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If you think of the EU as merely a free trade area, expansion is a good thing. If you want a political EU, disorderly expansion is a problem.

The peak-to-trough part of the business cycle is an outlier. Carnot would have died laughing.
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jul 19th, 2009 at 04:50:35 PM EST
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But in general expansion of a system gives great chances for advancement for those already in the system. And disorderly expansion has the advantage of making accountability harder to demand.

So if you are a politician or bureacrat involved on the higher levels of EU power, you may want a political EU in theory, but more power for yourself in practice. If a political EU does not serve your needs ideals what good is it? And who will defend that if your personal power does not expand?

What power does the lowly citizens of the EU have over the question of Icelandic membership?

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by A swedish kind of death on Sun Jul 19th, 2009 at 05:54:27 PM EST
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What power does the lowly citizens of the EU have over the question of Icelandic membership?

Icelandinc membership will take place through a treaty. Any power that citizens have over their government entering into international treaties applies to Icelandic membership.

This is why I think Croatia will not join the EU: there's nothing to prevent Croatia's accession treaty from being defeated either by the Slovenian parliament, or the Slovenian people in a referendum.

The peak-to-trough part of the business cycle is an outlier. Carnot would have died laughing.

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jul 19th, 2009 at 05:57:05 PM EST
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