[livius]

Actually, a lot of "Italian" olive oil comes from Spain, because it's excellent olive oil, but the Spanish are too disorganized to market it themselves.

However, that said, the EU has managed to make many countries dump their own specialties. The Spanish clementine and citrus market has been undercut by the EU by giving favorable treatment to Morocco. And at EU orders, the Spanish also had to cut down large numbers of their olive trees and rip out their vineyards (to make way for GERMAN wines!).

Granted, Spain and Italy get some funds for infrastructure things (preserving monuments, etc.) from the EU, but I think it doesn't really outweigh the destruction of their own industries and their feeling that they have lost national sovereignty.

I think one thing that we are seeing with the many countries who are joining the US and Britain at this time is a rejection of the German/French control that has been imposed on them through the EU.

[CWOJackson]

Interesting and enlightening.

Our neighbors say that Italy is also required to accept immigrations standards imposed by the EU, not those adopted by their own government.

Another problem they speak of is how the open borders and liberal drug laws of other nations is causing dramatic problems in other countries that have stricter drug laws...the drugs are flowing freely and with deadly results.