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European Integration

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Submitted By pangoo
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European Integration:
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An Illegitimate child?

http://www.economist.com/node/21555927

BAS 2013
Nicole Ogorzałek
Words: 955
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European Integration: an illegitimate child?

The European Union is facing hard times ahead. With each new treaty or another political agreement, the discontent with the European Union seems to be growing. While the Eurobarometer shows that the citizens still believe it to be beneficial to be part of the EU, the dissatisfaction is rather directed at EU policy (London School of Economics and Political Science, 2013). Whether it’s the question of enlargements, social policy or country bail-outs, the Europeans seem to be disagreeing more and more with the top of the European politics. However, nowhere is the Eurosceptism as marked as it is in Britain. And it doesn’t seem to lessen. On the contrary, organising protest against new EU-initiatives has never been easier (The Economist, 2012). Of course, looking back at Britain history it’s not hard to understand why words like “United States of Europe” or “the European Superstate” fire up the public indignation (Donnelly, 2012).
Those trying to appease the opponents try to point out the benefits Britain’s EU membership brings, like political and economic stability and developments. Furthermore, the very nature of the EU forces everyone to make concessions in order to create consensus. After all, as the saying goes, a good compromise leaves everyone dissatisfied. As for the growing integration, the argument is this is the natural and only path the EU can take. With the globalisation making it harder for single countries to compete globally or to influence global politics, there is now need

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