Posted on 11/09/2011 12:33:35 PM PST by AnAmericanAbroad
German and French officials have discussed plans for a radical overhaul of the European Union that would involve establishing a more integrated and potentially smaller euro zone, EU sources say.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy gave some flavor of his thinking during an address to students in the eastern French city of Strasbourg on Tuesday, when he said a two-speed Europe -- the euro zone moving ahead more rapidly than all 27 countries in the EU -- was the only model for the future.
The discussions among senior policymakers in Paris, Berlin and Brussels go further, raising the possibility of one or more countries leaving the euro zone, while the remaining core pushes on toward deeper economic integration, including on tax and fiscal policy.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
interesting.
The new reality....
All animals are equal except PIIGs and they are less equal
It’s an implicit admission of the failure of the EU concept. Time to scrap their foolish notion of a united states of Europe, but on a socialist model, and go back to national sovereignty.
The european union worked well as a free trade zone...the common currency known as the euro was doomed from the start. Now it is time to pay the piper.
Sure, many politicians in Germany would sign up in a heartbeat. However, they must stand for election and the German people are fed up.
This is the last gasp of a dying "Europe".
From what I’ve seen of it, there are really only two paths from here for the EU: greater integration, federalism, one-Europe government and monetary policy; or dissolution. This would be a step toward dissolution, even if it seems like it’s taking a step back to take a step forward. It would eventually be the end of the EU to do what Sarkozy is alluding to, seems to me. Fractures increase, unless repaired.
England and the other countries, the soft core.
Oh boy, this will make for a best seller for sure!!
It is an implied failure of the Eurozone.
As a trading zone, maybe even something like the Schengen Zone (free movement between borders), that’s all well and good.
But a common currency, when there are so many different nations with greatly differing economies.....not so much.
Most likely, in the end, it will fall apart.
I guess this will punt it for another year until France and Germany themselves go belly up.
Hey, this might be a GOOD thing!!! Maybe Germany won’t get that every-25-or-so-year itch to go kick some Frenchy-Frenchy-Frenchyman butt if they’re allied...
So it’ll be good for the Frenchies!!!!
Just sayin’....
Cool. This would be a resurrection of the Frankish Empire.
Unless France goes belly up, then Germany might get the itch to conquer. FWIW, both countries have their own debt problems.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_by_public_debt
“...Unless France goes belly up, then Germany might get the itch to conquer. ...”
Q: Why did the French plant so many trees in Paris...
A: So the Germans could march in the Shade.
(baddabing!)
My old man (WWII Airborne) helped liberate those people. He said the resentment in the air of Americans was tangible. I guess when you get nationally humiliated three times in the course of a century and a half (1870, 1914, 1940) that you just naturally hate anyone that pulls your fat out of the fire.
Belgians, on the other hand, Dad said they loved our guys; took them into their homes, fed them, etc.
What a difference...and Belgians are a mix of both German and French cultures, I believe...go figure, right?
They may be different now, but...gratitude it seems, was in short supply while the old man was there. Except for the hookers...they LOVED “les rich Amis”...
In Medieval times, Belgium was Flanders, which was independent of both France and Germany. The French kings claimed the territory, but the Flemish did their own thing, even siding with England in the Hundred Years War. I’m not schooled enough in history to know how they became Belgium.
I have friends in Belgium that tend the war graves of American WWII dead. They’re damned good people. They have a reverence for our people that is amazing.
They have the unfortunate geographical situation of being on the natural invasion route into France, by Germany. The Germans did it twice in two wars...and the Belgians citizens paid a terrible price.
Dutch and French.
The German elites have had that itch for a while.
Unless France goes belly up, then Germany might get the itch to conquer
“...Dutch and French...”
Thank you, friend!!
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