whats the point of having a European union?
960815
The UK is in the EU for the same reason all the other countries are.  They can't compete successfully on the world market by themselves, especially as other countries are creating trade agreements (NATO, OPEC, NAFTA, APIC, etc), so they need to unite to stay soluble.
946331
The EU doesnt even know whether it is a Federation or a Confederation. It is refered to as both all of the above, and none of the above. \n\nShort answer: No real official answer as yet. I would say it is a Confederation though, simply because the each member nation-state has much more control over its own affairs than one would see in a Federation.
569741
Major differences between the EU and Hitler:\n\n1) EU does not want to rule Europe.\n2) EU does not blame problems on the Jews and institute genocide program against them.\n3) EU does not start wars killing millions of people to accomplish its goals.\n\nApart from that, they're practically identical.\n\nEarl: No, being a union does not imply rule.  Having an agreement with someone (basically what the EU is) does not mean you control them.
690671
If they choose to compete as separate nations, that's fine.  Besides, a UK team would be dominated by the English, so what benefit would Scottish, Northern Irish, and Welsh players get?
1031884
Its just to attract votes from nationalistic people - a british bill of rights.  obviously its rubbish - we have to be signed up to the human rights bill to be a member of europe so any conflict would be immediately overridden.  a bad idea anyway - it would just lead to arguments over interpretation and be inflexible.
461213
Hmm,\n\nThis is a good question. For starters I'm going to assume that by Europe you mean the European Union, since some countries in Europe don't belong to it.\n\nThe European Union (EU) is an intergovernmental and supranational union of 25 democratic member states having territory on or sociopolitical connections with the European continent. (www.wikipedia.org)\n\nThe Union nowadays has a common single market, [2] consisting of a customs union, a single currency (the euro) managed by the European Central Bank (adopted by 12 of the 25 member states), a Common Agricultural Policy, a common trade policy, a Common Fisheries Policy, and a Common Foreign and Security Policy. (www.wikipedia.org)\n\nIn lamer terms, it is a group of European countries (mostly for the moment) that got together and decided to unify their economies in one single currency also unifying certain policies (like trade, immigration, etc..).\n\nIt is very interesting since the different countries continue being politically independent but have certain unified policies. As opposed to the States within the USA which depend of a Federal Government.\n\nI would say it is an "in between" or hybrid of Unified States under federal law and a Free Trade agreement, like Cafta or NAFTA.\n\nI hope this answers your question.
765365
Yes,it does,and its set to get worse!!! Funny,I do not recall asking the EU for anything,but looks like I'm going to get it!!!\nMay 2006.\nThe EU Commision Citizen's Agenda\nThe Commission has published a Communication to the European Council with the title "A Citizen's Agenda - Delivering Results for Europe".\nThat Communication speaks for Europe's citizens. It says that citizens want this or that.\nHowever, the Commission has no mandate to speak for Europe's citizens. Nor are the far-fetched assertions in the Communication backed up by any polling data.\nThe last time citizens had an opportunity to speak for themselves, they made it clear in the French and Dutch Constitution referendums that they are not interested in even more European unification. The Commission should listen to the citizens, instead of making up statements of "what citizens want".\n\n*******The Communication that citizens want more EU activity in the field of Freedom, Security and Justice. The Commission wants to abolish current requirements of unanimity and give European legislators a blank check to meddle in Member States' criminal law with majority decisions.***********
166930
The Trade Treatiese that might be collectively useful for group may not specifically be useful for country X, Y , Z\n\nGeo Political, Cultural, Ideological differencences.. like which can come from say, countries with major Islamic ideology joinging EU and constant jibes that go on betwixth the French-German-Brit etc...\n\nWith (relatively) free movement of labour n capital, old fortê of a nation might not remain theirs.. like if cheap labour is available in Polland.. & country X (wealthier) joins EU.. the labour of Country X, might be surpassed & Polland find advantage..\n\nAnd ofcourse any combine (SuperPower) with higher bargaining power will have detractors & people trying to find faults/ run up against (like hackers try to take on MicroSoft)\n\nPlease take these examples at face value.. am not trying to hurt or take sides...
28856
through out history europe has constantly been changing bounderies and borders. i dont think they will ever become a single nation because of too many different cultures and ethnicities. maybe though. but would it be a change for the better?
1077929
Europe-as  becoming united.
1166588
Hi Sharma,\nThe Treaty of Rome (1957) declared a common European market as a European objective with the aim of increasing economic prosperity and contributing to "an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe".\n\nThe Single European Act (1986) and the Treaty on European Union (1992) have built on this, introducing Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and laying the foundations for our single currency.\n\nThe third stage of EMU began on 1 January 1999, when the exchange rates of the participating currencies were irrevocably set. Euro area Member States began implementing a common monetary policy, the euro was introduced as a legal currency and the 11 currencies of the participating Member States became subdivisions of the euro. Greece joined on 1 January 2001 and so 12 Member States introduced the new euro banknotes and coins at the beginning of this year.\n\nThe successful development of the euro is central to the realisation of a Europe in which people, services, capital and goods can move freely.\n\nThis is history in the making. It is the largest monetary changeover the world has ever seen.
307377
European democarcy has the principle of subsidiarety as one of its foundations. This effectively means that democracy should exist at the lowest possible level of the democratic hierarchy. This means that communities should have the power to decide how their infrastructure, lives and responses to important issues such as drugs and unemployment are addressed. This is community development in action where ordinary people decide what the problems are and how to solve them. The advantage of this is that the power is distributed among the people and not focussed at the top. (By the way, you can buy electricity in advance in the UK!)
410747
Turkey has been wanting to join the EU for many years but has been prevented from doing so because of it's human rights record.\n\nThe Turkish Government are making some attempts to address this issue and once they succeed the country will be eligible to join the EU although this is likely to be many years away.
996512
I don't think it could happen at least in the realistic sense.  A nation is defined by its borders.  How can one nation have many borders on different contents.  You can have an economic union something of the sort of the E.U. but they are adrift with no real Constitution and have multiple social issues.
701987
Europeans are not interested in that other wise it would have happened a long time back.I think the mood in Turkey is also changing now.{THEY DO NOT WANT TO JOIN EU}
721646
Same reason why we have the olympics to re-unify the world and create a link between different countries. It's also just competitive nature and countries wanting to be better than the others, patriotism and supporting your country, take your pick
982419
If the EU didnt do it the national governments would.  It would be massive loss of revenue for the like of Ireland and Findland where alot of government funds come from the duty on alcohol.