Barroso hails the European 'empire'

Barroso hails the European 'empire'

www.telegraph.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

Well, that is worrying. Especially since the European Commission now believes the EU is an empire.

www.telegraph.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

Here we go! Great post man.

Finally for everyone out that there that doesnt know what is going on in Europe now you do. All hail the rebirth of the Roman empire.

Kinda scary really. We havent seen an empire since Britain. Wonder whats to come....

The US has done a great job at filling the role of empire. Sure they dont have direct colonial rule, but thats because its cheaper to just run a countries economic system directly, and their poltical system indirectly, [sarcasm] all the while keeping the troops where their really needed: crushing insurgencies in revolutionary countries.[/sarcasm]

To say there hasnt been an empire since Britain is to ignore current world events, IMO.

I totally agree.

And whatever it's happening in the EU, the US (or the people behind it's policies) are strong supporters of it.

Not to mention that Barroso was backed by the same interests that wanted the war in Iraq. I have no doubt that without that he would have never been appointed in the first place.

The whole situation in the EU is very worrying indeed, especially with the whole Reform Treaty that they are trying to implement without hearing the people's opinion through referenda.

A permanent presidency, a common army.. Barroso and others may say that they don't envision a 'United States of Europe' but I'm pretty sure that's what it's being planned.

another thing to note

The EU wishes to expand its "economic power" into Northern Africa.

he goes on to say aswell

"What we have is the first non-imperial empire,"

bull!

We in Europe will ALWAYS have an imperialist agenda, especially the United Kingdom and France.

[edit on 11-7-2007 by infinite]

we can watch it

YouTube Link

[edit on 11-7-2007 by infinite]

I think that geezer is on the windup, haha. The main countries have no choice but to join.

I really think he is trying to wind us up with those comments.

I think that too..

it's a dig at America too, by saying the EU is the first "non-imperial empire".

[edit on 11-7-2007 by infinite]

infinite of course we in the UK still believe in imperilism, we have no way of stopping people entering the country who are all hell bent on imperilism us Brits into their way of thinking lol.

EU, European countries that strive to get along with each other and be in unity, do me a favour history shows that none of us can do so and in reality dispise each other.

Mr. Barraso like all in the EU government is just another hyped up politician who likes to be seen and heard for their own importance.

BAH

Not to stick my nose in the air and tell all you Europeans (the many I have argued with here) that "I told you so"..

The European Union is the United States in 1770's .. it will slowly transform from a union of free and independent nations into a federalized, centralized heavily bureaucratic waste that the United States is today, only with todays fast acting communications and resources, the time line will be sped up compared to the fast federalization of America.

The EU is an empire indeed, slowly and surly the Nations and her peoples will willingly allow the up and coming EU government to rape and pillage their rights, and most importantly, identity.

The EU could rise and compete with the United States, and all kinds of glory awaits this new "empire" .. Europe has sat in America's shadows for quite some time now, but at what price as a people will Europe be willing to take?

America is not an Empire, and an Empire is impossible without Imperialism..

The words of one man does not an earth shattering event make.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Great find infinite. It seems the "Union" of Europe has only been a plot to overthrow democratic governments and install a more socialist version.

Well, next is the NAU. Let's see where that one goes...

Then we will have a one world government...God help us all.

Souce of external quote.

I have checked a few sources and they are all pretty much the same. The EU does not yet fit the definition of Empire. The individual countries still have sovereignty. A lot of people would have to blink for that to change I think.

If this were to happen we would be looking at something akin to the United States today. According to the definitions an empire can exist simply by placing a group of states or territories under one ruling body. Great Britain and the United States would both qualify as an Empire in their present forms. Rome had a very similar government.

I think too much is being made of this.

One mans view of things, one mans slip of the tongue.

So he has the wrong definition of 'empire'... you going to hold an entire union of countries accountable?


The United States fits the description of 'empire' better than the EU.

Bush has made it abundantly clear that he doesn't care what the people say, he's going to do whatever he likes to his country and other countries aswell... if thats not a dictatorship of an empire, I don't know what is.

Rockpuck's comparison is a very good one. The current European Union does really resemble and early United States of America.

Because very early on, the US was pretty much just a collection of thirteen small nations, some comparable in size with some European nations. For quite a few years the political landscape was dominated by the states (in the EU's case this will be the current nations), and what power the federal government did have was dominated by the legislative branch. However over time the executive office has become significantly more powerful than it was, and is essentially the driver of the American political vehicle. And overtime the federal government has becoming many times what it once was, and is the dominant power in the US, led by the President with Congress and the states as the backseat drivers.

Make no mistake, this will happen to the European Union if they continue down their current path. Eventually those in the EU's government will begin to overpower the individual nations, placing more importance on the EU as a whole than individual nations. And although the president of the EU may not have much power now, he'll be capable of unbelievable things. Kind of funny how the US system spawned from ideas in Europe, and now Europe is putting ideas that we've tested into practice.

Anyhow my list of signs to watch for are as follows;

1. EU President designated as Commander in Chief rather than the nations who supply said the military forces.
   
2. A common language.
   
3. Taxes imposed on the citizens by the EU towards the EU government.
   
4. Executive orders from the president with powers comparable to acts of the legislative body.
   
5. European Union laws given override status over national and local laws.
   
6. EU given the ability to declare war.
   

I'm not saying that this is a good or bad thing. What I am saying is that within in anywhere from as little as fifty to as much as two hundred years, the European Union is going to look a lot like the present day United States. A lot of people said that the United States was bound to fail, that we'd end up as one of Britain's colonies again. So far I'd say we're doing pretty good, and our independence hasn't been questioned since the War of 1812.

Assuming this works it could be the dawn of a great new era for Europe. Or infighting between cultures or an over powerful executive could bring ruin. The choice is in the hands of the people of Europe. And for everyone's sake I hope that this goes better than the last time someone tried uniting all of Europe.

this is bad news for those smaller countries in the EU, mab be he is predicting what a monster the EU is fast becoming. A warning to the aspiring applicants.

I can only imagine what Europe would do if they were actually unified, if the past foretells the future: it wouldn't be anything good. Though these times are very different. The US, Russia, China are blocks of power which really did not exist in those times.

I am on my Arse laughing that in the Euopiain Union, they are speaking english.

Are there any prodomint english speaking countries in the EU?????

I had been under the impression that the EU was a trading block only, not a United States of Europe, are they seeking to change this????