Poland Votes Overwhelmingly to Join EU

Voice of America ^ | 09 Jun 2003, 00:34 UTC | Stefan Bos

[Destro]

Most Americans forget that the ex-communists (under a new name) won elections in Poland. Funny how much of "new Europe" is mostly ruled by old communists.

[yonif]

Poland was with us from the start in the war in Iraq.

[ApesForEvolution]

Another one bites the dust...

[Destro]

That is the irony ain't it? Ex-communists that Solidarity threw out of power now our closest allies.

[Arkinsaw]

Poland has a history of being free for only short periods. But this time their government willingly puts the yoke back on them.

[Malesherbes]

I'm in Poland twice a year, and this decision is one the Poles made with fingers crossed. There will be a lot of pain coming with EU membership, a host of heavy-handed regulations out of Brussels, adverse pressure on Polish agriculture, especially the small farmers of which there are many thousands (despite Communism.)

My hope is that Poland, and the other new members, will work together to offset the power of France and Germany (as they did in the Iraq crisis.)

[afuturegovernor]

I believe that Poland will be a thorn in France's side.

[ppaul]

Foolish Poles.

[Eurotwit]

On a hopeful note,

If "new Europe" joining the EU now, combined with countries such as the UK can wrest the balance of power in the EU from the franco-german alliance, the EU might yet be saved.

However, Giscard destaing (sp?) and his constitution does not bode well..

[Principled]

This whole EU thing... sheesh. It's doomed from the start.

At some date certain, they'll suffer socialist economic collapse. They'll see member states start civil "war" to get out of the union to save themselves. I hope the EU hasn't empowered itself to the extent that it has to kill its own constituents to retain power.

Regardless, FReedom loving, capitalist, arrogant America will save their collective arses - and we'll be hated for it. How ironic.

[epluribus_2]

Poland was used to getting their orders and table scraps from Moscow. Now they will get them from Paris and Berlin, by way of Brussels. Sad.

[The_Victor]

Foolish Poles.

Wrong way to look at this. We now have a friend inside the EU. The Poles can do to the EU what France has done to the UN.

This will be fun.

[keats5]

I'm curious. Should the Poles ever decide to leave the E.U., can they vote to leave? Or would that involve war?

[yonif]

can they vote to leave?

I believe so. Just like we can vote to leave the UN.

[The Iguana]

Trojan Horse.

[Smile-n-Win]

I'm curious. Should the Poles ever decide to leave the E.U., can they vote to leave? Or would that involve war?

It's the latter.

[Captain Kirk]

You are right....this is often forgotten.

[FreeTheHostages]

Poland was with us from the start in the war in Iraq.

Poland is a loyal ally. It doesn't hurt us to have some of those in the EU -- to counteract the French and Germans and Swedes.

[dfwgator]

Now the Germans can reclaim Silesia and Pomerania without having to fire a shot.