland is about to wreck the EU and wreck its own economy. After Poland's 1.3 trillion compensation claim I think that in 5-7 years Putin will be gone and relations between Russia and Germany will be better than with Poland and Germany. No point me telling you. You won't listen.

[@jirislavicek9954]

@@williamzk9083 I don't know what compensations are you talking about. EU is wrecking its own economy by undermining its energy security, uncontrolled printing of money (quantitative easing), "rescue" packages for Greece, uncontrolled immigration from Africa, too generous social system motivating people to become lazy and idle, attacks on middle class, neo-marxism, bureaucracy. Germany and Russia always were the biggest, existential threat to Eastern European countries. And cooperation of the two is like a nightmare. It's also a great threat to United States, that's where our interests align, the US is our greatest ally. For Eastern Europe is crucial to be a part of NATO (US lead) and to be as economicly diversified as possible and militarily strong. Polish leadership understand this and acts and they have my admiration. EU in the current form is only a neocolonial tool for the Germans that enables them to exploit its neighbours. Although Germany is the biggest trade partner for us in the Czech Republic or Poland, our strategic interests align with Great Britain, the US, Baltics, Scandinavia, Ukraine, Romania. I sincerely hope that after the war Ukraine will replace Russia as gas supplier to the EU, giving them and Poland more leverage. Russian sanctions will stay in place even after Putin is gone (and even bigger fanatic comes in his place). We can never allow German lead European army, as it would be one day used against us.

[@williamzk9083]

@@jirislavicek9954 This is the point. To many parasite nations and too many countries pulling in different directions. Poland is one of them now and looks like it is developing a culture of entitlement and resentment into perpetutity that will increase EU instabillity. The freedom and justic party is Putins friend.

[@ipz-DonIgnacio]

European perception about Germany is swiftly deteriorating.

[@duhni4551]

Funny enough, at least here in Finland press is writing that German government is infested with Russian spys, according evidence too, it is not a joke or propaganda. Also according to our press, Schulz might actually end up in jail very soon =D So yeah, maybe EU members shouldn't pay attention to what Germany says as it seems it is Russia who is behind the words that comes out of that country.

[@goontheracoon]

Boy did that turn out well the last time around.

[@b3x]

Hope you guys can work together with cohesion and participation of your people. Peace

[@natalias50]

😂

[@AA-wd2or]

He will destroy Germany first and then all EU

[@anonglakmoonwicha2726]

If he manages to make an end of the Evil Union I shall always remember him fondly.

[@AA-wd2or]

@@anonglakmoonwicha2726 and take as out of NATO.

[@user-ci7vu7eo9w]

@@anonglakmoonwicha2726 true

[@horror11]

u mean "soviet union 2.0"

[@anonglakmoonwicha2726]

Now you're getting it! The EUSSR

[@travelingbard1]

That QMV system sounds pretty nice

[@Faucies]

Thank you for your very clear though articulate insights. Thank you for the service you render.

[@AB-zl4nh]

The EU isn't complicated. it's basically the French or Switzerland system of government. Head of State/President/Monarch = EU Council Head of Government/Prime Minister = EU Commission President Lower House of Parliament/Congress = EU Parliament Upper House of Parliament/Congress = Council of the EU Supreme Court = EU Court of Justice Central Bank = European Central Bank

[@piotr7427]

How went their last plan with making Europe relaying on russian gas?

[@Maynard0504]

a unified europe is and always will be a politically and geographically challenging task. no one in history has succeeded. the closest we ever got to it was ancient Rome, and that was a mediterranean empire that expanded into western europe and a little bit into central europe. I don't see a kind of "United States of Europe" emerging any time soon.

[@mikel9138]

The only way for Europe to unite is by war, like how the Romans did it

[@firdaus99031]

But, nowadays, u kinda have to tho', in order to compete with chinese and us hegemony

[@NAYRUthunder99]

There were two successful unifications of Europe in the not-so-distant past: one by French endeavour, the other by German might. And both fell by the hands of forces external to, and enemies with, Europe herself.

[@billcipherproductions1789]

There will never be the USE but a an economic non-aggression defence pact is good enough.

[@billcipherproductions1789]

@@firdaus99031 Not that easy. The Holy Roman Empire showed.

[@hollo500]

what a nightmare

[@mukkaar]

What I do think is crucial is more integrated defense. Maybe even straight up EU army so that significant force could be used at any time. I still think EU countries should have their own military, there just needs to be wide scale cooperative investments on military tech, closer integration, and some type of defense strategy that actually shields whole EU. Overall, maybe all countries would invest something like 1/4 of their military budget (or some specific amount based on economy) into EU army, EU army could then invest in more expensive military technologies, which in turn could be also used by local forces and maybe even nukes could be handed to EU army to handle so these could be places in appropriate places around EU. Overall, individually EU countries can't muster up as much resources as countries like US or China when it comes to defense and military technology. So I think this is really the only option. It would also probably calm down some unruly neighbors.

[@Plajerity]

Let's say Russia will attack 2 EU countries at once, and Russia will have an advantage. The most logical thing is to sacrifice some land. So, which country do we sacrifice first? Or maybe EU will be totally unprepared for war, and there will be a decision to defend only from Germany's borders, and local Polish, Czech, Lithuanian troops will be sacrificed to buy time. EU army sounds nice if we're much stronger than enemy. But personally I'd focus on cooperation within NATO.

[@mukkaar]

@@Plajerity Why not both? More integrated EU forces and NATO are goals in the same direction. And point of EU army and more co-operative military spending is to be more ready.

[@Plajerity]

@@mukkaar Within NATO if one country is attacked, all their forces are protecting them. Many civilians join, they want to defend. In case of EU army, 1/4th might be moved to another country. This is bad for attacked country. Even if all decisions with EU army will be taken perfectly, people's will to defend, their morale might be lower. Moreover, many countries are skeptical about united forces. Who would command them? If there will be some revolution in one country, how can people there be sure these forces won't be used against them? In 1968 Czechoslovakia experienced this - they had their revolution. But "polish" army together with other USSR forces reversed it. If Poland would have control over their forces, communism could fall a lot faster. There are also some other issues of united forces, for example with weapon training. Soldier is most effective after months or even years of training on given equipment. For service man, this time is even longer. If politicians within EU were responsible and they knew what they are doing, maybe this could work. But unfortunately, they know very little about what is needed, and all bigger orders are tainted with politics. I'm worried the result will be that many soldiers won't know how to use or even cooperate with others on different equipment.

[@burgundian777]

Germany tried to rule Europe since 1870, after WWI and WWII third time's the charm with EU.

[@henningbartels6245]

a united Germany was founded in 1871 ... funny how it was supposed to rule even before.

[@burgundian777]

@@henningbartels6245 Franco-Prussian War started in 1870. Thank you for playing.

[@henningbartels6245]

@@burgundian777 Franco-PRUSSIAN war ... do you notice something?!?

[@burgundian777]

@@henningbartels6245 Yes, Prussia building Germany on the corpse of France. Destroying European balance of powers in the process and directly leading to WWI, which in turn led to NSDAP and WWII, which in turn again led to EU. Rallied agaisnt France: Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of Saxony Grand Duchy of Baden Kingdom of Bavaria Kingdom of Württemberg Grand Duchy of Hesse When you add them up, they make what exactly? Thank you for playing, try again.

[@henningbartels6245]

@@burgundian777 Did you ever consider that a move of a butterfly in Costa Rica could result in how the EU acts today?!?

[@csibesz07]

France and Germany: How to conquer... this time without physical war.

[@moniquehenry4041]

?????? It has always been a PEACE project above all, based of "concrete achievments" to create a "de facto solidarity" to prevent war. Conquering peace is much more difficult than launching a war. The Society of Nations failed to preserve peace, UNO isn't very succesfull. Countries which applied to join the EU did it on their own, freely. Enjoying peace is our most precious thing.

[@GutsyRabbit]

So much for countries being obliged to enter Schengen area. Romania and Bulgaria got vetoed again

[@OrechTV]

Well. We are member states since we háve veto. Dont change rules after game started Im ôk with defense budget/cooperation etc. Not be reliant on US

[@Aspartame69]

Oh, he wants to remove the veto. That veto that remainers always told us was a magic shield against unwanted unification.

[@ballerblocks]

So your argument or sholtz is that we need to make it less democratic, so as to become more flexible..double edged sword I say.

[@BimpytheWimpyShrimpy]

Veto for everyone is the _opposite_ of democratic. If 95% of the Union can be stopped from acting, to cater to the whims _one_ contrarian country gaming the system, then that's hardly the "will of the people"...

[@ballerblocks]

@@BimpytheWimpyShrimpy could you pls point out one instance when 95% of the EU countries ever agreed on 1 issue. So a 1 size fits all is what you advocate for, no lessons from the Soviet Union here. Shocking.

[@BimpytheWimpyShrimpy]

@@ballerblocks don't be pedantic; 95% was clearly a figure of speech. If you want a case of clear majority being overruled, look to the videos example of Hungary demanding concessions to not veto sanctions. Also, your second point didn't really refute my point about it being undemocratic, did it? The minority vetoing the majority might have some uses to protect interest-groups, but it is not _democratic._

[@ballerblocks]

@@BimpytheWimpyShrimpy okay, maybe a little pedantic, look at the map of Europe and Hungarys position. The Hungarian argument is very logical, the sanctions they rejected were to ban pipeline oil from Russia to Europe, whilst allowing sea shipments, this was a terrible decision not only to undermine the govt of Victor orban, but would push Hungarian inflation to crazy levels, even the foriegn minister of Hungary came out and said the duty of any govt is to its own peoples welfare. That's what I call democratic. As regards you second point, if any idea needs to carry a majority vote, then the argument of that idea should survive for its own merits, what you are advocating is even if it does not suit some people, fine we don't care....that's the best way to break the union. But I don't care anymore, the last 20 years of liberal democratic values only leads in one direction. Whilst those that have a different opinion are ostracized or silenced.

[@VoloxTV]

It's not less democratic. The veto is an issue because nations can simply put a wrench in any plan, no matter how big the nation is. Every single person in the EU could be for a certain reform, and then a small EU member like Malta with a fraction of the EUs population decides to veto and it wouldn't go through. This process isn't more democratic than QMV.

[@stitch1747]

yeah can already say that debt sharing will recieve a veto if it is ever suggested. :)

[@stevengruber57]

This is the first time I've heard someone who wasn't campaigning for Brexit admit that France and Germany basically run the EU.

[@nicolecaetanohombach883]

As a German, I think he should put the chart before the horses and focus on the country he’s leading first!

[@natalias50]

But Germany is so powerful because it pulls the strings in the EU. Imposing one currency to all member states regardless of their wealth allowed Germany to lower the value of Euro and therefore German products can be sold cheaper. That also meant that Southern European countries are in economic stagnation because they can’t use national currency to regulate the market etc. I think you are missing bigger picture here but from my, Polish perspective EU should stay much longer in this form rather than change into USE.

[@OzoneTheLynx]

I think those would be some great changes, though especially QMV will be really hard to get actually passed.

[@pavliksin123]

complicated unlike anything else in politics now that's some interesting phrasing xd

[@Hassan06675]

Ah shit here we go again

[@jazy3091]

I am so very sceptical about this. One one hand I'd love to see tools for maintaining states that went rogue (like Hungary or Poland) implemented in EU. And I'm saying it form a Polish citizen pov. I aslo think that having some sort of EU based NATO like defence alliance is a good idea in general. But. Judging how Sholtz has been playing Germany support to Ukraine during last 6 months I'm super anxious about more centralised EU military/defence. My trust in Germany specifically, and Western European countries in broader perspective, is very limited and I wouldn't like to gamble Eastern Europeans future on it.

[@Ohhiohh]

We aren’t rogue we are independent

[@lstt89]

@@Ohhiohh go and be independent with your own money, then.

[@NotUnymous]

Pal, Germany is by FAR second in supporting Ukraine in military goods, just bested by the US. If you count in the will of selfinflicted harm to go to such lenght for supporting Ukraine, then Germany is probably besting even the US by far. Each citizen is (willingly) paying 150€/month more for energyprices, we deliberatly took a blow of raising Inflation up to 7-8%, we are activly risking to not haslve enough gas to even heat our homes in the upcoming two (!!) years, risk out industry, etc... I'm not sure If the leashed poland press doesnt provide you with even basic facts - wich wouldnt be a surprise If you check out just how bad polish press is failing in global rankings - or that you realy think that Germany is failing in aiding Ukraine. If the later, I would be very interested where Germany fails compared to other Ukraine supporting nations?

[@NotUnymous]

@@Ohhiohh Independent doesnt automaticly include behaving like a fiend towards your fellow members. It also doesnt automaticly include the lack of any respect towards them.

[@benghazi4216]

@@NotUnymous Oh stop. You clearly haven't followed it closely. Promises are not deliveries. Look at what Germany actually have gotten to Ukraine. It's mainly small things. And without the Netherlands pushing, Ukraine wouldn't have gotten the PHZ2000 either. And are we forgetting about how much Germany has been and are blocking? Spanish tanks, Estonian artillery etc etc. Just stop this delusion. Even your own MP's are on TV saying they can't understand why their security council is not delivering. Your defense industry is leaking the facts in real time when your Chancellor is lying to the nation. It's ridiculous. And you get no credit for the energy costs that we are all now paying. It is your fault. Your politicians. Your idiotic geopolitics. You have opened the door for all of this.

[@Molhedim]

what is with these titles? "(why it wont work). Is this channel turning into crappy news channel that cannot just deliver their news without own biases? Who are you to say what is and what is not possible with EU direction. Such a disappointment.

[@riskinhos]

indeed

[@Aadrian7]

If you watch the video, you'll know why. Countries like Hungary and Poland are very unlikely to accept it because they won't be able to ask for concessions in exchange for approving sanctions, for instance. It's got nothing to do with bias, in fact TL:DR seem quite in favour of the proposal.

[@ConnorLonergan]

A news channel that backs up its claim? If you watch the video, they explain why they doubt the reforms could pass.

[@psq6214]

Yeah especially because he didn’t really give any reasons why it wouldn’t work. It seems very possibile, the opposition is not impossibile to overcome… it will just take a lot of time

[@ConnorLonergan]

@@psq6214 unless of cousre it's an oposition that has very strong reasons to never allow reform like Poland and Hungry who would not want to lose the influence they weild with unanimity requriment, or even the Pro-NATO nations who would have concerns about running a parallel military defense alliance (note that effectively all EU nations are in NATO.)

[@AFFoC]

Good

[@tixien]

Brexit was an unexpected blessing for the EU. They won’t be as lucky with Hungary and Poland, given the insane amount of money transferred to these countries which ensures a strong EU support among their population. And unfortunately they can’t be kicked out. So any progress will require shady bargaining I’m afraid.

[@RolleDA]

Well, we can all leave, create the european community. Leaving the invitation for poland and hungary. Keep the institutions, relable everything... aaaand it's done. You just have to be creative ;)

[@thomasherrin6798]

BREXIT was a greater blessing for the U.K. "Majority", E.U. is going to find it tough as the German "Powerhouse" has to pay market rates for energy and increase it's defence to proper levels = Less money for E.U., that's why Macron is talking to Putin, so he hopes for a settlement (Fat chance - That boat is gone) to avert France from paying in more!

[@tixien]

@@RolleDA But we cant, can we? However decades ago the French put on the table everything needed to get as close to that as possible. A very integrated core of countries and an outer looser group, what they called “l’Europe à deux vitesses” (2-pace EU). And E. Macron opened that old box again with the EEC, although it doesn’t fix the polish and Hungarian problems at all. It never took hold really, although a fair amount of opt-outs gave several countries a pretty tailored status. It seems more practical and achievable to me than creating something new from scratch.

[@sebsebski2829]

@@tixien Seeing how undemocratic the EU is and how to voices of your opposition are marginalised, I kinda want you to kick Poland out. Please do it.

[@RafaMazurekRMZ]

As a polish - pls dont, 80% of us wants the EU, our ruling party is created a war in EU in jist last 3 years, we hope to vote them out next year. We dont stay in EU bc of money - they are blocked now, we are in bc polexit is super unpopular

[@DOBERMAN715]

Good luck with trying to remove countries veto's. Do you think countries would have joined the EU without the promise of their right to veto, ....me neither

[@UniDeathRaven]

Good luck trying to make out of EU totalitarian empire :)

[@csibesz07]

Veto is the for a reason. To stop EU taking away country's right to have say in things. Countries will leave the EU, if they see they are being colonized. Veto must not be completely removed.

[@Biskawow]

It's a democratic union, 55% majority and 65% population majority seems more than reasonable, otherwise you will get nothing done ever

[@donttrustyourself]

Exactly. E.U tend to forget it's members are still democracies, and it's people are still human beings that should have the power to decide on their fate. Not the USA/EU lobbies.

[@Biskawow]

@@donttrustyourself dictator Orban blackmailing 400 million people in EU has nothing to do with will of the people of Europe

[@TheMadYetti]

@@Biskawow Germany screwed up creating migrant crisis, so now it will vote you have to take migrants. Democracy at it best.

[@Biskawow]

@@TheMadYetti Germany didn't create migrate crisis, that would be the war criminal George W Bush and his war on terror

[@quinncnovick]

I feel like we’ve heard this one before…

[@MBP1918]

Interesting

[@anoniem9518]

The national veto is the most stupid and counter productive element within the way the EU is organized. Sure, Hungary and Poland refuse to give up their power to black mail the rest of Europe. That's why a EU (EU2) has to be created, with new rules for member states. There might not be a way to kick out black mailing countries out of the EU, but the other countries can all leave the EU (just like Britain) and start a second and improved EU together.

[@sten260]

thats sort of the point, we don't want to make decisions that benefit some countries in the EU and hurt other countries. So everybody should have a vote - blackmailing or not. Things are never so black and white, always somebody disagrees. You can't have EU in that case and just individual countries making their own decisions

[@anoniem9518]

@@sten260 I am afraid you miss the point of democracy. Democracy can't please everyone. That's is an utopia. It undermines efficiency and addressing problems. Fortunately democracy can be organized in such a way it can please most of us.

[@sten260]

@@anoniem9518 we don't have democracy, we have republic. These are not same things. It's not like individual people vote for each thing and then majority wins. We have representatives in the government that represent each group and each representative has same power. It's not like if we have more people in Germany voting for something therefor it's majority then Germany gets to decide everything. If this was the case it would be the classic issue with democracy where 2 wolves and a sheep vote what's for dinner.

[@fb150185]

Imo the EU does suffer, and hard, from enlargement fatigue. Too many countries with very diverse points of view. It's a great idea but very difficult to carry out and it was shown in the many problems during a good period for Europe in general (I mean before the war or the "crazy" inflation). I don't know what the answer is but I wouldn't bring even more countries that will likely milk richer countries even more than they already are.

[@DommTom]

I think that in order for this to work you need to centralize the Union more. Now this gets a lot of backlash so let me explain: the EU not only has "EU-member-states" like Germany or Italy, but also has non EU-Members in its other spheres. Turkey for instance is not an EU-Member, but part of the customsunion. Norway is a formal member of the EU-market, Switzerland is a member of the Schengenarea, Kosovo is an unofficial member of the Eurozone. So my idea is: divide the EU into multiple layers. Let's call them: "Higher-EU" and "Lesser EU" "Higher-EU" would be a more centralized version of the current EU. Different countries would give up more power to Brussels (no initary voting) and I'd even suggest more centralization on infrastructure and defense. "Lesser-EU" meanwhile would be a more decentralizied version of the current EU. It would still be included in the Schengenarea and Customsunion. It would however only have an observer/oppsoition status within the EU-Paliament which now is the centre of the "Higher-EU". That way countries like Poland and Hungary can retain more of their sovereignty while in return receiving fewer concessions from Brussels. This idea would also make geopolitical growth easier. "Lesser EU" is more decentralized and therefore is more accassable for new members while not overwehelming the EU-Parliament with to many egocentric members. Don't know how realistic that idea is but I think it's an approiach at least worth talking about.

[@duhni4551]

EU has been on crossroad for past almost 20 years, either we go for direction of Federation or we stay as we are and start polishing the existing system. This much has been obvious and it is the center of current EU politics, has been for about 20 years. Thing is, people who are detatched from reality keeps yapping about Federation and prevents the dynamics of EU from becoming more efficient so they can then have "legit" reasoning for their Federation dreams. Truth of the matter is that most if not all EU members doesn't want Federation. So the largest problem in EU is that there is system that allows handfull of people (literally) stop the healthy progress of EU for their own political gains. That is the issue number one that should be fixed.

[@Invisiblehand123]

The idea that someone is ''milking'' the richer countries is just borderline uneducated drivel. Whoever you learned economics from, go and smack him/her in the face.

[@duhni4551]

@@Invisiblehand123 Actually as a Finn i can sign what you just said. Funny enough, the rich nations seems to be milking us for example, Finland being one of the very few net payers in EU.

[@moustaphadiallo600]

From the actions of germany and france, I would say the wealthier countries are milking the poorer countries in the EU, not the other way around. Germany subjugating southern europe and france trying to create an "eu" army to "defend" french colonies shows who is doing the milking.

[@dominikweiss4707]

We need better lobbying laws and more democracy in the eu

[@maghambor]

Germany and France, along with other nations, will likely put some kind of qualified majority rule as a requisite prior to Ukraine joining and try to stick any delays due to this on Hungary and Poland, of which the latter might find themselves in a weird position effectively halting Ukraine joining while being one of their most steadfast ally. Will the ruling party in Poland give up on its own agenda to see Ukraine join the union? It might come down to the Polish voters.

[@WiewiurTV]

Polish Nationalistic Government is already falling apart, Propaganda TV Chef got fired yesterday, and Inflation is killing the Poor (Nationalistic party voters), just wait till Elections and you will see Poland once again back to normal, also NOBODY will deny Ukraine joining EU from Poland nor the Nationalistic, Centric or Leftist government, there is only one party against it with less than 1 million voters (1/38 population) which is falling apart very quickly, Hungary is already facing massive backlash from Poland about their stance on Ukraine as Poland WILL NOT tolerate this kind of behaviour, they have already criticised Orban-party before and will do it again, some business-ties are being made but they can be easily reversed when new Party gets Elected (if Inflation comes this way i predict Autumn 2023), the Nationalistic party got less than 32% votes and it will decrease as the poor get poorer (due to corruption from the party and pure arrogance + greed). I am not Right or Left but rather a bit of both, you would call me a Green voter with exceptions on Radical changes to CO2 reduction, Atomic Energy (YES), abolishment of coal within 15 years? (NO), LGBG and Tolerance on Abortion etc? Yes, half german and 1/4 (czech/polish) so i get all sides of the issue.

[@maghambor]

@@WiewiurTV I think you have a lot of good points and can see the logic behind your reasoning. As a centre right person, I hope for the rule of law and functioning balances within the state.

[@Dreizack70]

The trade side, the customs union, the Common Market are all an incredible success. What followed onwards from Maastricht 1992, have been utter failures. The Brits acknowledged this and draw the consequences, ... however without a viable plan B. Given the democratic base of this institution, which basically exists only by loops and corners, i.e. is virtually non-existent, the veto is the only real stopgap from France and Germany bossing and bullying everybody else around. It would be the end of the project, as it would slide further into total disfunctionality with more -exits to come. Greetings from Germany.

[@paulwood6729]

Scholtz knows that Germany will in reality control taxation policy, it isn't a concession. Debt sharing would be.

[@qinby1182]

To remove VETO is just a show that EU is not agreeing on everything and WHY WOULD IT?? To be able TO FORCE countries does really not help the situation at all. The more EU expands the more different wills there will be. To much EU rules will make national elections less and less meaningful. Economic cooperation YES Common foreign policy NO and really as we have seen... no common currency at least structured as the Euro.

[@ToKyRaY]

Spieß voran, drauf und dran!

[@gruensein]

With all the disagreement, in part cynical behavior from the likes of Hungary and Poland paralyzing the union, and general national selfishness within the EU, I don't think expanding any further is the right move at this time. We'd be well advised to scrutinize every new membership application with respect to its impact on the already lacking sense of unity, the political climate and state of democracy of the applying nation which is to have a say in European matters, and the financial aspects. And while I have a lot of respect for Ukraine and feel that we should support them as much as possible, this is a great example of a hastily pushed application process given that their somewhat democratic process is only approximately a decade old, corruption is a major issue and they'd immediately become a net recipient of funds by far. We can just as well have a cooperation agreement of some sort and see how resilient their democracy will prove to be before inviting them into the EU just to become another Hungary.

[@Quickshot0]

It's not really talked about, but the accession process to the EU has gotten more involved over time in part due to concerns such you outline. Thus requiring more complete and comprehensive reforms to a national system in an attempt to stem the worst of the issues. So while I'll admit this won't be a perfect solution, it should substantially lessen issues if it works as one hopes. Though on the current issues, when one thinks about it, it was in part the rush at the end of the cold war to give the various now free Warsaw pact nations a chance that lead to some of this outcome. Being more concerned about the potential dangers in the now increasingly massive power vacuum appearing in central Europe, as well as losing the opportunity to give those countries a chance at becoming prosperous democracies. Fairly reasonable concerns at least. Of course it didn't work out perfectly as hoped, but the specter of what might have been if the chance hadn't been given shouldn't be forgotten either. That there may be far more broken and concerning countries in central Europe from a peace and security point of view would have been quite the added concern now. Certainly if Russia had also as we can now see very clearly now, tried to subordinate some of them. As such, there probably has never been a perfect answer, and we will just have to try and find the best compromises we can think of for the times we find ourselves in. And then hope that we can fix any issues that come up afterwards.

[@kon1402]

NS1 and NS2 is a result of "general national selfishness within the EU". All these new reforms strangely benefit Germany the most.

[@Quickshot0]

@@kon1402 NS1 and NS2 fall with in the historical approach Germany used to try and keep Cold War tensions down during that period. Which is via using economic connections to make potentially hostile countries less inclined to actually start a war. As a theory it seems like it might have some what worked for awhile, but considering the current outcome it obviously has a weak point. The weakness being, if Russia ever gets a leader who doesn't care about immense economic impacts as much as running that war, it wouldn't be enough. This is also why Germany has given up on this strategy now, and has instead probably put more focus on strengthening the EU as a new stratagem. Does strengthening the EU benefit Germany? Obviously. Does it benefit many of the other nations in the EU? It does. Lastly, can any major reforms pass in the EU with out getting everyone's ok for it? Nope, that's impossible, such decisions much pass unanimously after all. As such, we can quite easily conclude that unless other countries are being very foolish, they'll make sure to not be disadvantaged by such changes, if not get their own gains. And it's because of that interaction why the EU at the national level gets along better then many would think, because ultimately everyone kept trying to make mutually beneficial arrangements, so that things could actually pass. Still, how more nations there are, how harder unanimity gets, so some compromise on that will be needed. Though a super majority passage system as proposed would make it not all to severe of one.

[@nikolovivan3161]

You could have mentioned Bulgari and Greece vetoing Macedonia to oblivion.

[@b.s.1929]

Not without a reason though

[@nikolovivan3161]

@@b.s.1929 And whats the reason i may ask you ?

[@rasgeleisim]

@@nikolovivan3161 Cause the real Macedonia is them. And Greece and Bulgaria's vetos have a reason but the others' don't. They just like to do it to spoil the fun. So you can't soil Greece and Bulgaria's veto as calling it both are simply vetos.

[@nikolovivan3161]

@@rasgeleisim You are denying the existance of a whole nation .

[@rasgeleisim]

@@nikolovivan3161 No I don'r. I was being sarcastic

[@HelloEarthling]

Germany wants change, oh shit here we go again

[@matuphon]

Both agree in one thing, we need more MONEY.

[@ncuco]

I love the European union, but when a member state gets all the benefits, and no longer adheres to the norms they pledged to, then something is deeply wrong with the system

[@cbs577]

I wonder how much you really know about the EU. You think decisions on who gets in are whimsical and not calculated? Hahah... Poor baby.

[@ncuco]

@@cbs577 is there anything in my paragraph where i mention the process of getting in? Do you have a concussion? Your life must be really boring if you spend your time wondering what other people know about something. Next time give a constructive opinion.

[@cbs577]

@@ncuco of course, it's implicit "all benefits and none of the commitment" (and I'm paraphrasing to make your blabber more succinct so don't cry), what that means? You think or want to give the impression that the EU doesn't derive benefits from some of the states it accepted as part of the Union. It couldn't be further from the truth so you're either a bloody nimrod or are intentionally deceiving other gullible people.

[@lacoma631]

If internal policy changes require only a qualified majority, why not simply put a bill to vote wherein all nations who vote yea will leave the EU in a qualified majority vote, on the condition that they then join a new organisation with the same name, same policies, and with only minor changes to problematic areas such as unanimity voting on matters of foreign policy? Essentially a legal loophole and workaround. If Poland and Hungary vote nay, but the qualified majority passes, then they will be left in a powerless and pointless bloc shadowed by it's successor, ultimately no longer able to extract concessions while failing to abide by the EU's laws.

[@bomschhofmann1644]

They would still need to agree to such a thing

[@boarfaceswinejaw4516]

basically getting reduced to candidacy status. honestly, its insane that the EU doesnt already have a "majority kick" system.

[@ericwedin4154]

QMV will make a lot of countries reconsider their EU membership

[@Dudeness1994]

Maybe but first work on debt

[@GeneralGayJay]

Who the hell though unanimity is a good thing in a democracy? Seriously what did our grandfathers think when they came up with this idea? Unanimity is not democracy.

[@zaydalaoui9397]

It was the only way to move forward back then, as it kind of reassured each country into thinking that worst case scenario, it can VETO so there was no risk joining. Obviously this leads intro a nightmarish process to decide and move forward.

[@SittingOnEdgeman]

It's not democratic. It's republican. Democracy is a pack of wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. Republicanism is giving the sheep a veto (or, more pithily, a shotgun.)

[@Fankas2000]

Back then there weren't as many member states.

[@scorbiot]

Unanimity was the compromise that let EU expand at all. It's meant to minimise disagreement

[@Davdit]

Why would member states remain if their own laws could be removed if the other countries decided to do that

[@thierryparte2506]

Majority voting seems like a good idea to me, obviously it would give France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Poland alot of power but idk Maybe give every country 10 or so people they send in from their biggest parties internally to vote that way you got a more nuanced message from every country and give back more power to smaller population countries

[@ahmedsaleh9509]

Qualified majority voting can be blocked if countries represent a third of the population and 15 members. that will benefit smaller countries since 12 sall countries can block eaven if they only represent 25% of the population

[@eriks3254]

There actually is already a system in which small countries get to have a larger delegation than they would have in relation to their population. The population of Germany is about 131 times higher than the population of Luxemburg. But Germanys delegation is "only" 16 times larger than the one of Luxemburg.

[@ajjeehh]

What you're suggesting is called a senate, like how each US or Australian state sends the same amount of senators to the capital regardless of population.

[@4cps777]

This, however, would also lead to the same problems that are apparent in the US. Namely, the fact that although the majority of the people always vote for the Democrat party, the Republican party sometimes wins. Balancing such a system is a hard task and neither extreme solution is good. Then again, the current system is fucked up in way more regards.

[@Arcaryon]

@@4cps777 It’s a temporary solution. Just like the entire EU based on treaties instead of constitutions is already temporary. Which makes it an important thing is to codify that in the end, we do not want to become the USA, we want to slowly create a true European family, and that sounds crazy today but give translation a few more years and the EU a few more reforms and the idea of nations sharing states will come up, slowly eliminating the population issue due to shared administrative policies. Same with the idea that having so many different voting systems can not work forever. The goal of the EU is not necessarily centralised government, but in order to enable the amount of centralised policy we desperately need to survive and not to slowly decline entirely and perhaps to have a chance to aid our own situation again ( shared systems of taxation, trade, foreign policy, military aso. ) , we are faced with no better longterm alternative.

[@couriertx]

A German Chancellor speaks of his vision of a new Europe? Haven’t I seen this before? /j

[@CHMichael]

The golden rule - the one with the gold makes the rules. Watch countries that don't cooperate have euro monetary problems.

[@johnmonrow9981]

Oh how quickly these "European Values" fade away when they aren't needed to bash members into compliance.

[@TheMadYetti]

this is an argument straight from mindset of creatures like putin - stronger make rules, weaker have to obey.