Posted on 01/18/2006 6:06:54 AM PST by Anne_Conn
The European Parliament has called for tough action against European Union member states, such as Poland and the Baltic states, that do not uphold rights of homosexuals. Franco Frattini, the European commissioner for justice, freedom and security, told the European Parliament yesterday that the EU has powers under Article 13 of the Treaty to combat all forms of discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of sexuality.
(Excerpt) Read more at canadafreepress.com ...
if they're smart they'll bolt from the EU.
Doubtful - for every euro they pay into the EU, they get 10 back. . . .
that cant last. defies the laws of economics and physics
Not really - countries pay in relation to their wealth and that wealth is redistributed to poorer countries to allow them to develop economically. As they develop they pay more and their more successful economies produce new markets for the wealtier economies to sell to.
That's the theory anyway and it's certainly worked for some countries - Ireland has gone from a virtual third world economy to a tiger economy (relatively speaking) but whether they or any of the other countries will be able to stand on their own feet at the end of it is open to debate.
Personally, I am anti-EU and along with the vast majority of my country it will be a cold day in hell before we swap the the most valuable currency unit in the world for the grim little euro! :)
Has the theory worked any where other than Ireland? I've only spent a couple of weeks in Ireland so I'm no expert, but I get the impression that Ireland's rise has more to do with the entrepreneurship and diligence of its people than the EU. Though of course the opening of free trade and capital flows with the rest of Europe was probably critical. Still, that opening could have been accomplished wihtout 90% of the crap that being in the EU involves.
The Baltic States are growing like gangbusters. Poland is doing better than ok.
I visit Ireland frequently, but one cannot ignore the fact that pre-EU funding, the economy was stagnant and entrpreneurial enterprise was uncommon. It is however a strongly socialist country which of course has always held back it's economy. Many other economies are finding their feet in Europe with EU money, mainly the previously eastern economies.
The E.U. tried to sanction Austria for electing a "right-wing" government and it backfired. The Poles will not be pushed around and trying to do so will also backfire. The Mayor of Warsaw (Lech Kaczynski) banned homosexual parades and demonstrations and was just elected President of Poland. His party rules with two minor parties that are very Euro-sceptic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.