Are for the EU constitution?

[uwila]

Merkel obviously thinks it is very important. But, what dod mumsnetters think.Seems to me the Europe has established that they are a bit too diverse to agree on one single constitiution. Can we have one foreign policy for the whole of the EU?

See here

No

EU constitution dreadful idea as is single foreign policy.

It'll never happen

I can harldy even see the UK and France agreeing on a dinner menu, let alone foreign policy. So I too am in the camp where I think one common EU constitution is an unachievale goal.

yes, I am

So, convince me. Why would it benefit the UK? (or any other country)

Yes, I'd like to know that too.

I don't want to convince anyone to be honest. I'm Italian (living in England for 7yrs) and grew up firmly believing in the necessity of having a united Europe. Our former MP (Mr Berlusconi) did everything he could to boycott Europe, and yet the fact that Italy was in it was one of the few reasons that made me hope Italy wouldn't end up like Argentina. And it would benefit all the countries to have a common foreign, economic etc policy in such a confused moment in history.

I'mnot actually opposed to the concept of a united Europe. But when the French and Dutch vetoed it last year I remember hearing a lot of interviews on the News that made me thing most Europeans are loyal first to their countries and second to Europe. You know like the French are French first and foremost, then European second. And the same seemed to be true for Itallians, Dutch, British, and so on. So it made me think that this is not possible. People don't want to beEuropean first. They want to be German, French, Polish, etc.

yes, I can see that. However, I do believe that there are so many issues (environment, economic and energetic resources, terrorism, etc) that need to be addressed in a more "communal" way, trying to overcome national interests. Maybe I'm naive. And not that I trust all those bureucrates in Brussels. But the failing of the constitution would feel to me like a missed opportunity.

Oh yeas, control from Brussels. Now I deffo don't want to give up my pound to see Brussels controling our currency. Not for that one. Maybe one day in the distant future. But, I'd like to see how the economies of the ascension countries impact the value of the Euro before we jump on the bandwagon.

The problem I have with Europe is that it is run by the unelected bureaucrats in Brussels (and lets face, the ones we send are has-beens or are not deemed fit to hold office in Westminster), not the elected parliament. The Commission can't even run itself properly - its auditors have refused to sign off on its accounts for the past six years (!!! - a limited company would be put into receivership for that happening once!). Oh, and I resent deeply the fact that Commission employees do not pay income tax, either in Belgium or in their home countries. And we're funding all that.

rosk you're completly wrong as it's each countries elected mp's (ministers)who go to meetings at the council of ministers where things are decided. The commission deals with this. The parliament is elected. EU officials do pay income tax to the eu - it's an average rate based on tax in all countries.

mis info really is unhelpful.

the number of officals working for the eu is less than for the london administration!!

hmmmm... those posts are a tad conflicting. I have heard stories of financial mismanagement before, but can't remember details so not sure I'm qualified to pass judgement.

eu officials DO pay tax, health & pension

"Officials pay a Community tax and deductions are also made for medical insurance and pensions."

to get info on the eu -

look at the eu websites

How many exactly is less than the London administration? Things may have changed, but when I was considering taking a job in Brussels about 15 years ago, one of the perks was that it was tax free (didn't go 'cos I really didn't like the guy I would have been working for).

A couple of years back a senior accountant working for the commission blew the whistle on financial mismanagement. She was vilified, but the outside auditors supported her allegations; they were apparently denied access to a lot of the information they needed to get a clear audit trail.

jobs in the eu are hard to get with the competitions.

everything is in the open with pay & conditions - you can download a booklet.

Plus how europe works is well explained.

I don't remember all the budget case but it was sorted out.