The_Goon said:
Will do, Saladmonkey!
Alsacien, you're right, I'm not overly certain about the workings of the EU, and much of my knowledge of it is gleaned from the media reports. I did do an AS-Level in Economics (translation: Doesn't stand for an awful lot!) and did look at the EU, if only briefly.
I found it to be a most distressing "organisation" (term used loosely) and was amazed by the bureaucratic methods. You just have to look at the way they've dealt with fishing in the EU, the way subsidies work in many areas, et al, and I personally became disillusioned.
Do you have a good experience of the EU, or a different one?
I have both good and bad experiences, which is why I am neutral. I guess I could summarise by saying I believe it
could be a good thing for all, not that it is. I also try and separate out my naturally nationalistic perspective as it does not aid objective thought and unfortunately the empire is no more.
The objectives of the EU are good, noble and forward thinking.
The politicians involved are human [yeah, cough] and have their own views on how to achieve those objectives - but they are transient like all politicians with some good and some bad ones.
A good experience?
I worked on a project linked to the Euro launch. The potential for the largest international project failure existed, but the transition went off exactly as planned - better even.
Does anyone (with project management experience) really think it would be possible to bring in a completely new currency simultaneously in a dozen countries, if everyone was really swimming in a sea of incompetent bureaucra
cy?