Brussels charts path towards ‘deep and genuine’ economic union

Don, there are about 14 Eu countries that have never contributed to the EU budget. Spain joined in 1987(?) and since then it has NEVER contributed one penny to the EU budget. On a Monday Spain sends it's contribution to the EU. On Tuesday the EU sends in back to Spain, and on Wednesday the EU gift's Spain a load more cash, and Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday WTF!!
Thats been going on since Spain joined. There are a couple of countries that have, now and again, contributed, but only for a few years. The EU is 11 countries that feed a charity bowl that 16 countries feed off. Spain Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Most of the Eastern block new members. All just dead weight charity cases. The only good thing about the Euro is that the UK had the sense not to join it! The only reason the EU wanted us to join it is that we could share in the suffering!

Philip, you talk about the UK as if its something special and the Eurozone needs them so much...

While I do agree that countries like Greece and Portugal has become more of a charity case it does not help to be selfish. Be the change you want to see in the world.

Dont forget the UKs trade def, and debt is higher than the Eurozones and its not long ago the UK was forced out of the pre Euro common currency 1992 since the economy was not strong enough to stay in. SO please spare us.

The richest states like New York and Texas give far more money (about 20% compared to 1% in the EU) to the poorer once in the US and they dont complaint but only selfish Brits does. I hope Britan leaves the EU in 2017 and see how well you will do by youself.

Seem like Brits prefer to send aid to corrupt african countries where the money is lost than to aid their European sisters and brothers...

Your GDP is only about 15% of the total EU GDP. Alone, nobody will take you serious. or better yet, become part of the US, that is if they will take you in...

And by the way, the Euro is not going anywhere. Every year since its creation they said that its the end of the Euro but its still 20% stronger than when it was created, while the british pound has dropped some 20% to the dollar over the last few years... There are only 2 relevant currencies in the world, and none of them are the British pound!

Selfishness is just not the way forward in the world. Dont forget the UK also recieved money from the Marshall plan after WW2...

Dear Christine, As an English man I can say that the UK is not great. The only deluded people that think it's still great are the idiots that sit in Parliament. No Christine, the Great has gone from Britain.
There are 27 countries in the European Union. Now this is a fact, something that an American would find hard to understand. 14 of those countries have NEVER contributed ANYTHING to the EU budget. Do you understand that, NOTHING. Spain for example Joined in 1986 since then it has been given it's contribution back plus billions. Now add that to Portugal, Ireland etc.
Greece, 1991 it joined. NEVER paid a penny received loads and the country is bust. How long do you give people to get it right? Question Where has all the money gone?
Google 'El Pias' it a Spanish news paper in English. One of the top stories is about 50 million thats 'missing' This is just part of a corruption story that is thought to amount to between 750 million to a billion euros..... missing presumed stolen! That's where EU money goes. Spain is just one example Greece where tax avoidance is a national pass time and some would say is obligatory!

What New York and Texas has to do with Europe I have no idea, that's your country. I have no interest in a country that is as morally bankrupt that allows fire arms in schools! So please don't lecture me!
The British people would prefer not to send money to African countries. Unfortunately we have, for the time being, a Prime Minister who does. Makes him feel good!. There is not a great deal we can do about that until the next election.
As for trade if the UK didn't have it's hands, legs and ba-l's tied up by the EU for so long , maybe we would be a dam sight better off. Even now the EU is attacking the last institution we have, the City.

As for your last swipe about WWII Any money we may have received from North America has been paid for in British soldiers blood backing your country up in wars illegal or other wise. Either by enemy fire or you military killing ours in friendly fire. I really don't like America so perhaps you should look to sorting your own country out. Letting fire arms in schools? WTF.

My sincere apologies Christian, I didn't read your name correctly.
Why do I spend time on this site? Because I see it's my right to balance the Pro Euro lobby, lest we just have rings put through our nose's and are lead blindly along into the Federal States of Europe, God forbid. Or is this site only for the Pro Europhiles. who don't like it when people point out the faults of the system?

Is questioning things being classed as being superior? Just because most of the population of the Uk doesn't agree with the rest of the EU are we to be insulted and called superior? I am not superior nether are my fellow country men, maybe it's that we just like to know where were going before we set off. So please no more with the 'superior' it doesn't wash. And I would take a look out side this site. You will be surprised to find that Euro Sceptics are all over Europe. Even in your precious Germany

Your opening paragraph is probably the most telling. If it wasn't for the Euro the German economy wouldn't be as strong. Very good for Germany. but the rest? And you would rather be 'Ruled by Germany' Wow! I am sure many of your fellow country men and women would disagree. Personally I would prefer to be governed by my own Parliament in my capital city fully voted for by my fellow country men and women. Rather than just 11% of a EU parliament that is largely undemocratic. But that choice, your and mine.

As for the 16 'beggar' countries there is more chance of me flying to the moon that there is of Spain being a net contributor by 2015. I know because I live there and know first hand the state of the Spanish economy and the mass corruption. that blights the nation. Could you tell me how things are going to change in the next two years? I am sure many of the governments would love to know!

News flash Christian, the EU sends money to Africa! If you would care to look at the EU court of auditors report you will see how it's wasted. But at the end of the day some of the aid get through. How much does Scandinavia, Opps! not a country is it? Scandinavia is a group of little countries, isn't it? and Norway isn't in the EU. But hats off, the other three have been net contributors two since they joined and Denmark since 1998, But who's counting. I digress how much do you send to help Africa, what ever country you really come from?.

I really think you need to get out and read a bit more Christian. The EU isn't a cosy club where everyone gets on together. The Eu isn't all bad it's that over the years it's grown to something thats much to powerful, to big, unaccountable and most of all undemocratic. Where nations are vilified for daring to speak out against things. So Christian take off your rose tinted glasses and see the real world and do a bit of digging into the functions and power of the EU. I promise you will be surprised and may change your view point from someone that just want to follow to someone that want's to lead.

Christian, You are correct discussion is a part of a healthy democracy. But when that discussion is suppressed and threatened, as it is against the UK. That becomes a dictatorship, and very undemocratic, yes?
All I read from the Pro Euro camp is how bad it will be for the UK to leave. How bad is is that the UK doesn't join the Euro. How bad it is that the UK wants to walk instead of run. How bad it is that the UK dare's to ask questions. Bad bad bad. Do you wonder why the people of the UK are sceptical? And I say again there are people who are suspicious about the EU all over Europe, not just the UK.

As far as the illegal war the UK was dragged into yes you are correct. As far as I am concerned the UK should have non of it's soldiers on foreign soil and Blair should be standing trial in the Hague for war crimes.
Germany dose what's best for Germany. So the UK should do what best for the UK? true?

As for the charity nations. Even when Spain was doing fine there was still 20% unemployment. Despite having had backing of the EU for over 25 years it still hasn't prospered. In Spain right now over 50% of all 15 to 26 year olds are unemployed. That's just under 5,000,000 people. That the entire population of Latvia, Cyprus, Estonia and Malta combined. How is that going to change in the next two years? The EU is signing 'Free Trade' agreements all over the world.
Say you were a Business man in Denmark. you employed 100 people in Denmark. But the EU made it easy for you to do business with Colombia. So you moved you business to Colombia. Cheaper work force and more profits for the businessman. But what about the Danish men and women who are now unemployed and being kept by the state....you. How do you feel now?

Denmark did join the EU in 1973 but it wasn't a net contributor until 1998.

Any way these post's are getting to long so I will cut this one short, save to say. You and I are not to far apart. I agree the EU or 'Common Market' (thats what I voted for all those years ago) is a good thing. The problem is it's grown into something too big and it needs to have it's power cut. I believe that the final decision on any law, treaty, contract, or what ever should rest with the national governments Not some unelected commissioners and the MEP's of 26 other countries.