http://www.opendemocracy.net/editorial_tags/europe_after_the_constitution Comments for "europe after the constitution" en http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/slovenia_at_europe_s_helm#comment-438804 Just to be fair, whether Slovenia is Balkan or not, is not a geografic fact but rather a geopolitical value judgement. I was told long ago in (Slovenian) school that Slovenia belonged to Balkan peninsula, in strictly geographic sense. Culturally, the picture is mixed, but Slovenia does belong to Central Europe, with long historical influence of Austro-HUngarian Empire. But listen to the music that kids listen to nowadays. :) Bonds to Balkan area cannot be deinied, even tho they might be ambivalent. Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:15:37 +0000 Zoran55 comment 438804 at http://www.opendemocracy.net http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/slovenia_at_europe_s_helm#comment-438791 Slovenia is not Balkans, but Central Europe. Hungary was the first to ratify the Lisbon Treaty. More seriously, there is a real possibility that the Serbian minority in Kosovo will refuse all cooperation with the future independent state, create an exclave status in northern Kosovo and, in effect, operate as Kosovo's Kosovo. Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:02:58 +0000 Flaneur comment 438791 at http://www.opendemocracy.net http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy_power/future_europe/after_reform#comment-435155 The European Union is traveling on the right path however, we must understand time, and its value, Europe demands time. The citizens psyche must have the chance to react independently. The communal conscience of the EU will become a reality when all citizens of the continent realize they are a part of the whole. Nations did not exist as such a thousand years ago, and thanks to Charlemagne Europe somehow became a united continent. Today we are once again on the footsteps of Charlemagne and as this state of consciousness embalms the citizens, they will realize that Europe is just one solid block. The problems Europe faces today are personal and political interest such as the euro and its position on the world market. The euro must remain strong and keep its actual position. Time once again, must be, respected as some effects take more time than others, but reality often has the knack of going forward and them retreating. Reason why today we are experiencing a modern middle age certainly some suffer but the readjustments will take place and the unbalance created during the French revolution will be fix. Once that mend as it should be replacing the ill manners and behavior of the bourgeoisie, which is responsible for the chaos we are experiencing today. The human purpose becomes tangible, which is to be happy not to posses a string of useless products. The climate upheavals the economical position of china and India its group inequality and the idea that we must produce in large quantities to create waste in huge quantities is the reason for the psychological as well geological cataclysm humans experience today. Symbols are essential as they serve as guidance and play an important role on the memory banks of the individual. The aim of men is not to work more to pollute more but to work for his happiness to enhance his inner self and evolve. So far, it has retreat into barbarism, it is using repression and brainwashing in order to keep societies in place, creating security laws that resemble more of a primitive age than a civilize society. Politicians have opted for intelligent manipulation rather than reason and humankind. Humans have become machines, and feed the best components that they believe will make them function healthier. Reason and consciousness have being, put aside. Moreover, it is consciousness that difference you the human animal from the non-human animal. Therefore, reality will upturn any asymmetrical imposition that hinders the human development as a result world politicians that do not respect the human development will find that their own ideas will be inverted and the end result will be the opposite that what they aimed. Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, china, Russia and south America are examples of how a will cannot bend the laws of nature. Sun, 15 Jul 2007 14:02:21 +0100 alfredo.bremont comment 435155 at http://www.opendemocracy.net http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy_power/future_europe/after_reform#comment-435091 An excellent analysis of the current plight of European politics - thanks to the reactionary attitudes of many/most of the current crop of member-state leaders, who cling to their illegitimate party-based power and privileges and actively and by dishonest means oppose the emergence of a European demos. They represent the past, the age of the pseudo-democratic and anachronistic nation-state. Europe and the world urgently need something different - a system based on solidarity and cooperation instead of a competition which is environmentally destructive, encourages waste and ultimately benefits only a minority. Fortunately, the tide is turning. A new Europe is emerging and the institutions are having to acknowledge it - weakly as of yet, as would be expected. One of the most promising and surprising developments is the 'grass-roots' response to the inclusion of a European Citizens' Initiative right in the constitutional treaty (retained in the 'reform treaty'). Despite not having been formally implemented, 20 ECIs have already been launched, two of which have met the target signature requirement of 1 million signatures "from a significant number of member states". Though formally not much more than a weak right of petition to the Commission, it is a harbinger of things to come and a revolutionary development in its own right - the very first example of transnational democracy. Initiative campaigns mobilise millions across borders. They bypass national governments. Of course, anti-integrationist governments will do whatever they can to ignore the people, as they have done for decades. There must be national movements for democracy to support and complement the emergence of transnational democracy at the European level. Europe is not alone in witnessing the pressure for the 'democratisation of democracy'. Next year will see the very first World Conference on Direct Democracy in Lucerne, Switzerland, supported by International IDEA, the Swiss Confederation and the City and Canton of Lucerne. It will highlight the world-wide expansion of efforts to reclaim democracy from the usurpers. Thu, 12 Jul 2007 14:32:19 +0100 paul.carline comment 435091 at http://www.opendemocracy.net http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy_power/future_europe/after_reform#comment-435087 I share the opinions of the author. It's refreshing to read a think-piece with lots of intelligence and historical anticidents. I suppose being a Hungarian also helps the author. However I want to comment on "ever-closer union" and what may follow rather accidently or otherwise.... Having been inside the EU during Maastricht Treaty and introduction of the EURO, I wish to take a prescriptive view of the future based on on-going globalization debate-which I'm afraid is likely to endup not only repudiating WTO ( GATT successor) and, who knows if WTO, as currently structured under Clintonian pressure, will survive. Trade issues are now the meat of USCongressional debate on Chinese Yuan with a view to forcing its revaluation (upwards). America is trying to cow the PRC - which I'm afraid will not happen! However, in case of a global crisis (whether currency based or otherwise), it's likely the run to cover under the Euro will become a rampage, if not a desired national security goal of surplus treasuries. Such a global crisis will re-enforce the Euro and its strategic value as a reserve currency - in competiton with US dollar. This is already taking place with Chinese and Indian govts, and many more countries. Therefore, in my considered view, a global crisis like above will re-enforce the strategic decisions which went into the introduction of the Euro. The UK treasury will then have serious decisions to make in the event Sterling revalues beyond its inherent trading value. Similarly, my country Sweden, will have serious political problems to decide ( join the Euro to defend the Kroner!). Similarly, I expect the inter-governmentalists to recover their political senses as to what Masstricht Treaty implies in the context of ever-closer union. The days of European nationalism is over and done with in an age of globalization. In other words, a globalization crisis of one form or another will re-enforce the value of ever closer union. Until then inter-governmentalists will dance to their own tunes! Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:23:13 +0100 hari_1 comment 435087 at http://www.opendemocracy.net