tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post3318573122487448630..comments2023-10-10T15:39:35.168+00:00Comments on Centre for European Reform: What the summit says about the EUCentre for European Reformhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815454225955436329noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-57124314404143117662007-07-20T22:00:00.000+00:002007-07-20T22:00:00.000+00:00AnonymousFirstly do not assume that the so called ...Anonymous<BR/><BR/>Firstly do not assume that the so called "silent majority" share your viewpoint to a man/woman/child. <BR/><BR/>You also know very well that, in the total absence of any serious attempt to foster the development of a shared European political space, by Europeanising the Union's institutional architecture, thus encouraging political parties to develop truly pan-European structural arrangements and contest elections on the basis of strictly European issues, such dialogue with citizens is bound to be met with vitriolic abuse and excoriation on the part of a highly vocal anti-Europe (in any form whatsoever) minority. <BR/><BR/>No one is pretending that closer political integration can or should proceed "from above" but in the absence of any meaningful European political arena and the continued domination of the agenda by large and powerful individual member state administrations (with it might be added, a vested interest in ensuring that such pan-EU political dialogue does not emerge amongst ordinary citizens) we are condemned (as a European electorate) to suffer the compartmentalised mindset that pits the interests of European citizens against each other instead of realising the values we do share.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-63989091350427147282007-07-02T19:50:00.000+00:002007-07-02T19:50:00.000+00:00Peter, I agree with you concerns that ordinary cit...Peter, I agree with you concerns that ordinary citizens are once more being left out of the process, but by your reference to "luddites who would eternally frustrate the ultimate goal of an "ever closer union", I assume you mean the vast majority of the aforementioned ordinary citizens of EC nations who do not want ECU. The fact of the matter is that very few EU citizens have ever really been asked about what they want and expect of the EU, and until they truly are, expect more and increasingly unpleasant ludditry!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-58327702132285879782007-06-28T21:55:00.000+00:002007-06-28T21:55:00.000+00:00The real winner emerging from this treaty negotiat...The real winner emerging from this treaty negotiation was, sadly, the perpetuation of a Europe of Nations geo-political template as the basis for the EU's evolution.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps we should remind ourselves of the courageous goal set down within the Laeken declaration nearly six years ago, when an accord to build a Europe for its citizens was forged.<BR/><BR/>It seems as though the hopes and aspirations of those citizens were sacrificed yet again on the altar of domestic National political expediency. <BR/><BR/>For as long as the incumbent political elites are allowed to pursue strategies based on the compartmentalised mentality inherent within the Union's current structure, we are doomed as Europeans to stumble from crisis to crisis, inventing ever more intricate institutional arrangements designed solely to shore up an increasingly irrelevant member state based hierarchical construction. <BR/><BR/>Will we ever see real initiatives to stimulate Europeanisation of the political arena and create democratically accountable bodies reflecting the true diversity of our continent or are we destined to repeat the same mistakes repeatedly in an effort to appease those luddites who would eternally frustrate the ultimate goal of an "ever closer union".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-83362032363628684102007-06-28T17:05:00.000+00:002007-06-28T17:05:00.000+00:00Very nice summation, very helpful. Thank you.Steve...Very nice summation, very helpful. Thank you.<BR/><BR/>Steven Hill<BR/>New America Foundation<BR/>www.newamerica.net<BR/>www.10steps.netAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com