United States of Europe

“ In varietate concordia “

(United in diversity)

• Old dream of Europe unification : Roman empire, Napoleon Bonaparte…• In a globalized world, it appears to be “safer” to be part of a great

structure (China, India, USA…)• It is the goal of the European Commission (Viviane Reding), as a way to

strengthen the unity of Europe*• People believe in a strong defense union• The UE is supposed to bring economic stability• There is a hope for Europe to be the safeguard of democracy

* Source : http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-12-796_en.htm

Why should the UE become the United States of Europe (or not)

• Lisbon treaty signed without referendum (France, Ireland...)• Non-elected leaders (Herman Van Rompuy, president of the

European Council, Catherine Ashton, in charge of the Foreign Affairs of the EU…)

• The UE has taken over the democracies (Mario Monti hasn’t been elected, Greece has lost its sovereignty).

• The European law is above our own constitution*• Treaties are diminishing the sovereignty of the countries

(European fiscal compact…)

* Source : http://www.jurispolis.com/dt/mat/dr_fr_infl_ue.htm

Democracy

• Very different geostrategic interests (Atlanticism in the UK)

• France was against the war in Iraq (UK, Italy, Spain, Poland)

• France has no support in the Northern Mali conflict

• No border in the Schengen Area, no protectionism at the European border

Security and defense policy

• The Euro Zone is a failure (no devaluation = no exportation, billions injected to save the Euro... For zero economic growth)

• No harmonization of the social policy -> Social dumping from the Eastern countries (even in Germany)*

• Countries have to borrow their money on the private markets. Ex from Nigel Farage, leader of the UKIP

• Greece, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Ireland in trouble (the “PIIGS”)• The austerity policy is aggravating the crisis

* Source : http://www.latribune.fr/actualites/economie/union-europeenne/20120314trib000688164/en-allemagne-pres-d-un-salarie-sur-quatre-touche-un-bas-salaire.html

Economy

• We can’t control the EU health policy (GMO, Meat and Bone Meal…)

• People in Europe don’t want an United State of Europe and are attached to their countries

• The austerity policy has led to tragic political changes (Golden Dawn in Greece, Neo-Nazi parties in all the EU)

• The so-call European Union is now the battleground of an economic war

• Many other issues I might not be able to talk about…

Various issues

I hope you enjoyed my presentation !

Time for debate

Conclusion