eud campaign

-Do you agree with the European Union to be turned into a federation or a cooperation of Member States is enough?

Nicolae: It is already a federalist system. At least the way I see it. I would prefer a close cooperation between Member States as we are all too different. It is impossible otherwise to please everybody and to respect everybody.

-What would be the worse idea about EU?

Nicolae: I can’t really say. I will tell you at the end of 2007. What I can tell you is that the Hungarians and the Polish regret it as their economic development is worse…

Do you believe that there is a limit to the development of the EU? If yes, how to know where that limit is?

Tomek: The EU should develop itself constantly – there are all the time new challenges. But the limit you asked for would be, for example, the accession of Turkey (as it is not democratic in fact, there are violence against human rights in there) or making one federal state.

According to you, is the EU too bureaucratic?

Tomek: In some cases for sure. Too many regulations which seem to me not needed, e.g. how regular banana should look like, what plants could be used to make vodka/wine/jam etc. The same example with ROHS directive which in my opinion doesn't help to protect environment but only makes high costs to small electronic companies.

If I told you that about 70% of the new laws in your country come from Brussels, would that be ok for you?
Linus: That would depend on what kind of laws the EU were setting and what for, and especially under which circumstances (that there is, for instance, a democratic process when a law is being processed).

Do you believe that there is a limit to the development of the EU? If yes, how to know where that limit is?
Linus: There are cultural limits. People aren’t prepared to move outside their own country to a very large extent, so why would they want to see all their power rest up in the hands of the European parliament.

What would be your worst idea about the EU?
Linus: Too much decided by its biggest members perhaps. Lack of diversity in general.

Question: Would you like the EU to become a federal State?

Magdalena: It could have its advantages and its disadvantages. Abuses of power will be easier. Good and central decisions could be reached in case the continent would be compromised. But that also applies for bad decisions and it could be tougher for smaller states. How would such a state deal with the minorities’ issues.

Question: Did you participate in the European elections in 2004 (with a turnout of 16%)?

Magdalena: No because the political parties haven’t given my enough useful information. That’s why I decided to solve my problems on my own instead of going to vote.

Question: At the moment, what opinion do you think people have of the EU?

David: I think the range of opinions about EU are very wide. There are so many different cultures and traditions that make it impossible to have similar opinions. Generally I think people see the EU as a positive and necessary development project of our time. 

Question: What fears do your people have of the EU?

David: The main fear in my opinion is loss of there own identity. This fear grows bigger the smaller and less developed the country is.