Europe won't ever achieve any sort of geopolitical influence and it's physically impossible that it does. Each country has its interests, its international affiliations, its internation partnerships, etc, etc, which positively prevent that the EU as a whole can have any sort of geopolitical influence. Quite the opposite, in fact! And, as things go, it's loosing the little it had in the past and what is worst, the geopolitical influence of Europe in the world is smaller than the UK alone or France alone had 20 years ago. I think that the French already started seeing this and taking steps to regain back what little of what they lost they can.

The power axis of the world is moving from the Atlantic to the Pacific in large part because of Europe's actions towards itself which prevents it from having a real world influence. The EU as a whole, under influence from several countries, behaves like an old ruined lady which preaches moral standings that nobody neither cares about nor listens to. One of the itens where this matherialises is pacifism which led to an enormous reduction in military power in several countries, the UK one of them. Well, it's simply impossible to have geopolitical influence without a strong military and the declared will to use it behind diplomacy.


BINGO! It's not an option. It's either yes or yes. See what was the Europe Constitution which, after being refused by referendum in a few countries, was replaced by the Treaty of Lisbon which is the European Constitution with some minor changes. Without any referendum, of course, except the one in Ireland.


Quite true. Very, very true indeed. But then, even in continental Europe there are certain differences, very different societies in the continent which is impossible to mix.


Imagine that you are in Morocco and reach the border with Mauretania. You see that no-man's land which you know have mines here and there, you can't immediately discern what is the best route, you think about Mauretania being an islamic country, etc, etc, etc. What do you do? Go back to the safety of the known Morocco or do you move forward towards Nouadhibou?


That access to skilled or cheap labour has nothing to do with the EU. The UK can design its immigration laws in order to keep attracting those. Just like Canada or Australia do.


It's up to Her Majesty's Government to acquiesce to Brussels demands or not. Or even simply ignore them.


Who cares about Europe outside of Europe?



twowheels03, just love that article you posted. It reflects practically the views that I have on the subject being the major point of contention the view of the author regarding a future rebirth of the EEC out of the ruble of the EU's implosion where I tend to think that right now, with so much bad blood between several countries that isn't really an option anymore.