I Wonder How Much Longer the EU Will Last?

[abaris]

Rather than address the content of the OP, I will address the title question.  I think the EU, in one form or other, is going to be around for a long time.  Whatever its imperfections, it certainly beats killing each other in world wars, as was done in the first half of the 20th century, and killing each other in smaller wars in previous centuries.

That was the general idea when France and Germany laid the foundations. There are three problems the EU has. It expanded too fast within the last two decades without any clear definition where it actually wants to go and what it wants to symbolize for it's people. That's the root problem.

The second one, building on the first one described is newly awakened nationalism. The UK is an ongoing problem and I would be all for pressuring them instead of being pressured by UK governments. Not because I dislike them or want them out, but because entering a club means buying the whole package and not cherry picking. The former Communist block countries also are big on nationalism, Hungary the most prominent one among them. Again, and even more since I'm of hungarian descent, I don't want them out. But the EU should take measures to show them that a government like theirs has got no place in the community.

And third, building on the first two problems, is the lack of will to aim for a political union. I for one got no interest in national bickering and feel as a European. I subscribe to European values and not to some nationalist bickering. I've got no interest in voting for our local idiots in European elections. I want a European government to happen with international candidates being up for election. Of course that won't happen anytime soon, since the local politicians fear for their future. Most aren't the sharpest tools in the shed and that's also why they base their careers on fear mongering.

Last, the treatment of the fugitives, which brings me back to the OP, is an international shame. Again, it's based on pure and undiluted fear mongering, playing to the most primitive instincts of the voters to cash in on exploiting the poorest of the poor. Which also reminds me on how they treated and keep on treating Greece. It's always the little people paying the bills.