In 2013, Croatia became the newest Member State of the European Union. Seven or eight countries are now widely seen as likely candidates to follow them in and eventually join the European Union. However, with the EU still struggling with ever-present economic malaise, plenty of critics are lining up to warn that “bigger isn’t always better” when it comes to European integration.
There are also several roadblocks in place for some of the candidate countries. Kosovo’s independence, for example, is not recognised by all EU countries, although a surprise Serbia-Kosovo deal, brokered by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton in 2013, paves the way for its eventual EU membership. Turkey has been pushing for membership for decades, and it could still be at least 15 years before negotiations can be completed, especially with the EU so divided over whether Turkey should even join at all.
The other Western Balkan countries have all been told they can one day follow Croatia into the EU, as long as they make progress on democratic and economic reforms. However, a dispute with Greece over the name “Macedonia” has frozen that country’s membership prospects seemingly permanently. Iceland was keen to pursue membership after the financial crisis rocked the tiny Atlantic nation in 2008, but a new eurosceptic government recently suspended membership talks altogether.
We’ve put together some facts and figures about the Western Balkans EU membership prospects in the infographic below (and you can click on the image for a larger version).
Which country do YOU think should join the EU next? Is Montenegro ready to join the club? Should Iceland resume membership talks? Maybe you think the EU is already big enough, and should close the door to new members? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below, and we’ll take them to policy-makers and experts for their reactions.
IMAGE CREDITS: CC / Flickr – Justin.li
1,326 comments Post a commentcomment
serbia has to recognise kosovo as an indepetence state and after that she can join the EU.
Why? Kossovo was part of the territory of the Serbian Republic till 1999 when the brutal illegal (regarding Int.Law provisions) NATO attack lead to its secession from Serbia. The EU is against secessionist trends (i.e. Crimea, Scottland, Catalonia etc.). How can the EU raise a legitimate, coherent argument on Kossovo against Serbian candidacy?
Why would they?
Under what “referendum” ( to Putin’s so-called referendum in the light ) did Kosovo secede?
Referendums are also held COUNTRY WIDE, not REGION WIDE.
Maybe my small town wants to secede and become the “Republic of Big Tall Trees” !
That doesn’t mean we should actually do it.
Kosovo is an illegal state. The specter of separatism haunts Europe and NO COUNTRY with a “problematic” region will EVER let Kosovo join.
Their own regions might get ideas.
Venetia, Catalonia, Scotland, etc
should america recognize TEXAS as an inependent state?
Serbia will be the 29th EU member-state, although the admission is not likely until 2020.
and because Kosovo is Serbia, Serbia should never recognize its independence and send the EU to heck.
Maby if Lombardia separate of Italy by democraty way, Serbia will also recognise Kosovo and Metohija ;-)
No darling Serbia does not have to recognize Kosovo, hence Kosovo is Serbia’s province.
I would like to see the following countries in the EU:
Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, the rest of the Balkans, Karelia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria, maybe a few more, such as Australia, Aotearoa, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay and of course, Iceland, Norway, and oddly, not Switzerland. Oh, I almost forgot – Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Pakistan, India, South Africa, St. Helena, Cape Verde and the rest of the world anyway. This is how HUNGRY the EU is.
@George Yiannitsiotis
Because Spain did not cause 12 thousand deaths or misses along catalonians after they expressed their will to be independent. Because Ukraine did not kill 800 Crimean babies. Because England did not cause 1 million Scottish to flee their country. That’s why Kosovo’s case is fully justified.
Actually, Kosovo is independent, It has its own government, I dare you to go up to their government and say its not independent
Its independent because its had a referendum, a Stable Government and most people there are albanian
@Kelvin Zifla
Regardless the (bloodless or bloody) way a region seceeds from a sovereign, internationally recognised state, secession is not acceptable by International Law. This is the core of my argument. Should the EU abide by the right of a region to seceed from the state it belongs, it could open Aeolus bag releasing all winds to a real storm shaking almost all EU member-states. The blunder was made back in 1991 when the EU and other international forces got involved in a “domestic” (according to traditional Int.Law) conflict that led to the dissolution of a federal, internationally recognised, state; Yugoslavia. In case the EU recognises Kossovo as an independent state, it may be forced to do the same with the Serbian republic of Bosnia and the Croatian of Herzegovina, thus leading to the dissolution of the artificial confederation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Besides, the Hungarian minorities in Transylvania (NW Romania), Voivodina (N.Serbia) and Slovakia may revolt seeking independence too. Secessionist movements in Catalonia, the Basque country, Scottland, N.Ireland may also revolt as well as Northern Italy against Rome’s domination. Who is ready to handle such a mess? Nobody. Russia took advantage of the western blunder in Yugoslavia and secured Tauris (Crimea) for itself, bloodlessly. Simple.
@Coaut
I fully agree with you that Kossovo’s Albanian majority decided to seceed from Serbia and their decision was supported by a military attack against a sovereign state member of the UN with a lose legitimacy. Please keep in mind that changing internationally settled borders leads to more instability and wars in the future. The future of Kossovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina (as well as FYRoM) will be decided in a more comprehensive resettlement of international borders in the Balkans when the German-led “EU” retreats from the area.
And kosovo should became part of ISIS or Turkey. Nothing on that territory is European (except of Serbian monasteries and Serbia enclaves)
no it doesn’t have to!
nobody
I don’t care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members.
Quotation of Groucho Marx
Ukraine.
Only when Russia becomes EU member simultaneously!
Maybe not Buddy. Russia is better in many ways.
Are you insane, or just a russian sympatizer!? Moldovia could be a possibility, but Georgia and Ukraine? No way! NATO (to which most EU members are members of) already has tensions with Russia over Crimea’s annexation and NATO has tried getting Georgia to join NATO and russia got kinda miffed about that so we can assume that something simulair could happen if they join the EU in our current Geopolitical enviroment.
Scotland and Catalonia.
Agree. strengther regions and EU level, weaker or no national states – because: not required anymore. What do you think?
The truth is there is no such thing as a kosovo people, they are Albanians, who became a majority over time.
So it’s not likely that Serbia will ever recognise Kosovo as an independent state.
EU should not accept new members until the existing ones develop enough, especially Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Lithuania, and until Greece, Italy and Spain recover.
We can only take in Swiss, Norway or Iceland, no one else.
I disagree with most of the things you said. Firstly, if Serbia wants to become a new member state, it will have to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. That is de facto stated in the Brussels agreement. Secondly, it is in the interest of both Serbia and Kosovo to move forward in the EU membership, and also for Croatia. Especially for Bosnia and Herzegovina. You need to look at the Balkans as on a entangled puzzle, if one peace is missing, the puzzle is not complete. ;)
ah really? and what about macedonians? they do not deserve to live european dream???? even though they have fulfilled the criteria. I dont think that croatia is well developed either,
Spain’s situation is pretty much a result of FMI and troika’s policies. First solve that.
I agree I think we have to close the gap between the richest and poorest states in the EU ignoring micro states as they have little sway on the average. Although the addition of the west Balkans will be around 10 million people and by the time the mange to join everything will be quite different anyway so I wouldn’t block there membership. We definitely cannot take turkey it is becoming less democratic by the day and is a country of 77 million people way to big considering the wealth gap plus it would increase the EU land border massively. I think if the EU crisis dissolves we may see Switzerland Norway and Iceland join as they have so much regulation from the EU anyway.
Cyprus? Lithuania? These are well developed countries. In fact a lot of Eastern European countries in 2015 are richer than Portugal, Greece or even Spain with Italy. And they are only going to be richer with every passing year.
You can not take in the countries that do not want to join. Let’s call them SIN (CH, NO, IS).
Serbia has been negotiating for 2 years now and will enter the EU as its 29th state in 2020
Hope the union collapses
We need leaders like putin
We need a real European Union; let the West European Usurers Corporation collapse in order to pave the way of rebirth to the European dream.
ru kidding putin s a monster
We need people like you dissapear XD
The club of carbon and steel… they change the name to european union but they are just bussiness men trying to steal all the richness of our contries… I would recomend Serbia to not join us becouse they wont control theyr monetary policy… they will be forced to do the contrary of economic textbooks and comon sense… and if they dont agree, an ex-GolmandSucks banker will be promoted to presiden, will send all the public sector to his freinds for nothing.
Serbia has work to do, but I can see it becoming a member in some years’ time, sure. Iceland needs to get its act together with regards to its banks and economy.
Iceland does not want to join. They are in the club called SIN (Swiss, Norge, Island).
The most realistic country to join past 2015 is…. none. But Serbia could be, probably past 2025 or so. So could Montenegro and perhaps Macedonia. I am not so sure about Bosnia or Albania or the illegal formation called Kosovo. And if everyone recognises Kosovo and accepts it into the EU, then I will vote with all my four legs for Euskal Errepublika, Karelia/Karjala, Koenigsberg and a few more. They have the right to join the EU as separate countries as well, and elect a demoicratically elected Parliament of the EU, not like the one it is now.
Catalonia, Scotland, Wales, Basque Country, Brittany and Cornwall, will be the next candidates if they want to join.
First they have to separate XD
Wales and Cornwall and Brittany are all highly unlikely to become independent maybe autonomous. Scotland at this stage can go either way, Catalonia seems likely to become independent but it might not be recognized same for the Basque country although less likely
They’re already in!
iceland
The Icelandres are smarter than my compatriots; they have nothing to gain from a usurers gang, namely the West European Usurers Corporation (disguised as “European Union”)!
not Serbia. Please let’s stop pissing off Russia, okay?
Last time I checked, Serbia was 1,500 km away from Russia and Belgrade had never been ruled by Moscow in recorded history, unlike its neighbours. Besides, Serbia is in the last phase of accession to the EU, and will be joining the Union as its next member-state.
My theory is that the USA influenced the EU to accept penniless Eastern European states to leave Russia without a buffer zone from the West. Why else would formerly successful countries take on financial lame ducks? So. If the USA wants these states they should take them as USA protectorates or the UK should drop out of this top heavy organisation. If not, there will be standing room only in the UK.
Ukraine :)
It took almost 10 years for Croatia to enter after opening negotiations, and we had much better starting positions than Serbia.
It’s hard to imagine that Serbia can enter EU within next 15 years.
It will more probably be just another perpetual candidate state like Turkey.
Croatia had similar starting conditions to Serbia, including a border dispute with Slovenia, which is comparable to one Belgrade has with Pristina. Two years since the recommendations for opening of accession talks with Serbia, the country is leading the region in domain of Eurointegrations. EU progress reports speak on that behalf.
Serbia is not expected to be allowed in until 2020 the earliest. And no Paul, Croatia was in a better economical and governemnt posistion when joining. There us much work to be done in Serbia but they will get there and veventulay br part of the EU.
Iceland does not want to be a EU member, and Serbia must still recognize its mistakes and recognize Kosovo to join it. Maybe Montenegro or Bosnia…
How can you talk about Kosovo and Serbia when yourself don’t know how the politics work? where do you come from? imagine your neighboring country takes away the oldest piece of land?! Where is the humanity? And no, Serbia should never chose the european way. Open your eyes, EU are monsters and slavery of the US.
The European Union should continue its enlargement, and there is no doubt about that.
However, the main concern here is the EU current condition, not only in terms of its economy but integration. There is a large problem of integrity within the European Union, what can be observed by looking f.e at the UK. With all respect to Montenegro, and Serbia, the European Union should uphold its enlargement, and deepen its integration prior to further enlargement. There is a need of the unity which could make the EU stronger, and bring us secured and stabilized future rather than continue enlargement and leave integration aside.
We (EU) should have time to recover from the economic crisis and finally to progress with strengthening within, while the member countries would continue its progress to be well prepared to join the EU.
Great, more cheap labor that will come to flood our labor market and drive up unemployment and undercut local workers.
Let’s see:
-Turkey: never, it is not in Europe
-Ukraine: never, we cannot afford to subsidize it plus we need to stop the flood of them coming west before it starts
-Moldova: never, would be another one demanding money at our expense
-Georgia: never
-Armenia: never
-Azerbaijan: never
-Kosovo: isn’t a country
-Bosnia: isn’t a country but a super-artificial construct of three groups of which at least one doesn’t want to be and shouldn’t be a part of it (what is this ‘territorial integrity’ nonsense?)
The biggest question of all, who on earth would pay for it all with all of these poor countries wanting to come in, well mainly their politicians who eye the unelected tax-exempt jobs in Brussels.
Again, the ‘bottom’ 50-70% (income-wise) in western Europe never benefitted from any accession or ‘open borders’ or the wealth-destroying Euro or anything.
i guess Georgia will join in two three years max and also Iceland plus Scotland if they decide to get rid of England
Obviously you are unaware of international politics and the Yalta-1945 agreements; Georgia and Ukraine are not supposed to be under western economic and geopolitical influense.
Russia, obviousely!
Haha, yes…. But they have to do all the conditions in the adheration mechanism :p
None
None!
Vatican Monaco Liechtenstein for MES!
Perhaps Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia? Is Greece still blocking Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia from applying for EU membership with the name thing?
https://www.debatingeurope.eu/2014/03/20/which-country-should-join-the-european-union-next/#comment-101537
…and bail-in applied to the IOR.
Georgia
Palestine ;-)
Turkey, is very interesting, good raw material but bad border.
Ukraine, Iceland and Norway
The Republic of Macedonia is an EU candidate country since 2005. The European Commission and the European Parliament since 2009 have successively confirmed that the Republic of Macedonia is fully prepared to enter the EU accession negotiation.
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has to abide by the following terms of the interim agreement:
1. reform its constitution in order to trace out territorial or other nationalist threats against neighbours (namely the Hellenic region of Macedonia)
2. cease to cultivate a propaganda based on the looting of Hellenic history and cultural heritage (including e.g. symbols like the Vergina star, symbol of the Macedonian empire of ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΣ – Philip and his son ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ – Alexander the Great)
3. reach a compromise over the official international name of the FYRoM with neighbouring Hellenic Republic.
It seems odd to knock the door of a group of nations without settling the above basic with one of its prominent mebers.
I fully agree with you.
The EU Commission has confirmed that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is a an EU candidate country since 2005.-
None
Turkey.
that’s not the question. WHO WRITE THOSE THINGS?! the question is: which country will be the first in leaving the UE? let me guess: the one who wrote that lives in the north. and under 20, europe is nearly not able to suport the countries that there’re now!
This is imperial overstretch and the EU shall implode WITHOUT a Marshall Plan II borne by all member states.
I could say none. Serbia isn’t prepared – the present reforms doesn’t matter anything while the state is living with the nationalism and chauvinism. We do not need a friend that will look as the development and the geo-politics in the region are like a competition.
Turkey shows its Pax-Ottoman ambitious too.
At all this region needs more years of social development. Croatia is welcomed, and now are part of EU. May be Bosnia would be prepared soon enough. But the others… So, NONE! :) Sorry, if some1 doesn’t like the truth!
Montenegro should join.
I think Bulgaria should be out of EU because it’s even poorer than EU candidates at this point!
well your country Bulgaria first didnt deserve to be in eu. Now you are talking bad about Serbia. Bulgaria looks like there was an atomic war not so long ago. Just check with google street views how does houses, builduing and road in bulgaria looks with comparation with Serbia. Serbia was and always will be west in comparation to poor grey Bulgaria
Lol, Bulgaria worse than Serbia ? Ever seen the southern regions of modern Serbia? I was once in Nis and if you compare the third biggest city of Bulgaria, Varna, to the same third ranked Nis of Serbia, it’s like comparing Miami to Pakistan. The people there live worse than the poorest regions of Bulgaria.
NYS, I don’t know if you are from Bulgaria or just visited there and Serbia so you think you can easily compare. If you are from Bulgaria, you probably are a small kid that didn’t experience Bulgaria in the 1980 and 1990-ies when people from Bulgaria were coming to Macedonia and Serbia to sell stuff so that they could feed themselves. It is really hypocritical to brag about how developed you are now when everybody knows that Bulgaria became part of EU for geopolitical purposes and not for the self-delusion that they were developed. So dream on..
Any country that can bring something to Europe instead of sponging off my taxes…
I hope our slavery will end one day and all of us here on the Balkans together with the rest of Eastern Europe will make an Eastern European Union. A union that will live and co-operate with the rest of the whole World not for the sake of some nations, and this will happen, when the West and Turkey stop interfering here and tormenting us.
Good point!
The dream of Rigas Feraios (1757-1798): a federation of Balkan peoples
I could say none. Serbia isn’t prepared – the present reforms doesn’t matter anything while the state is living with the nationalism and chauvinism. We do not need a friend that will look as the development and the geo-politics in the region are like a competition.
Turkey shows its Pax-Ottoman ambitious too.
At all this region needs more years of social development. Croatia is welcomed, and now are part of EU. May be Bosnia would be prepared soon enough. But the others… So, NONE! Sorry, if some1 doesn’t like the truth
wait wait! Serbia is not prepared for EU,but Bulgaria is prepared.I think that EU need to kick out Bulgaria with Romania,because you are not nothing better then Serbia,or Macedonia.
But your Bulgaria is prepared for EU?? Sorry,but Serbian economy is much better than Bulgarian,if we talk about coruption,Bulgaria and Romania is so big problem for EU.Turkey has Ottoman abitious???You need to read more…
See? You think you’re the best around, but it was never the truth. It’s just in your logic all the time. Check here: https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=gdp+serbia+vs.+bulgaria
Where do you see this better Serbian economy? On the corrupt and controlled Serbian TVs?
The Foreign minister of Turkey, officially speaks about that. Stop watching and reading the sources you’re using. http://www.rieas.gr/research-areas/global-issues/greek-studies-gr/1672-turkey-as-a-regional-power-neo-ottomanism-in-action.html
And,by the way, some arabe state want to build the biggest mosque in Serbia, aren’t I right?
Come on,stop with that GDP,you know,i have lot of bulgarain friends,great people and they need to escape from Bulgaria,because salaries is around 150 e per month.I was lot of times in Bulgaria,and i can say that Serbia looks more europen than Bulgaria,sorry but that is a truth.The biggest mosque is lie,and please dont think that Bulgaria is something important in EU,and nobody will ask Bulgaria or Croatia for Serbian entrance in EU.
Mihail you are totaly right,and im not f***** proud,im just normal citizen,with same problems like bulgarians,greeks have.And we need to support each other,not to degrade.
Please,it was one movie,and i cant comment art and artist.I dont know why Bulgarians thinks that we are kings,or that we have behavior like kings,so weird.People form Serbia adore Greek nation,also we love Macedonians,we lost confidence in Bulgaria(from historical wiews),but Bulgarians for us is not enemies,or something like that.p.s one my bulgarian friend know by heart all movie ,,black cat,white cat,, and that is one of favorites movies of her.
Bulgaria and Romania consist the borders of Europe and they have a respective population. They couldn’t miss the EU family! Sure, Serbia and Ukraine will be the next ones to join! It will need a lot of years for Kosovo, Bosnia, FYROM, Albania to make the reforms and for us the European to accept the first Muslim countries in the Union. Nothing personal about Muslims, its just religion after all but it definitely forms another type of society with less freedom etc… I guess its not random that all of them are the most backward countries in the European territory.
Mr Todorov,with this sentence i will close this conversation,im so sad when i see sentence from Bulgarians ,,we are sick nation,goverment,, or something like that,anyway,you need to read more,not to watch just television,and to hate everything from Serbia.I had also prejudices about Bulgarians,and i started to read more,i started to dance in bulgarian folkor,rchenica,and i got rid of my fears.In political wiew,we expected from Bulgaria to recognize Kosovo,because Bulgarian politics always was against Serbia(so sad,because i think that we need to be like brothers),but we didnt expect from FYR of Macedonia,but if you ask Macedonians,not Albanians,they NEVER want Kosovo like independent country.My country and my people from Kosovo lost homes,liberty,everything,because of propaganda which you believe,we had NATO bombing 80 days,,humanitarian bombing,,and lot of airplanes which bombing me and my country erupted from your country,you dont have to understand me and my people.Finally,i think EU is for everybody and for every country,greetings for good people,,nazdrave priateli,,!
I will be brother with every person whom i want,i will never ask you for it,anyway,dont think that i hate ex YU countries,we had the most beautiful country in the world.Dont put all people in same pole,you cant say ohh macedonians,thay must be bad,because also in your nation,you can find BAD and GOOD persons.Please dont hate,because thats not good.For minority of Bulgarians,i didnt know that they dont have rights,they have a schools in bulgarian language,they can use bulgarian,to write bulgarian,and of course every minority need to be same like ,in this case like Serbs,but also,Turks and Gypses need to have rights in your country.You know,we live in Balkan,thats specific region,my favorite.
Mihail Todorov I have no idea why you show so much hate… You make assuptions and hate whole races based on very few facts, diplomatic relations and military.
Like saying that greeks and cypriots are stealers- I have to say that this is the first time I hear this charactirization about us, and of course I say it false. What exactly has been stolen from you by Greeks?
I could rant on about the behavior of Bulgarians in my country, but you see I regognise that sometimes you just come across the wrong people.
I had no idea Bulgarians feel this way about FYROM… Here we have no idea how to call them actually as you can probably imagine :P I learned very recently about your relations with this country, and it is truly a shame- you should be like brothers,like us with Cyprus.
Plus don’t be so hard on Serbia.. They have gone through a lot and been blamed exclusively, so that their bombing could be justified. Don’t think for a minute that Croatians,Bosnians and Albanians were Mother Teresas.. And generally the Serbians are genually nice people once you get to know them. We indeed are very close as countries, as SRB stated.
Anyway, I hope I don’t show hate through this comment- we need to respect and love every nation. Only this way we’ll make each other stronger.
Just don’t hate/love based on facts like these. Do you think your average Serbian/Greek/Albanian/Croatian/whatever wanted Bulgaria/FYROM relations to go this bad? They probably didn’t even have a say in it.
Greetings!
no one, in this momment.
ps: kosovo is not an independent state, first it’s not a state, second it’s not independent, it lives with EU money.
Republic of kosovo if you know how to read
Republic of Kosova is a recognised Country from 110 Countries. That is a huge reality. Peace
Ukraine
I think that they should join. But we need to make the governance structures of the EU more transparent and understandable to the citizen.
The EU should first settle the financial and political chaos in its internal affairs , and then open the doors to new tenants . Otherwise it makes no sense … In the present circumstances , the benefits that may accrue to a country from joining , in no case are compensated by the obligations and restrictions associated through this integration . In other words , the EU accession of a country limits the scope of its political and economic choices , without the corresponding benefit …… I wonder how the citizens of these countries do not see it ….. If they expect to find unity, togetherness and solidarity, they are dreaming in vain….This is just a big INC. and in a maladministration. But their opinion is never asked of course !!!!
join? I think the opposite is in order
I totally agree!
Norway
absolutely it is now more business than closer to the people of Europe!
Serbia should deal in a civilized way the problem of ethnic minorities, for it is harassing the Roumanians in Timoc and imposes them the name of Walachs claiming they have other identity! People are beaten, priests are opressed, babies get Serbian names…No to a fascist state!And they wonder why Albanians in Kosovo chose a different path! Island would be better off away from E.U.S.S.R.!
Thats not truth,in Timok you can find Vlachs,not Walachs or some other ethnic minority.They have rights,but please you need to know Vlachs is not the same like Romanians,ok?What about hungarians in your country??what about rights for Hungarians??I believe that Hungarians from Romania will find different path like Albanians on Kosovo.
Serbia has not problem with ethnic minorities, specifically Roumanians in Timoc. Nationalist from Romania, ministry of education makes problems. They support Roumanians etnonationalist in Serbia.
Romanians in Serbia are a constituent minority in Vojvodina, which is one of the most advanced minority solutions in the region. 27 minorities across Serbia enjoy a very diverse framework of rights in Balkan terms. Abolition of Hungarian autonomy in Romania speaks louder than words.
Albania definitely. Kosovo and Serbia have unresolved border issues and so does Macedonia. Turkey is a whole other story and there is not enough political appetite for it. Albania on the other hand is homogeneous – no ethnic or religious divides, small enough market to be easily absorbed & very EU friendly.
I completely agree with you. Albania must be one of the next country to be suggested to enter in EU. But, they need a little bit more time, in order to show more stable policy from the part of government. My opinion is that the major part of the population are ready to do a step forward …
Albania is ethnically homogeneous since it fines its minorities who wish to express their nationality freely. To this day, those who wish to change their Albanized names and lastnames imposed during communist era have to pay large ammounts to restore their own identity. Population Census in 2011 recorded 15% of those who did not wish to express any nationality, out of fear of being sanctioned. This happens in the 21st century Europe…
I love Albenia . Europe we love you all.
Iceland MUST join the EU
In the scheme of things it’s not that important it would actually be the smallest member state by population, I’m not sure that it would be fair for 300K people to have a veto in 485 million people that being said the other micro states haven’t used the veto to my knowledge (Malta and Luxembourg).
Their future are with us but not yet.
Iceland
I disagree with most of the things you said. Firstly, if Serbia wants to become a new member state, it will have to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. That is de facto stated in the Brussels agreement. Secondly, it is in the interest of both Serbia and Kosovo to move forward in the EU membership, and also for Croatia. Especially for Bosnia and Herzegovina. You need to look at the Balkans as on a entangled puzzle, if one peace is missing, the puzzle is not complete. ;)
The question is how many countries will exit next years
Catalonia
Completely agree. Catalonia will be the next country member. Pay atention on 27th september. Catalonia votes its independence referendum. Regards from Catalonia.
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I’m shocked by your comment. You need to visit a doctor; you have a temperature and one kind of sickness, and that is “nationalism”.
I think that Greece, but for real you know what I mean?
NO
Scotland, Catalonia and Iceland – YES
East European countries – BIG NO
luckily,nobody will ask you for your opinion.
Where are you from? Why not? Ukraine will secceed if it joins, just look at how Poland succeeded by joining the EU. Ukraine(As many other east. eur. countries) is poor BECAUSE it is out of the EU. So was Poland. But Poland is no longer a poor country. So will Ukraine if it joins the EU, it won’t be a burden for a long time, if Europe helps them to develop quickly.
Ukraine, definitely – and I am speaking for a whole network of young Europeans from both EU Member States and Non-Member States. The EU relations with the Ukraine offer substantial benefits to both sides: http://tinyurl.com/py4g8pd
I would welcome Iceland and Norway, and Scotland should a fresh application be required although I am not sure how current EU citizens can be excluded from the EU just because they exercise a democratic choice to be a seperate country. Other than that, no more. Focus on integration and a more federal structure rather than admit new members.
No federal, no thank you. More like confederational. Remember, rich countries such as Norway, Swiss do not want to join. Once Poland becomes rich (now it is still lagging behind Lithuania, Estonia and Slovakia etc.) or “succeeds” it will want to secede, not succeed. Switzerland and Norway will never join the EU. Even Hungary may leave it. Especially the Eurozone, cause it all is built on fascistic ideas.
Russia ;)
Haha, in the case Russia would join to Europe, or Europe would join to Russia :)
Next to join is the Leningrad Oblast with St. Petersburg and the Republic of Karelia. Also Belarus.
if the EU matures then it can accept new countries…Serbia needs to join! if we play our cards right, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece can create a mini union within the EU and put pressure on the Franco-Germans…Spain and Italy are not interested in forming a mini union with Greece so our only option is to try it out with our balkan neighbours. I dont care about Turkey and Iceland or Norway.
We (Hungary) also have a “mini union” with Poland, Slovakia, Czech Rep. called Visegrád. Maybe it would also benefitting for your countries as well.
Northern Europe (Scandinavia and the Baltic countries) creating a mini union is a more likely happening. Also, we don’t need unions, we need a loose confederation with all its own currencies, but a common defence force. That would be like using one’s brain instead of one’s behind.
I agree!
Dear Melina Pappa (on the top), so did EU with Crimea! So does Albania with Northern Kosovo. That what double tongue is about!
Real BIG enough! even too big….!
Iceland indeed is more than prepared to join! ;)
serbia is not ready yet. i am against any further enlargement untill new countries consolidate their inner affairs. we should not provoke norther xenofobia. serbs need to show they meet all standards. for serbia and montenegro a big no!
It’s funny how in the pre-1990 world Yugoslavia was the most advanced and the most free of all commies, almost a capitalistic country and now?
And the EU still has a long geographic path to grow, but you already know that! I am very intersting to know till where the EU is going to extend, because right is obvious its ambitions towadrs eastern europe and eats asian countries, like israel, pelstine and so on! Oh and also the northern part of africa, like algeria for example! The EU is an empire on the rise, however in contrast with previous empires, it is a paceful and soft power empire, in the way that it has now the biggest soft power in the world, accompanied by a very strong economy! The EU is nowadays considered the 1st ever WORLD ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER, since the EU has made a name through peace keeping processes and through prosperity, not by force, and this is indeed nobel peace proze worthy, oh wait but it already won it, back in 2012! ;) Long live the EU and future USE (United States of Europe)!!!! :D Create the largest and the most peaceful and culturally rich econmic superpower empire in all the history of mankind, Yes we can do it! Act react impact, a new era begins and the sky is the limit!
“The EU is nowadays considered the 1st ever WORLD ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER”….
Thanks a lot Pedro for it! You made my day!!!
(a superpower without strong military capability is not a superpower; the Ukrainian crisis will show a lot on “EU-economic superpower”)
@George Yiannitsiotis, PhD
Really that was all you took from what Pedro Redondeiro said? I’m with Pedro on this one, Europe could be an example of a superpower like the world as never seen before. There’s a lot to be done but the euro-sceptics aren’t helping at all at creating a more democratic and overall better Europe. People must realize that this dream takes time to build because there is 28 countrys that need to move together. We have to fight for the Europe we believe in not just saying “Oh, now we have a world crysis so I’m scared and we should just destroy the UE project because I’m more worried with my well being today than the world we could live in in a few years”. Remember money comes and goes, this project could last forever.
@Pedro Redondeiro
USE?
How about E-FUC – European Federal Union of Countries?
Much more apt methinks!
More democratic?
How, when the EU/ECB/IMF gang violated the Constitutional order of the Hellenic Republic in order to rescue the German and French banks to the detriment of the peoples of Europe (not only the citizens of the Hellenic Republic that are considered debt-slaves by the EU elite.
More secure?
At least not offering such CREDIBLE guarantees for the Hellenic Republic. When “EU territory” came under foreign military occupation (Ymia rock-islands, Jan.30-31, 1996) the EU was totally absent, leaving the real master of the game (the USA) to de-escalate the crisis and return the islands to Greece.
More welfare?
The Troica regime imposed to us for the shake of the international usurers gang (IMF/ECB/4th Reich) resulted to the deterioration of social insurance, public health as well as salaries and employment.
Europe is only in our dreams and in order to materialize our dreams we must get rid of the West European Usurers Corporation that threatens (to the benefit of the 4th Reich only) the very existence of a confederal or federal Union of EQUAL member-states.
Slightly exaggerated :D, but I hope for united European State (federal) in a future.
I believe that Albania should enter the EU because is a part of the continet. Many Albanias live around the countries like Greece, Austria, Italy etc. I hope the responsible authorities to take into acount the membership of Albania.
And so do Serbia, Bosnia, Ukraine, Fyrom, etc It’s not just the borders that matter so that a country will be a member…
Personally I want Albania to be part, but only when it makes the living conditions of the people there better
We should feed and dress the street bums, since they live in our city, rather than educate them and have them make their own living.
I dont think Kosovo will happen, but this should be on table.
Nun.
Macedonia has historical problems with Bulgaria. Mainly there are historical events and historical people whose origin is under unresolved dispute. Also they have some interest in acqusition of bulgarian soveren lands(which I believe is NON legal because we have a peace treaty after the WWII which is recognizing our current borders). That is why EU shoud monitor our neighborhood(and resolve any problems) when we speak about EU integration.
I would rather say Bulgaria has got a problem with itself and its nationalism. How can a nation of 2 million people be a threat to anyone and demand anything from a country that is at least 3 times bigger and politically incomparably stronger? Nonsense.
Sadly, I think many of the comment here answered this question filtered through their national prejudices rather than what is really going on with he accession process. Personally, I think had the German SPD formed a red-red-green government, Serbia would have had a very smooth sailing through the integration process, but since they still left Merkel in charge, it will be thornier and slower but it will happen for one simple reason.
First and foremost, add whatever is left of Ex-Yugoslavia that isn’t in the EU and it’s not even a third of Ukraine in terms of population, plus its people are wealthier (Serbia and Montenegro arre both higher than Bulgaria in terms of purchasing power according and Montenegro slightly above while Serbia slightly below Romania) So in terms of expense, it will not be that consequential. Second, and this is most important, the one thing Europeans don’t want to do is supervise another Balkan war and accept a flood of refugees. With Croatia and Slovenia in, and the Muslims in Bosnia having intensified recently to seek a revision of the Bosnian constitution to become a centralist state, Serbia is seen as key to prevent the Bosnian Serbs from declaring independence and seek a solution within the confines of Bosnia’s territorial integrity. Serbia has absolutely no incentive to do that at all because it is unpopular…. unless of course EU membership is the prize at the end of that line.
Montenegro is proceeding smoothly, its only problem being that the government is very corrupt even by Balkan standards and the country has been flooded with Russian mob money. The EU will only green light them when they see that Milo Djukanovic is beginning to loosen his grip on this mafia style rule, which seems to be occurring, although not due to an attack from his Pro-Serbian opposition (although that has had an effect) but discord within the ranks of his own so called “pro-sovereign” bloc which supported independence from Serbia. Of late, two political parties have formed which compete for that bloc of voters and which are eating away at the ruling party’s support
Kosovo is NOT going to be an issue anymore. Like or hate the Germans, one thing you can count on is when they give their word, they will keep it. Berlin asked us to sign a “normalization” treaty with the Kosovo government so we can figure out and discuss day to day issues but stops short of internationally recognizing Kosovo and in exchange for doing that, we could continue negotiating for EU accession. Serbia signed this treaty, the government that negotiated this treaty just went to early election and the governing parties got a 2/3 majority in Parliament (meaning no negative fallout from it) while the last party in Parliament which was against EU membership came in below 5% and under its electoral law was awarded no seats. As I said, the CDU is going to agree to let Serbia in because without it, they know we will turn to Russia, sign the CSTO which will bring Russian troops in the Balkans and turn this into a much more uncomfortable situation. So letting Serbia into the EU is a cheaper way to solve that problem. The SPD would do the same only faster and more enthusiastically. And Moscow is all in favor of this arrangement because outside the EU, Serbia is another friendly state that will need to be propped up because it would be isolated from its neighbors economically. Inside the EU, Serbia is a country that like all others will wield a national veto on foreign policy decisions. Russia would love nothing more than to have an ambassador on the Council who could represent is position the way Serbia would.
Like or hate the Germans, one thing you can count on is when they give their word, they will keep it.
Don’t be sure Jovan! You forgot the key player in the region (the USA).-
Trade makes friends. Let all three in.
Trade makes friends. Let all three in.
Yeah swap with uk I’d gladly leave before it becomes United States of Europe
Yeah swap with uk I’d gladly leave before it becomes United States of Europe
I’d be in favor of removing any country east of the old ‘Iron Curtain’.
Do these people seriously think we’re gonna let all of them sponge off our money?
And ideally, those bordering the Mediterranean should also be out.
That means Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Cyprus, UK (Gibraltar) – OUT. Portugal – IN. That would become Confederation of Northern and Central Europe, without much of Northern Europe. Again, the poorly executed western European arrogance.
Serbia has a long way before even getting close to EU. It has issues with its ethnic minorities, issues with Kosovo, but the biggest one is the economy. Serbia has almost one third of its labor force working in public sector. 60% of the government sendings goes to pensions and social payments. Unemployment is almost 20 %, budget deficit is about 8% and it’s getting worse each year. GDP per capita is 30% lower even than the poorest EU members Romania and Bulgaria.
Kosovo and minority rights might play a significant role in the process but an economic shape has never really been a fundamental precondition (Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Hungary… as well as Ireland, Portugal or Greece in 1970s and 1980s). By 2020 or 2024 Serbia will have become the member and transform its state and society entirely.
The bad news is I assume not too many people (from England to Hungary or from Italy to Serbia) live / care about the so-called “European values” (peace, stability, solidarity…). For them the EU might only be an instrument for retaliation and reimbursement for their collective historical frustrations.
Shouldn’t we as EU sort our problems in first instance?
Shouldn’t we as EU sort our problems in first instance?
I see two solutions to the problem sorting:
A. World War III
B. Joining the EU
For my opinion I think that Montenegro will be 1st next country who will enjoy in EU, and that will be around 2021 – 2022. Then probably together Macedonia, Serbia, and maybe Albania around 2027 – 2028. Bosnia, and Kosovo, same as Moldova and Ukraine probably won’t be member, if they ever been candidate, of EU earlier then 2030 – 2035. Turkey, won’t be part of EU, same as Belarus, Russia, and Caucasian countries.
Stoyan, Serbia’s purchasing power is above that of Bulgaria. Don’t believe me, check out the study I linked below towards the bottom of the page. I agree Serbia has reforms to undertake, but it is merely a matter of implementing the Acquis, as the question of Kosovo and handing over people accused of war crimes has been successfully resolved. I expect membership to be offered in the second half of Germany’s next government, so sometime between 2019 and 2021. http://www.gfk.com/news-and-events/press-room/press-releases/Pages/purchasing-power-europe-2013-14.aspx
Serbian economy it’s just not o.k. This study has nothing to the reality. The GDP per capita, in euro, can’t be taken just from by currency… I don’t have anything against Serbia personally. Check the unemployment rate and the real economical growth. It’s in minus and it keeps going down. Check the graphic.
But Stanislav,i cant understood that you talking about Serbia from Bulgarian wiew,from wiew of one country with completly same economic problems.Firstly your country has big peoblem with economy like my country,and you dont have credibility to say,oohh Serbia is not prepared jet,if you ask some German,or some British,they still thinking that Bulgaria joined so early to EU,i think that EU is for everybody.
Would Germany be ready if boys from thirties and early forties were again in power in 1960s?
Yes! :)
I think before we start talking about bringing more countries in the EU, the Union has to focus on bringing equality to the economic conditions to the table. The former Eastern Block countries which got accepted into the EU, still have a lot to catch up on economically, before we can think about expanding.
Nonetheless, I think the EU should work to form closer relations with FYROM, Serbia and the Western Balkans, along with Turkey in order to prepare them for entering the EU in the near future.
Jovan Ivosevic GFK study, really? You must be kidding :)
Look at the official data please.
World Bank – http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD
CIA – https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html
Jovan Ivosevic GFK study, really? You must be kidding :)
Look at the official data please.
World Bank – http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD
CIA – https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html
After reading through this lot I understand why so many Brits want out of this union. They will suck us dry if we go on with this. All those that want to join this club are states wanting to eat off our plate, not offer any support to the union. Why have we got such a low opinion of ourselves that our leaders feel only those who are needy will want to join? Sounds like a girl with low esteem who can’t see herself as worth an aristocratic title. I suppose if they think we look like Baronesses that flaunt their faces with a grin, I can see their point.
I go along with Vesselin Alexiev, once all the union states in the union now are on a financial par, then expansion is a proposition. Presently we are not able to admit any more, unless they can come to the table with equal standards across the board of the big three who pay most to keep this show on the road.
Why does the EU not make it a prerequisite that any state must be financially up to the standard of the northern sector before than can apply?
I totally agree with you Catherine
There was a topic on here a while ago about Albania joining the EU. I had the cheek to ask the simple question of just how allowing Albania to join would benefit me personally as a EU taxpayer
The reply……
“Minister Bushati argued that Albanian membership would bring stability and prosperity to Europe, as well as greater credibility for the EU in the interntational arena”
Have you ever heard such a crock of sh!te?
Stability and prosperity? I don’t see Albania bring much to the EU table, for prosperity I would read dependance, and as for “credibility” just who is bothered what the international arena thinks of the EU?…. except the EU political elite who want to play big boys on the world stage that is
These “ministers” really need to come down and visit planet earth occasionally
1. The EU had such prerequisites in the 1970s. However, they understood that should they had rest on them, they wouldn’t have expanded the “european economic community” (namely, european market). Therefore, they changed course and admitted Greece (1981), Portugal and Spain (1986) as well as Austria and Finland (1995) the latter in breach of their cold war neutrality.
2. The problem was raised when the EU (in particular, Germany) pushed hard for the admittance of countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and its former WW II allies in the Balkans (Slovenia, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria). In strict economic terms, only the Republic of Cyprus and Malta met the criteria of the 1970s.
In order to proceed with its hidden neo-nazionalist agenda, the 4th Reich, accepted the manipulation of Greek economic data (“Greek statistics”) in the EMU process, realising that should Greece had not joined the Eurozone, the Balkans (with the exception of Slovenia only) would have remained a USD zone. Greece’s participation in the EMU was the key to German infiltration in the Balkans along with the dissolution of Yugoslavia that offered to the USA military presence northern of Greece for the first time in history.
Now, Germany faces what we call in Strategic Studies its culminating point of success: it overstressed its political-economic influence to spheres beyond endurance (Ukraine, Eastern Mediterranean, the Balkans), risking to lose every gain under the coverage of the so-called “European Union”. The USA fires back engaging to a low-cost for themselves, bra-de-fers with Russia over Ukraine that will stage a kind of “cold war” affecting primarily Germany and the eurozone; Germany won’t be able to avert the dissolution of the eurozone as soon as the USA decides to regain monetary control over the Balkans (Greece still remains the key as well as the weaker ring of the euro-chain) and France, the UK, Italy and the Iberian peninsula may shift to a more “atlantic” (namely, pro-US) than “European” (namely, yielding to the German-led emerging empire) path. Too many water-mellons under one’s armpit! The German economic-political elite must think of it!
They will suck you dry, or your own mass immigration will suck you dry and turn you into Britanistan. Europe will never become USE, because of languages, cultures, and each and every country needs it own currency. Only European tourists should get the € when they travel outside the country, which, the Euro would become a tourist currency.
Erdogan with his recent censorship play has clearly established my point that Turkey is incompatible with Europe. We need internal cohesion in a Union that is already suffering under increasing polarization, and Turkey is an Islamic state. The cultural gap is total.
We do not need to expand, the EU, but to build and deliver on mutual promises. Federation-building is not an imperialist game on the net, but hard work. We have gotten a lot of things right, but too many pieces are not in place. If we cannot get a fiscal union in place, we will have failed. Our efforts need to focus on building Citizen confidence in the Union and certainly in the common currency. This is not a propaganda exercise, but must be executed through deliverables. Jobs, tax alignments, and also some further work to share risks and burdens.
Actually you like erdoğan because he gives you greedy europeans that reason to ged rid off Turkey, We are waiting in front fo EU for 20 years, and before ERdoğan, you were always have an excuses about our membership. Even we resolved the problem about cyprus, about armenian issue, even we let kurdistan established you wont let us to enter, just be honest. You mighty Europeans warns Turkey every chance you had about “human rights” “media cencorship” etc. But 5 may 2014, you lifted visas for United Arab Emirates, which is practice sharia law.
is UAE aggree with your democracy standarts? Or your mighty union is just sinking ship so to boost your economy, you are crawling to get some help. İ bet EU put stoning for adultery to it’s law if saudi sheikhs gives you billions of oil money, you hypocrists.
@Faruk Sayokanoglu
You resolved the Cyprus problem?How did that came to pass. Have been the turkish troops removed and the properties returned to the rightful owners?
Turkeys not an islamic state. Read more, type your opinions less. Turkey is the only other nation in the the western world, apart from France, which there’s no religion in its constitution.
The more, the merrier
Serbia,in my opinion .
ready for PEACE and Economical DEVELOPMENT
Why would Iceland join??..lol.. They were smart enough to stop talks….Hope we leave too , the sooner the better.
I believe Serbia should be the next EU member-state.
I really find quite funny how EU leaders (aka Merkel) are always shouting to «keep your domestics in order» to the PIGS, whilst Europe, as a whole, doesn’t seem to really absorb the quintessential lesson of this dogma: keep your house in order. Currently, this exactly year, only 10 countries contributed to the European pocket money, with Poland gaining the total part of Germany’s contribution (and we all know it’s, by far, the biggest). I really suggest that firstly, we should solve the structural problems inherent to the UE, with a dramatic fraction with North South economic incomes. For now, we should concentrate on expand our economy, answer to the Spanish and Italian crises, which could be lethal to the union given the fact that they are the 2nd and 3rd biggest economies within the continent. The whole monetary union is made to collapse if it keeps like currently is (without fiscal unions and etc.). The only country we should be willing to accept would be Iceland, Scotland if they get rid of London, Norway (which would be Brussels dream, obviously) and, perhaps if possible, Greenland (I don’t really know if they can count as a candidate but it is meant to grow the next decades).
Excluding this set, we could invest (in Balkans, surely) but keep a healthy distance while not managing our domestic’s order. If this irradiation of soft power and the emergence of UE as a global superpower are Brussels purposes, then we should also keep an eye and be open to idea of maybe a future Turkey and Ukraine getting in, although they need to solve firstly all those human rights issues and Copenhagen criteria standards (and, please, with nice ties to Moscow). Now, for the moment, let’s enjoy what the EU represented, an opportunity for growth, and the whole discussion over Kosovo, Serbia and all that Balkan puzzle should be pursued in a time where Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and the wide list of East brothers, specially Warsaw. Until then, let’s try to keep everyone in the house so this doesn’t mess any more than already is. The whole francogerman axis should now be ready to give some further actions to UE whilst trying to keep economic pace within global order.
@João Frazão
WRONG!!
In continental Europe Italy has the 3rd biggest economy and Spain the 4th biggest economy.
Wasn’t Greenland actually the first one to leave the EU (then EEC) in 1985? Had Greenland been able to, it would have left in 1970s. Have you heard about it? Norway and Iceland? Yeah, right and the moon is made of cheese.
A UE não precisa de novos estados a UE precisa de paz sustentável e estabilidade politica na União Europeia
It should be Macedonia !!!!!
https://www.debatingeurope.eu/2014/03/20/which-country-should-join-the-european-union-next/#comment-101537 let’s sort out some problems first!
It should be , yes , right after they settle their issues with their neighbours
I believe that the first member of the E.U. should be Serbia. Serbia has an emerging market economy in upper-middle income range. According to the International Monetary Fund, Serbia’s exports recorded a steady growth in last couple of years reaching $14.6 billion in 2013. In addition, since 2000, Serbia has attracted over $25 billion in foreign direct investment. Blue-chip corporations making investments in Serbia include: FIAT, Siemens, Bosch, Philip Morris, Michelin, Coca-Cola, Carlsberg and others. In the financial aspect, Serbia is a good choice.
It’s not the question about who “should be” but rather who “is going to be”. Economy is not the crucial part – but political development, civil society and the compliance with the acquis.
The next.
@ Viking:
Scandinavia does not love the British people. What they love is being in tight with the USA corporate insurance companies and others which run both the UK and Scandinavia. In the UK they are known under the name of Reform Group. Which in turn is funded by UNUM a US based private insurance company specialising in disability. So they tell us. This ‘Reform Group’ is the consultation think tank that decides on UK political policy.
So, you are incorrect in your assumption that the connection between us and the Northern States is because we are blood brothers. And by the way, the French words we have all adopted are in fact, based in Latin and Greek.So not French in the true sense of it.
And as a PS, it was ‘William the Conqueror’ not the ‘conquered.’ That would be an oxymoron if it was as you wrote. And by the way I’m a fully fledged descendant of Vikings, Germans and French.
However, Scotland will vote for independence. If it wants self determination that is. It would have to as there population has not voted for a Conservative government for ions. They therefore have totally rejected being ruled by the right wing US infiltrated government we presently have in the UK. Although how that sits with Scotland asking for EU status I don’t know. As it has become more clear by the day, through the mess in the Crimea proving that European politicians have also been recruited into the strange world of American poodle policy.
When it comes down to it, Russia has done us all a great favour by exploding the myth of European self regulation and policy. Which means the only vote I will make is to a far left wing organisation that rejects all right wing US politics completely. Which doesn’t sit well with me either, because they are so pro European indigenous suicide by their unfathomable stance on rampant immigration and promotion of gay marriage and adoption.
@Zeus
Yes Albania is a poor country and I have sympathy for those who live there, but giving sympathy and my hard earned money are two different things
You consider the question “nasty” but I say it is a perfectly reasonable question for people who’s taxes contribute to the EU budget to ask ….
What is in it for us allowing poorer countries to join?
The usual party line is that it “opens up the market for exports to that country” well excuse me if I sound cynical but I do not see increased exports of Land Rovers and Jaguars to Albania just because they are allowed to join the EU
Basically the Euro-elite have expansionist ambitions and they are luring in the poorer countries with promises of handouts and subsidies….paid for by my taxes…so I’m entitled to raise questions like this
If there were no subsidies, handouts or development funds, Albania would still join the EU. It’s not all about money. But I agree that elites have there own calculations and that such things have got nothing to do with the so-called “European (post WWII) project” and “common values”.
Well I don`t know where you are getting the ideas of poor Albania. That would be true in 2005-2006 but Albania since than have changed alot! They have much better economy than, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo and even italians are going to Albania to find a job those last years.
I can see that many are saying that Norway should join EU, but NO thanks we have said NO to EU twice, and we are not going to change that at least not for now.
But, yes i was in Albania where the norwegian “Statkraft” are investing around 500 million euros and that state is changing very much, they should join the EU if they want too.
Having accepted every concession request by the EU , BARR the changing of its CONSTITUTIONAL NAME , the REPUBLIC of MACEDONIA should NOW be UNCONDITIONALLY accepted post haste , as it has bent over backwards , created a multicultural PARLIAMENT ( not just community ) but a PISS POOR enforcement whereby i am SURE the GREEKS WILL NOT ACCEPT the OHRID PREAMBLE as neither would FRANCE accept that should a municipality have greater than 20% ethnic minority they get rights above & beyond the logical &acceptable to the indigenous majority
никой не трябва да се присъедини за сега. Турция не трябва да влиза в ЕС, Македония също.
nobody should join now. Turkey should join the EU, Macedonia also
Iceland and Norway if they want, and Switzerland. These countries have already many relations with the EU. It’s not good that they stay outside and have nothing to say about the future of Europe.
So funny. Do you really think they would agree with you? Or should we force them into something they strongly dislike and duck out of as it was a pest or disease?
I would be happy to see #Serbia join the Union.
And exactly how many of the potential new countries will be net contributors to the EU budget?….by my estimate…absolutely none of them
People can procrastinate all they want about the benefits of particular countries joining the EU but at the end of the day everything boils down to hard cash
The EU as an organisation adds no value to this world apart from justifying its own existence, it takes money from “richer nations”, skims off enough to keep itself in fat salaries and business lunches and then hands out whats left in subsidies and for projects in the less well off countries.
..and the big problem is there are no more “richer nations” queuing up to join so the EU is continually trying to screw more out of the current net contributors, and as a full rate UK taxpayer that means more of my money down the EU drain
I agree. The EU is useful (and makes sense) to Brussels’ bureaucrats primarily. Though, we shouldn’t underestimate the stability and positive transformation that it gives to countries such as ex-GDR, Poland, Slovenia, Estonia, Slovakia, Croatia…We shouldn’t forget about the benefits Germany enjoys from the enlarged EU (and not just Germany). The UK stays out of the monetary union, the Schengen Agreement, receives the UK rebate etc. and soon might be out of the game entirely. So there is not much reason to worry.
None until social and tax regulation are made homogeneous in current Europe. We cannot have an “economic only” view of Europe.
Some pragmatic aspects also need to be solved for citizens. As an example you cannot pay for a train ticket with another country credit card at automatic machines in Netherlands.
It all boils down to economics
Following the example you give, all the EU will do is draft up some directive to make commonality between ticket buying machines throughout Europe.
It will fall on the member countries to foot the bill for actually carrying out whatever is required, the fact many countries will have more important national issues to fund will not bother the EU…………. and to add insult to injury it would probably fine any member country that fails to comply with its directive within a given timescale
Essentially, the EU likes nothing better than spending other peoples money…….
@Paul X
I agree with your ticketing machine example.
The only thing I would add is that whatever ‘standard’ is chosen by the EU for said ticketing machines, rest assured some big business will have secretly ‘influenced’ proceedings. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
1-Scotland
2-Iceland
3-Montenegro
Iceland, the rest of the Balkans, Turkey (if they meet the criteria that is) and Georgia :)
From a strategic/military/economic point my bet is on Moldova and maybe Georgia (not so sure though), but I also don’t want to cut in line and put Serbia next. Moldova and Georgia are adjacent to gas/oil pipelines, Serbia in the other hand, has almost everything what it takes to become a full EU member. Both add-ons are a gain for Europe as a whole.
@Anonymouci69
… 1918 :)
Next countries to join should be Serbia and Montenegro together. The are by far the most advanced countries in the bid for the EU. It is not for now however, it should take at least 5-6 years before the close their chapter.
I do not think Kosovo should be an issue. The EU cannot impose recognition as a condition for accession since 5 EU member still do not recognize it! So it makes no sense for now. As for Serbia (but also for Montenegro) I would be more worried about the return of some kind of soft authoritarian power after new elections.
Here’s a neat idea, how about we drop all this anti-russian disenssion and…invite RUSSIA into the EU.
From the Atlantic to the Pacific…NOW THAT would be one hell of an union.
And we wouldn’t have to worry about “evul russians”. We wouldn’t need to bow to Washington either anymore.
I am serious.
Russia, Ukraine next on the joining list plz.
No state/country should join the EU in the coming periods, in past months it has been proven that EU states, such as Greece and Spain, can be a big danger to the overall stability of Europe. The EU as it is now has enough issues that it needs to solve, more countries in the EU would only add up to more issues for all the states.
If a state had to be chosen to join the EU, I would say Russia and Ukraine if they are in a union together it would cause less problems for both. It will make it easier for the EU to talk with Russia, it would also possibly help the relation between Russia and the USA because a lot of members in the EU are also in the NATO.
I agree. And i also agree with your earlier comment that Turkey must never be allowed. Having an Asian country inside the EU, what a (distasteful) joke!
Or which country should be kicked out of the EU instead?……..It should be Bulgaria who has refused to grow up!!!
Define “grow-up”, buddy <.<
Non from the Balkans because of Bulgaria who remained the only baby in the EU!!!
I am romanian and you should shut your mouth about Bulgaria, buddy.
This is like the 3rd comment against them, what the hell !
Misery
What may be lost for Moldova/Rumania is the Trans-Dniester region. Russia won’t accept another Latvia-Estonia case regarding the Russians living there. Besides, Russia has learned a tough lesson from the Afgan war (1979-89): no army can hold land without public support. The Russian political-military elite is very cautious even regarding a direct invasion not of Ukraine proper (where nationalists prevail) but of eastern Ukraine where pro-Russians constitute a majority trend.
The citizens of Switzerland, Norway and epsecially Iceland are smart enough to keep clear of the German-led West European Usurers Corporation. The Balkans are more naive and may fall in the trap like the Greeks (first in Zallogo dance), the Slovenians, the Romanians and Bulgarians and now the Serbs and Albanians.
@Catherine Benning
Some interesting points particularly regarding UNUM and the contribution of French words to the English language.
The French language and indeed France per se is a derivative culture founded by the greatest European nation of all time viz. Italy.
Britain on the other hand is an acquisitive culture reflected NOT just in its vocabulary (containing words originating from Old English, Norse, French, Roman, German/Saxon as well as Indian, African, Chinese etc etc) but in its food, its music and its genes.
PS: It is evident you are NOT familiar with the term ‘oxymoron’ – a tad moronic on your part methinks. :)
Obviously, you are unaware of the fact that root language and alphabet to all “European languages” is the Greek followed by the Latin. Xenophon Zolotas, Governor of the Bank of Greece, addressed the General Assemply of the International Bank for Reconstruction & Development (now World Bank) in 1957 and 1959 using only Greek words. Here is the Sept 26, 1957 speech:
“I always wished to address this Assembly in Greek, but realized that it would have been indeed “Greek” to all present in this room. I found out, however, that I could make my address in Greek which would still be English to everybody. With your permission, Mr. Chairman, l shall do it now, using with the exception of articles and prepositions, only Greek words.
“Kyrie, I eulogize the archons of the Panethnic Numismatic Thesaurus and the Ecumenical Trapeza for the orthodoxy of their axioms, methods and policies, although there is an episode of cacophony of the Trapeza with Hellas. With enthusiasm we dialogue and synagonize at the synods of our didymous organizations in which polymorphous economic ideas and dogmas are analyzed and synthesized. Our critical problems such as the numismatic plethora generate some agony and melancholy. This phenomenon is characteristic of our epoch. But, to my thesis, we have the dynamism to program therapeutic practices as a prophylaxis from chaos and catastrophe. In parallel, a Panethnic unhypocritical economic synergy and harmonization in a democratic climate is basic. I apologize for my eccentric monologue. I emphasize my euharistia to you, Kyrie to the eugenic arid generous American Ethnos and to the organizes and protagonists of his Amphictyony and the gastronomic symposia”.
And the Oct. 2, 1959 speech:
Kyrie, it is Zeus’ anathema on our epoch (for the dynamism of our economies) and the heresy of our economic method and policies that we should agonize the Skylla of nomismatic plethora and the Charybdis of economic anaemia. It is not my idiosyncracy to be ironic or sarcastic but my diagnosis would be that politicians are rather cryptoplethorists. Although they emphatically stigmatize nomismatic plethora, they energize it through their tactics and practices. Our policies should be based more on economic and less on political criteria. Our gnomon has to be a metron between economic,strategic and philanthropic scopes. Political magic has always been anti-economic. In an epoch characterized by monopolies, oligopolies, monopolistic antagonism and polymorphous inelasticities, our policies have to be more orthological, but this should not be metamorphosed into plethorophobia, which is endemic among academic economists. Nomismatic symmetry should not antagonize economic acme. A greater harmonization between the practices of the economic and nomismatic archons is basic. Parallel to this,we have to synchronize and harmonize more and more our economic and nomismatic policies panethnically. These scopes are more practicable now, when the prognostics of the political and economic barometer are halcyonic. The history of our didimus organization on this sphere has been didactic and their gnostic practices will always be a tonic to the polyonymous and idiomorphous ethnical economies. The genesis of the programmed organization will dynamize these policies. Therefore, i sympathize, although not without criticism one or two themes with the apostles and the hierarchy of our organs in their zeal to program orthodox economic and nomismatic policies, although I have some logomachy with them.I apologize for having tyranized you with my Hellenic phraseology. In my epilogue, i emphasize my eulogy to the philoxenous aytochtons of this cosmopolitan metropolis and my encomium to you, Kyrie stenographers.
@George Yiannitsiotis
I concur that the Greek language had a significant influence on the English language – please refer to my “etc etc” text BTW.
FYI, Sanskrit had a significant influence on the Greek language.
As regards your speech – very clever BUT ALL the words you cited were in English albeit a high number of said English words had Greek origins.
@Tarquin Farquhar:
1.The tree of European languages starts from Greek and its daughter Latin
The Hellenic (Greek) language can be seen as a bridge to sanskrit and Indian peninsula languages (the family of the Sanskrit-origin languages incorporates Caucasian languages, also).
Back to the tree of European Languages:
from ancient Greek-> modern Greek
from Latin -> Italian
Latin+Greek (with Latin alphabet)-> Romanian
Greek+Latin+Gothic-> French and German
French+Latin+Greek+Arabic->Spanish and Portuguese
Then another round of byproduct languages:
French and German -> English
English+German->flemish (Dutch)
Then we do have the Slavian group that originates from Russian, based on the Cyrilic alphabet (a combination of Greek and Latin alphabets by ΚΥΡΙΛΟΣ – Kyrilos / Cyril – a Greek monk that translated the Bible to Bulgarian):
Serbocratian, Bulgarian, Polish, Czec, Slovakian etc. belong to this group. However, due to political divisions, the Serbocroatian was split due to the fact that the Croats under the Austrian empire used the Latin alphabet for their language instead of the Cyrilic used by the Serbs (under the Ottoman rule);
Then, we have a specific group of Mongolian languages (Hungarian, Finnish and Turkish) that do not connect to the Greek-Latin tree as well as the nordic group (Danish, Sweedish, Norwegian) and the Celtic group (Wales, Basque country) that has some in common with Greek.
Following the tree above, the Greeks who know well ancient Greek and Latin, can easily learn French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian as well as German (the Grammar is copy-paste of the Ancient Greek!) and then, easily English (piece of cake!), afterwards Dutch (though problematic in verbal).
2. The two speeches delivered by famous economist and then Bank of Greece Director I sited above, can be easily read and understood by a Greek who simply knows the Latin alphabet, without knowing English since all the words except articles and junctions are GREEK. Let’s start:
Kyrie = ΚΥΡΙΕ (Lord, Master)
Zeus = ΖΕΥΣ (the first and arch-God of Ancient Greek Mythology)
anathema = ΑΝΑΘΕΜΑ (curse)
epoch = ΕΠΟΧΗ (era, season) etc
due to the fact that the transliteration of the Greek words in latin -french-english was done following certain rules as follows:
Θ -> th (ΘΕΑΤΡΟ – theater)
X – ch
Φ -> ph (only the Spanish kept the latin phonetic equivalent letter F)
Ξ -> x (ΞΕΝΟΦΩΝ -> Xenophon Zolotas)
Κ -> c (thus, for instance, ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ became Macedonia but not in the Cyrilic where it kept the k for the Greek Κappa)
Β -> V (like the island of ancient Greek poet ΣΑΠΦΩ -> Sappho, ΛΕΣΒΟΣ -> Lesvos; from its false transliteration, the homosexual women are called lesbians, though the inhabitants of Lesvos, Lesvians)
Ρ-> R ΡΥΘΜΟΣ rhythm
Π -> Ρ (ΠΟΛΙTIKH -> Politics)
ΜΠ -> b (however, the Greek word ΒΑΡΒΑΡΟΣ – Varvaros became barbarus, barbaric etc.)
EY, AY -> eu, au
Y -> y or u (ΤΥΠΩΝΩ – type) KYKΛΟΣ -> Cycle
Η -> e (ΗΛΕΚΤΡON -> electron, ΗΛΕΚΤΡΑ -> Electra etc)
ΟΙ -> e (thus ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΙΑ became economy and ΟΙΚΟΛΟΓΙΑ -> ecology)
Λ -> L
Γ -> G (ΛΟΓΟΣ -> Logo)
et.al. (numerus)
(R.I.P. ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ ΑΘ. ΓΙΑΝΝΙΤΣΙΩΤΗΣ, Linguistics Teacher, 1873-1950)
And the Oct. 2, 1959 speech:
“Kyrie, it is Zeus’ anathema on our epoch (for the dynamism of our economies) and the heresy of our economic method and policies that we should agonize the Skylla of nomismatic plethora and the Charybdis of economic anaemia. It is not my idiosyncracy to be ironic or sarcastic but my diagnosis would be that politicians are rather cryptoplethorists. Although they emphatically stigmatize nomismatic plethora, they energize it through their tactics and practices. Our policies should be based more on economic and less on political criteria. Our gnomon has to be a metron between economic,strategic and philanthropic scopes. Political magic has always been anti-economic. In an epoch characterized by monopolies, oligopolies, monopolistic antagonism and polymorphous inelasticities, our policies have to be more orthological, but this should not be metamorphosed into plethorophobia, which is endemic among academic economists. Nomismatic symmetry should not antagonize economic acme. A greater harmonization between the practices of the economic and nomismatic archons is basic. Parallel to this,we have to synchronize and harmonize more and more our economic and nomismatic policies panethnically. These scopes are more practicable now, when the prognostics of the political and economic barometer are halcyonic. The history of our didimus organization on this sphere has been didactic and their gnostic practices will always be a tonic to the polyonymous and idiomorphous ethnical economies. The genesis of the programmed organization will dynamize these policies. Therefore, i sympathize, although not without criticism one or two themes with the apostles and the hierarchy of our organs in their zeal to program orthodox economic and nomismatic policies, although I have some logomachy with them.I apologize for having tyranized you with my Hellenic phraseology. In my epilogue, i emphasize my eulogy to the philoxenous aytochtons of this cosmopolitan metropolis and my encomium to you, Kyrie stenographers.”
Only the articles and junctions are english – the rest is GREEK!!!
thanks, but no thank you. we norwegians doesn’t want to. :)
Imvros and Tenedos as well as Eastern Thrace were handed over to Turkey via the Lausanne Treaty (1923). Therefore, there isn’t such issue on the table. The real issue is the fact that Turkey refuses to abide by the provisions of the International Law of the Sea regarding the territorial waters and continental self of neighbouring Greece threatening to launch war against Greece should the latter extend its territorial waters from 6 to 12 nautic miles and its airspace from 10 to 12 n.m. However, though this casus belli is still strategic option for the Turkish political-military establishment, the “European Union” holds talks with them!!! Do you understand now why the citizens of the Hellenic Republic are sceptical regarding EU (namely German) “foreign policy” on the Ukrainian question?
I am not norwegian, but I think Norway is great like it is. Personally, I don’t think that EU must have a new country in it. Our economical situation doesn’t have to pull other countries to help fighting the problem. I am from Portugal and I don’t like the way Europe is helping us, in spite of knowing that we hadn’t another method to solve it – for me, it’s shameful.
We have to be careful expanding too quickly as it could destroy the EU. The eastern additions of 2004 have managed to dilute low paid job markets. We should probably have a threshold of 85% per capita wealth for full membership of the EU average to prevent future distortions. That being said Norway, Iceland and Switzerland are manageable but seem unlikely to join anytime soon especially Norway and Switzerland. The country I definitely don’t want to join is turkey, so many reasons 1) It’s growing more corrupt each day
2) It’s too large 77 million people would be the second largest member after Germany (would upset balance of power suddenly)
3) It not really in Europe 99% of turkey is in Asia (we might as well call it a Eurasian Union)
4) It would increase the EU border size and move that border next to the war torn countries of Iraq and Syria and border Iran.
5) It currently occupies half of a member state Cyprus (which is in Asia aswell)
They don’t recognise Kosovo because there is only one and a half elephant in the room. Finland might be too busy ignoring it, I’m talking about Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, however CY, GR, RO, SK and ES might support Congo’s Katanga secessionist faction in equal measure as Finland does to Kosovo.
Now, Justice has been done because you say so. Hallelujah ! What’s next ?
Serbia or Montenegro should be next to join, eventually the enire Western Balkans should join. The question is what will happen with Kosovo given that it’s not even recognised as a state by five EU-members .
Are you ready to accept secession of Northern Epirus (Αγιοι Σαράντα, Αργυρόκαστρο etc.) in order to become part of the Hellenic territory? Do not forget, that according to the Corfu Protocol (1914) Northern Epirus has the status of autonomous area within Albania, heavily populated by an internationally recognized Greek majority (minority in Albania proper).
The question of change regarding territorial status quo ante in the Balkans was not posing real threats to international stability insofar as it was contained within the external borders of Yugoslavia. Should one opens the Aeolos flask of border redrawal in the Balkans, he must be ready for a new war that is not considered a proper way of international behavior (at least regarding the “European Union”). Therefore, should a state outside the EU, knock the door to enter the Union, it must abide by certain rules above all “respect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all member-states” (this apply to all non-EU applicants, including Turkey).
EU should offer Ukraine a membership straight away after the agreement is signed after the president is elected on the 25 of May .
Obviously, you are not a polite person. A have nothing to say more since you are unable to understand the critical point of my argument: I do not raise questions of territorial change between Greece and Albania; I used the case of Northern Epirus (as the Corfu Protocol refers to the area that constitutes the southern part of Albania) to give you a vivid (to you) example what can be brought on the table if or when the question of border-redrawn in the Balkans be raised. The problems with minorities are many not only regarding Albanians living in FYRoM and Kossovo (areas of the former Yugoslav Federation); Hungarians in Transylvania and Voivodina, Serbs and Croats in Bosnia/Herzegovina etc.; therefore, one must be very cautious and carefull whilst touching such delicate issues.
Friendly advice: cool down and keep in mind that you knock the door of the EU; Greece, Bulgaria and Romania are already inside and raising nationalistic questions of “Greater Albania/Bulgaria/Serbia/Greece/Croatia etc.” is the worst advocate of EU-member candidacy.
@Ana Georgieva.There is goin to be such a thing as an east european eu–>euroasian union in 2015 with Russia,Kazakhstan,Armenia and Belarus.
Possibly some others as Mongolia maybe
I d rather say there are some going to leave.
There has been a survey made by infratest dimap asking the Germans how they think about western integration.The appreciation for the “West-bindung” is lower then it has ever been.Almost half of the people want to “stay in a neutral position between Russia and the west” while in eastern parts of Germany the number was over60%.
More and more people getting mad about nato behaviour.53% of the people don t want nato to do “air policing” in the eastern countries,while only 40% want nato to increase its activities in the east.
The survey tells that many Germans dream of beeing a “bigger switzerland”
Congratiolations everybody,we fu***ng suck,but at least we made the first step and started to realize that.
The history of the Balkans, Minor Asia, the Black Sea region, the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East is connected primarily with GREECE.
1. The Greeks were the first to expand to these regions, since the 1st Milenium BC. Nowadays, many cities in the region have kept their ancient Greek names (like Sympheropolis, Sevastoupolis in Crimea, Skopia in FYRoM, Agioi Saranta in Albania, numerous cities in Turkey, Alexandria in Egypt and elsewhere, Tripoli in Lebanon and Libya etc…)
2. The ottoman empire was a by-product (the worst copy) of a series of empires based on the ancient Greek civic heritage; the best was the Macedonian Empire (the first and last purely Greek empire ever) that was succeeded by the Roman Empire and from its split to Eastern and Western the Byzantine Empire emerged and was “Hellenized” due to the fact that ancient Greek and not Latin was the language widely spoken in the regions controled by the Byzantine Empire. The ottomans conquered the Byzantine empire and the dark age started for the Balkans, and the Middle East almost a milenium after it started in Western Europe.
3. However, the Greek philosophers and scientists of the era fled to the West triggering the Renaissance era that led to the end of the Dark age.
Therefore, thinking of the backward trend brought in the Balkans by the ottoman empire, one must be very cautious regarding its by-product (Turkey) knocking the door of a progressive group of nations.
@George Yiannitsiotis
Hmmm, a rather passionate over-involved parochial response. “English” is NOT limited to mere European inputs and European influences – its a world language that acknowledges and rejoices in its diverse heritage – that includes its Sanskrit influences; something that moulded the Greek language too and of which you seem surprisingly ignorant of. NB: Please refer to the Indo-European ‘Tree of Languages’.
Back to the subject at hand ie what country should join the EU next.
Ukraine [West] perhaps?
Correct, the Indo-European tree; However, the bridge between sanskrit and English is ancient Greek! That is what I did not make clear with my previous post.
Back to the subject: Should one prefers war instead of peace and stability, he may drop to the garbage the Bush-Gorbatchev Agreement (1988) that led to the re-unification of Germany. Russia will NEVER accept an advanced NATO base some km from Moscow! neither the repetition of the Baltic-states senario regarding Russian speaking populations outside the Russian Federation. Division of Ukraine will be the worst for the West European Usurers Corporation (“EU”) senario: the wealth lies in the eastern and southern parts-the west is not industrially developed and can be by-passed regarding gas-pipelines easily. Therefore, incoprorating a ruined, non-viable W.Ukraine is synonym of throwing European tax-payers money to Danaides jar. Think of it!
To set the record straight:
1. The only problem regarding borders between Greece and Turkey is to define on the map the line between the greek and Turkish continental self and zone of exclusive economic activity; however, Turkey raised the stakes in 1996, Jan.30-31 by occupying for a couple of hours a Greek rocky island in SE Aegean (Ymia that previously belonged to Italy as the maps attached to the Turkish-Italian Ankara protocol 1932 clearly show); that is not the first time Turkey refuses to abide by the principles and rules of the International Law of the Sea. The right to Zone of Exclusive Economic Activity regarding Castelorizo (SE Aegean 70nm Eastern from Rhodes) is also denied by the Turkish military-political establishment though the ILof the Sea is clear that islands with economic activity have their own right to such zone.
2. A state that does not abide by the principles and rules of International Law can not be a member of a Union based primarily on the preservation of Common Law; I do not raise the stakes regarding the Turkish behaviour against the Republic of Cyprus (a member of the EU) where there are now diplomatic relations at all and some 40.000 occupation troops are on the island since it would be obvious that in reality there is no ground for even starting talks (not negotiations for membership) between the EU and Turkey for accession.
3. There are no claims over Turkish territory; though heavily populated by Greeks, Imvros and Tenedos were awarded to Turkey according to the Lausane Treaty provisions (1923); this Treaty and the Montrai Protocol (1936) have guaranteed peace between the two countries for more than half-a century (till 1974 where Turkey invaded Cyprus); refusal to abide by the principles and rules of International Law lead to problems
4. Regarding History: the Ottoman empire was the worst by-product of a series of empires that switched off the ancient Hellenic Civilization; since Theodossios the Great (396 AD), the Byzantine Empire turned against the Hellenic heritage; the destruction of the Library in Alexandria (Egypt) benchmarks the start of the Medieval Era for Europe; the Western Roman empire was destroyed by the ones who later on turned against a revived Byzantine Empire (Ioustinianos 6th century AD saved it by turning to the Greek language that gave his authority a solid base for almost 5 centuries), namely the Crusaders. The Roman and Byzantine Empires had lost the key element of ancient Hellenic Civilization: the citizen as self-guided, free-thinking man. The ottoman empire imposed a more brute form of the authocratic rule of its predecessors: it embeded the rule of the Sultan/Emperor on subordinates. Thanks to the Arabs, in particular of those in Cordoba, Spain, Ancient Hellenic heritage was rescued and in a combination with some enlightened Greek scholars that fled the Ottoman rule, the Renaissance started in Italy and Paris. That period, the Medieval-Dark era became the burden of the Greeks and all other “subordinates to the Sultan” peoples in the Balkans. The Western European countries progressed, Greece rest behind, hindered by the backward ottoman rule. History speaks of itself.
5. We do have many in common as peoples; we must be carefull (after the Armenian and Greek Holocaust in Minor Asia by Kemal Atatourk forces 1914-1922, masterminded by a German Military advisor) regarding state relations to abide by the principles and rules of International Law and preserve the two Treaties I mentioned above (esp. the Lausane Treaty brutally violated in Istanbul and Ismir, 1955).
Yours sincerely,
George Yiannitsiotis, PhD
Athens, Greece
Montenegro would be next country to join for sure!
San Marino,Monaco,Andorra and Liechtenstein are they planing to join EU?
Dear Maxxx, thank you for your contribution to the debate! We did not block any of your comments, so all of the ones you posted should be there!
Romania won’t recognize Kosovo due to ethnic tensions with the Hungarian (although it’s a fuzzy matter, historically they’re of German sorgint and have been “imported” during the Austro-Hungarian Empire) minority on it’s territory. It’s a long lasting (historical), territorially-concentrated minority and rumors that they want autonomy have been circulating.
Sorry Kosovo, it’s not personal. We just have issues.
Transilvania originally used to have Hungarian majority. And actually Romanian workers have been “imported” by the Austrians to Transilvania, because the Romanians worked cheaper than Hungarians. Romanians immigrated to Transilvania, because life was better in the Kingdom of Hungary than in Wallachia or Moldova.
Since 1920 – as Transilvania belongs to Romania – they started a forced immigration and a forced Romanization in Transilvania.
I – as a Hungarian – accept that Transilvania is now part of Romania and I don’t want to have bad relationship with Romanians, I don’t have any problems with them. But you guys shouldn’t falsify history. You guys took Transilvania from us. Okay, we (most of us) accepted. But you can’t take our history…
Serbia and Ukraine
Serbia and next Ukraine.
@George Yiannitsiotis
Wow – your linguistic knowledge is certainly impressive BUT you seem to omit the fact that ALL European languages were heavily influenced by Indian languages such as Sanskrit.
Remember, the European languages tree is in actuality a branch of the Indo-European languages tree.
The countries you mentioned also have territories that may strive for seceding from them. So the reason for them not to recognize Kosovo is rather to keep their country together. And not primarily to support Serbia.
I am Hungarian and I know that Romania and Slovakia are somewhat affraid about to loose territories inhabited by local Hungarian minorities. However I don’t really think this could happen.
Actually Slovakia is now in better economical situation than Hungary, so I don’t think local Hungarians would want to join to Hungary (there are no Hungarian autonomy attempts in Slovakia). In Romania there are some Hungarian movements to create an autonomous region inside Romania, but this isn’t about to secede Romania. Just about to create a provice that has higher autonomy than other Romanian provinces (e.g. language usage, own flag, etc.). Also you have to consider that this region (Székely Land) is located in the center of Romania, so it’s absolutely impossible and wouldn’t make sense to make it independent, whatmore to join it to Hungary.
However Spain is the only country that has real chance to loose territory (Catalonia), so in case of Spain I understand their negative feelings about any seccessions…
Probably, Russia should be the next candidate. Or Turkey.
Turkey should be the next country whichi will join the European Union. The “war” between Greece and Turkey should be stopped right now.
None. Europe needs to sort out its own house first before letting any new members in. I didn’t know that Croatia has joined. I am not sure this is good news for the EU. Only countries that are politically mature and stable and financially strong should join at this stage. The old members are already unhappy about financing major projects in Eastern Europe while getting nothing in return. Those countries are not able to contribute to the pot, only taking money out and that at a time when pre-existing members are struggling to survive financially.
what did West do for The Turkish Cypriots killed by EOKA? Do you remember the bloody x-mas in Cyprus? Turkey is guarantor state of republic of Cyprus as Greece and UK.
Gökçeada and Bozcaada are two turkish islands in aegean sea, will we ask you when choosing name of OUR islands?
Why don’t you try England it’s time or not ?
Since last night at midnight the citzsens of Republic of Moldova are able to travel to the Schengen area for 90 days within a 180-day period.
source:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/27/us-ukraine-crisis-moldova-eu-idUSBREA3Q0AS20140427
Well I think the next country to join the EU is Montenegro. A small ,mediterranean country that has population of only half a million. Actually more Montenegrins live in Belgrade than in Podgorica. Montenegro has a perspective in tourism and they are improving their infrastructure. After Montenegro Serbia and Macedonia are next. Serbia does have problems with Kosovo, but I think that the economy is a bigger problem than Kosovo. The Brussels Agreement pretty much ended long ethic conflict in Kosovo and Metohija. But Serbia has financial problems and high unemployment rate. Well, it’s not far from EU members, Spain has similar unemployment rate, and Bulgarian purchasing powers is almost the same as Serbian. Macedonia has cultural problems that can be solved easily, and I think that will happen soon. Also, ofc their economy must improve. This three countries are official candidates. I don’t think that the other two candidates will join. Iceland lost interest in EU, but they would be a perfect member. The other one, Turkey will never be a full EU member. Turkey has young population ( 25% is younger than 20 ), so that would end with mass population. Secondly Turkey shares a border with Syria, Iraq, Iran and Lebanon. That could mean ( if Turkey joins the Schengen zone) that a lot of illegal immigrants could come. After all Turkey is an Asian country. Also they have a lot of freedom isues that must be solved. After these candidate countries, Albania is the closest EU member. Albania does have lover living standard, but I think they have a lot of potentials as a Mediterranean country. I think they will join in next 10-15 years.
Bosnia in the other hand is a failed country. It has 3 presidents, 12 prime ministers and almost 100 ministers, with the population of 3,8 million. It needs to solve a lot of ethnic, administrative, constitutional problems as well as financial and economical problems. I don’t see them as EU members in next 15 years, but we will see. Other countries like Ukraine,Georgia,Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus have not signed Stabilisation and Association Agreement ( SAA), yet so I think they won’t join soon.
no fear friends;
İstanbul population 15.000.000… Greek friends think again, they want to İstanbul, I think is Joke…may be we want to take again east thraceia.My grandfather was born Ottoman State in Batı Trakya (west thraceia) and obligated to İstanbul.more or less 10.000.000 Turks origin come from Balkans.
I am a Turk and I don’t want to enter EU ..And mostly Turks think like me. You are right; We are a big country and big population and we have got different our history from west europeans.. We learnt , we are growing everything area . Turkey and Russia come the back! This is game and players EU, Turkey,Russia and USA. EU lost Turkey 10 years ago..we are 80.000.000 and we have got Turkic Countries (Azarbaycan,Turkmenistan,Uzbekistan, Kyrgystan,etc. and Old Ottomans area..That is enough to us..
Individiually, i like Europe and its people .Mostly kind,smart and nice poeple. As a Turkish cizitizen i dont want to be a part of Europe, because my people dont deserve this.They are mostly fanatic and not open minded (%60) . + We are a muslim country, if Turkey join the europe ,sooner or later, they will try to change your minds they will want u to see as muslims. I, as a turkish citizen dont want my people ruin your minds. I worn u nice people, you may love Turkey but my people see beauty as danger or weakness. I am an atheist but cant tell this in my country because they are idiot ..
Big respect to you! So this way, the EU SHOULD include Turkey in order to re-teach them!
USA (not joking)
It doesn’t really matter who joins anymore as the Europian Union is cracked and coming to an end. What is the point of this debate?!
peace is all what we need not to join eu or to leave it . i’m albanian and i’m proud but i also love kosovo and serbia, people most forget the past only like this they will do the smartest thing for the future
We should skip the “benefiting” part out of welcoming any new states since almost all of them are small to even mean anything in economic way, so in other hand which countries would cause less instability would probably be Montenegro or Macedonia, EU would spend less time investing and repairing there rather than in Serbia, Turkey, Bosnia or Albania. So in the advantage sector Montenegro is leading since they have already adopted the euro and then you have Macedonia as potential unused economic resource since basically Yugoslav times. So those two would definitely worth welcoming in the club of the EU
I’m guessing they’ll join roughly in this order:
1. Montenegro (2017-2025)
2. Serbia (2017-2025)
3. Scotland (2019-2028)
4. Albania (2020-2030)
5. Catalonia (2022-2035)
6. Iceland (2022-2035)
7. BiH (2025-2040)
8. Macedonia (2025-2040)
9. Andorra (2030-2050)
10. San Marino (2030-2050)
11. Armenia (2030-2050)
12. Georgia (2030-2050)
…
Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Vatican: will not apply for membership
Turkey, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Morocco, Mauritania, Cape Verde: will apply but get rejected
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan: already started their anti-EU union, probably wouldn’t have applied anyway
Oh, and as for Ukraine and Kosovo, I simply have no idea.
I would like Ukraine to be amongst the Countries offered candidate status and to fulfill its rightful place within the EU this would promote peace and stability in the region and with migrant workers take care of the EUs bloated welfare budget with extra tax revenues and productivity
i say that the EU should wait a little before accepting new members! the newly members are still underdeveloped, and there are imigration problems all across europe + the gipsy’s that need to be integrated into society(i say we ship’em to london and let the brits deal with them=joke), if these problems are not resolved the candidate members wont have a union to adhere.
I think Serbia and Montenegro will be the next countries will be joining the EU and Kosovo will have special bilateral agreement such as Andora, San Marino
In my opinion, the next enlargement will be all the western balkan countries as a pack, but not sooner than 2017, possibly in 2020. The western balkan area has a little less than 20 million citizens, with GDP (PPP) of $205.761 billions similar to Romania witch has 21 mill citizens and GDP (PPP) of $285.131 billions. By 2020 with a growth rate of 5% per year, the western balkan would be at the current level of Romania, and all the other political nonsenses will be resolved, after all we are all living in 21 century and all living in europe, the youth doesn’t want borders anymore…
They can all join but cash subsidies only on a drip feed bases, also there should be no freedom to move from county to country because so far its a one way road to the UK and Im afraid we can not support any more if at all in the future .
Georgia is a joke country: 5 year old kids can drink beer in bars and vehicles do not need to pass any form of checks to be on the road. If Georgia joins the EU then you might as well allow Algeria too as that is also not in Europe and has far higher standards than Georgia. Don’t let the new glass and concrete of Tbilisi and Batumi fool you…get out into the countryside to discover what is really going on
Hi my friend half of morocain the are from europe i’m origenale europe from germane and all moroccain berber thyer from germane but i dont cknow why europe peaople refus to our country jeion in europe infact our country i think them dont think about europ and in these time we find petrole that make us who win our petrole and our country not let europe take petrole in half price
In my opinion Serbia should be the next country to join the EU if they recognize Kosovo.
There is no need for Serbia to recognize an entity which the EU does not recognize
The whole ex yu including Slovenia and Croatia, Albania, Romania, Bulagaria, are bunch of primitive people, who should never and should have never joined the EU. Also, the east of European Union is the same. From Italy, Austria and west that is the real Europe. On the south, it is Greece, rest banana states, from where everybody normal would run away
Please i wont belarus to join the union
I think first country to join the European Union should be Montenegro,Macedonia,Serbia and than Bosnia and Herzegovina.
turkey, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland Should Join EU…
I strongly believe that Turkey should work with the EU and Greece and solve the Cyprus “problems” … Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia and Bosnia Hertegovina will join in 2024, in my opinion; Ukraine probably not until 2050, Moldova probably only if it unites with Romania … Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan could join only after Turkey … Norway when their resources are gone, Switzerland after a banking crisis, Iceland should negociate their “fishing problem” and it would be better for them to join as soon as possible … Greenland could join after independence or they will already be recognized in the EU, Cape Verde also could have a chance of joining if they apply ( the canaries are close to them, they could be considered of being in europe, they speak a portuguesse language and they’re a small nation with little impact )
If Cape Verde joins then why not Mozambique and Angola and Brazil? They also speak Portuguese language. Oh, and how about Somalia, they speak Italina and how about Zambia, they speak English. How then about Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Venzuelam, Cuba, Mexico, because they speak Spanish. Oh and USA speaks English, Canada, Australia, New Zealand too? Because Nouvelle-Caledonie can, so why not NZ? You name it? Maybe Japan can join because they are just nice….
2018 – Moldova will “join” because they will probably UNITE with Romania as they used to be…
2018-2020 – Turkey and Iceland
2024 – 2026 – Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, FYR Macedonia, Bosnia Hertegovina
2030-2034 – Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cape Verde
2040-2050 – Switzerland, Norway, Greenland
2050-2060 – Ukraine and Belarus
>2100 – Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Kaliningrad ( Enlargement Complete )
First of all “kaliningrad” should have all its towns and coties and its name renamed into something more historic and more reasonable. As we all know Kalinin was a war criminal. After that “kaliningrad” either becomes a 4th Baltic country or is returned to Lithuania or is split between its neighbouring countries.
Well actually, turkey has some advantages and disadvantages to join the EU. For advantages It ‘s connecting the europe with asia. They have good economy which is better than the most of EU members. But they have disadvantages like they are become less democracier beacuse of the Erdoğan’s vision. They have the worst income inequality in europe. And the enviroment is so plain that some parts are good and some parts are bad . That means good and bad is living together in Turkey. They have to be democraier and stop the Erdoğan Movement. If turkish people can make it i think they can join EU in 2018-2023.
I suppose Serbia and Montenegro are next in line to join EU but it will not happen before 2020, that’s for sure. It is probably not even possible before due to the long negotiation process.
There is still possibility, although very slim, that Macedonia could join together with Montenegro and Sebia but that means a lot of “ifs”. So Macedonia will probably have to wait the newest candidate country, Albania, in some other round of enlargement.
As per Bosnia and Kosovo, I don’t see the possibility for them to join at least untill 2030. These countries are not even candidates yet. They both face problems regarding their survival as states.
Turkey: If any country deserves to join, it is Turkey, a 50-years old candidate country with almost frozen negotitations for years. I hope Turkey will join at least in 2023, a year Ankara set as a target date. Turkey’s membership will bring a lot of advanteges to the EU. After all, Turkey deserves EU membership. Unlike Cyprus, an island geographically in Asia, Turkey is partly located in Europe. The major European town is Istanbul (14 m inhabitants).
Eastern Euorpe: I don’t see the possibility for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia or Azerbaijan to join at all. Not to mention Belarus or Armenia. That would mean a new conflict with Russia.
But EU should consider the possibility of Israel to join. It is culturally a European country, just like Cyprus and (to a certain degree) Turkey.
Before expanding further east, we should be filling the existing gaps. Switzerland, Norway and Greenland are much more valuable assets than Moldova or Georgia.
Next to join are Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia.
Europeans probably will not want Muslim countries (Turkey, Bosnia, Albania and Kosovo) within the EU.
Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan and Armenia will probably never join.
Iceland, Norway and Switzerland can enter EU when ever they want, but they refuse to do that.
Russia.
none .. its time that the EU was disbanded as the EU has failed in its purpose – the one that was “sold” to the country members citizens as benefits.
Russia! Ha ha was not 1st to key the obvious in!
China and ndia :)
Imagine Russia in the EU. LOL. I would pay to see that happenin’ :D
turkey
Tell me one thing about EU good and I will tell you next country…… Everyone is earning money too much to do nothing….. Governments cuts on the workers benefits but in the EU parliament they refuse to reduce in 10%….. What is doing Tusk? What have done Durao Barroso?
Marsilandia. Some territory on Mars belonging to the EU.
Turkey, rest of Balkan countries, Ukraine, Georgia… :)
SCOTLAND :)
None. EU should focus on getting their shit together. We have the biggest club of bureaucracy and corruption in the world. The addition of Russia will definitely advance this club but keys keep it like this for the next 30 years until countries and people see some actual good out of this.
Serbia, Iceland, Macedonia, Ukraine.
Serbia
There’s no more joining before 2020, and none other than Serbia look like they’re remotely ready to join – if we’re looking at countries other than those already associated with the EU in some form (Iceland, Switzerland, etc.).
Montenegro…?
USA
But in conditions such as a weaker member states.
Israel.
Moldova!
Realistically thinking, there are many more countries that should be a part of the European Union. However, the country that is going to join next is Montenegro.
.
The question is will Greece leave your antidemocratic EU before both France & Great Britian ?
Watch live….
http://www.theguardian.com/business/blog/live/2014/dec/29/greece-dimas-stavros-presidential-vote-election
Turkey & israel ??? None of them belong to europe geographically, yet both of them play in the annual basketball euro???league
Vatican could be of use.
By the way, Turkey already has that blue font on the left of the car number plates with the TR innitials but without the EU stars above it. They push their way in in any matter :)
.
Can only imagine how bad a countries economy would have to be to actually want to become the next PIGS country.
Just goes to prove that the only reason they want to join is for the free handouts of other peoples money.
Time to leave the Bankrupt EU.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/dec/14/eurozone-crisis-history-repeating-itself-again
Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia – in that order.
This always makes me sad. Poor Turkey. :(
http://i.imgur.com/A6XtmTP.png
none
Only ones that could (Iceland, Norway and Swiss) don’t want to.
Only other country that is on the right path is Montenegro, the others are to far behind to join in the near future.
Moldova
Ukraine. Freedom is something Russia can’t deal with.
MOLDOVA !
Montenegro & Serbia! :)
Europe???? Do you mean Germany instead?
Island, Switzerland and Norway; but those countries are to smart to lose their independence to nondemocratic Brussels bureaucrats. So then we should look at current candidates; and from them my vote would go to Turkey since it is the strongest economy of current candidate states.
But EU in any case needs a revision which will move away from the dangerous idea of federation.
Not Turkey, thats for sure. Might as well include Siria, Iraq. They do not share same values or culture. No islamic country can be part of EU. As for other states, as someone has aleready said. Focus on making EU right. Because or it is done properly or might as well split. So talks of making it bigger are worthless.
Join or leave?
Only countries that can contribute to the union without becoming another drain on the taxpayers already within EU… Turkey: No, having lived in that country for an extended time, its population is not european, nor do they consider themselves european, its still an immature nation. The Balkans, sure, if they can prove that their economy is strong enough!
Serbia!
Iceland, Montenegro in my opinion. Both the EU and these countries should follow more profound discussions.
Macedonia.
Turkey
NOT serbia! They do not belong in EU! That will be GREAT MISTAKE!
All balcans, also Iceland and Norway
Montenegro!
EU should solve its inner problems before thinking of another enlargement. Once this is done the most likely candidate imo would be Montenegro…however I am afraid they will once again hasten things and admit countries before those or the EU already existing are prepared…
Turkey???
Switzerland
Mordor
As Serbia is the larger part of the now-dismantled Yugoslavia, I would expect Serbia to join first, so as to lead the way for the smaller Western Balkans states that are still struggling to find some European identity for themselves.
Muntenegro is also a good candidate and should be considered.
Ukraine, as much as I love it, is at least one decade away from joining, due to rampant corruption and long-held reforms. I believe Yatseniuk and Poroshenko will do whatever they can to accelerate Ukraine joining the EU, the EU is sponsoring Ukraine, but the parliament of Ukraine is only newly pro-European, and European membership preparations take time.
I do believe, however, that by 2030, most European countries will join the EU in a peaceful, meaningful and prosperous block.
Serbia
the next victem?
Republic of Turkey
Why you don’t ask the people already in the EU if they are happy with the current situation and than get in more countries,
Greece
Portugal
Spain
Italy
Ireland they are already suffering economic crisis ,
So the EU is not magic box .
F..k Eurohomopean union
Montenegro would be nice.
Turkey!
Catalunya
Trkiye Cumhuriyeti ;)
Palestine, Israel and Tunisia…
Scotland
None
Who will leave next is the question
Turkey have no chance of entering with Erdogan in charge. It would be wreckless to extend the free movement of people to Turkey given that it has not totally dealt with extremists from the Middle East- it’s an easy passport to the rest of Europe.
Of course it is essential to respect each other desires, vision. But it seems in Europe Union are at the moments several obstructions for consolidated development and more equal and balanced access of the people in several Eu coutries for access and right for wellfare of their families, employment, educational right for all aged group, standards for health life , food , habitance conditions. Still so many bureacratic execuses for stability in economy that even more aggressive economies when considering wellfare of middle class is under the pressure of limiting their rights to access for quality of life, education, employment are more friendly than EU present relationship to people.
So expanding of EU in such moment when not consolidated in own objectives to own present population …what exactly expanding or inviting new coutries means: postponing of the problem and masquerading some basic issues? Or new contries could cotribute to stronger standards and alignment to quality of life and cohabitance with nature and strong values for people and quality of life and new paradigmas for environmental protection and technologies that can bring new employments and higher added value. If this is the issue than Iceland can contribute to EU with their experience how they originally saved their economy from exhausting people of the financial institutions debt policy.
But wondering if Iceland people are willing to risk their hardly provided status and efforts to be dilluted in EU needs and expectations.
It seems that prime task of EU states now should be to consolidate economies and infrastructure in all states provide and initiate processes and open access to educational and employment resurces based on the new infrastructure development and provide conditions that new countries are then invited in transparent and strong visionary community with vary exact and strong expectations and objectives. First thing first might be good strategy.
After consolidating economy and infrastructure reasoable and strategy of priorities could be expanding in the direction to support potentials of future development of economies with corridors Africa North Africa over SE Europe to the Eastern countries .
Guess this process is not possible going simultaneously with consolidating relationship with Russia and Mediterenian region and specially North Africa. The corridor that joint these two region demands to be economically stable, open, free of internal controversies, devoted to EU idea and with logistically supported in regional infrastructure of environmental friendly transport for people and goods and supported with green concepts for energy production as for transport possibilities. Also local sustainability in food production and green surfaces like re forestation to support global efforts in minimizing CO2 fingerprint. So the corridor is optimized for future flows and providing development initiatives to bith connected regions of corridor.
Serbia, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Switzerland and all other european countries
The European Union should first consolidate it’s UNION before including anyone else…
Norway
Serbia and FYRM.
That is a joke. EU is a nightmare. All counties should and must leave.
What a laymen discussion. subjective opinions are irrelevant cuz they include the opinion of nazis in Europe. What matters is ‘acquis communautaire’, human rights and economy of the prospective member state. take a look at Art. 22 of EU Fundamental charter of human rights, RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY. After that you can participate in such a debate by avoiding the outdated arguments based on religion, race and culture of people which leads to open discrimination in legal world!
.
Good news.
The Greek people have rejected the European commissions orders and will hold new elections.
Unless the EU elite orders them to vote again… and again… and again until they get the correct answer.
Long live democracy.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30623421
What about Azerbajan kazakhstan or Malasya , or maybe Israel no ?
no country eu is collapsing
Certainly Albania
Ukraine
Switzerland, Norway and Island would be the only acceptable candidates. All other former eastern countries are far away from ready.
Afrika,Asia , Rssia ,Latin Amerika,USA and Canad – do you think thats enough for the moment ?
non of them. la eu should fix all their problems instead to increase them…
Kaliningrad oblast
No country should join the EU – its as big as it should be. There now needs to be an effort to re-create “Europe” the concept across the globe – at least another 6 or 7 Europe’s.
Ask people of countries before deciding something! I was never asked if EU should grow, who decided that???
Macedonia
im sorry to say; but if EU dont start taking human rights, ILO, and the poor population serious – then we wont be talking about who is going to join next, but what country is first to leave
Serbia
serbia
UKRAINE !!!
Ukraine!
Turkey
The British Empire has to leave as it is a burden to the further development of the EU. The majority of britons would feel better.
Oh,come on,folks!We all know that Montenegro is the next!:-P
Tadjikistan
Bosnia and Herzegovina – not because of it’s politicians, but because of it’s people deserve better life, too… We are very patient, very diligent, and very loyal people…and whoever gives us a chance and show us a care, we will return it double… This country is in this very bad position because everybody is trying to get something from it – in political, geo-political, ethnic or any other way, and unfortunately we can’t take care of our future, because too many fractions, foreign and local don’t want to do anything to make a some progress…The population of this country is almost 4 Million, the size of one mid-sized city in EU, and we are not lazy people, we are carrying very painful history on our backs every day, so if anyone deserves to be accepted, even with exception, that’s Bosnia and Herzegovina…
Palestine.
Israel
.
?It is an historic day. democracy cannot be blackmailed,? he said following the parliamentary vote.
But it won’t stop the EU elite from trying.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/11315842/Greece-to-hold-snap-elections-as-parliament-refuses-to-approve-new-president.html
Probably Croatia
Russia…
if you dont let turkey, georgia, ukraine, azerbeijan, armenia, moldova to join EU. They will find another way to improve themselves. So you will miss them and stay smaller. its not like going to war with them. its improving each other.
Turkey (even though Ms Merkel is ‘absolut dagegen’).
Israel!
Moldova, before Putin gets it
Ukraine.
Serbia
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Switzerland !
I would say New Zealand ;-) No kidding. In first instance I would say to keep it like it is right now. Maybe by time the countries of the Balkan can join but not right now. We should support them though in reorganizing their country so they can join on a long-term basis.
Ukraine!!! (Y)
Hoping this would set it free from Putin the Tyrant before it will be too late…
Serbia
Vatican City
Iceland will be the next country to join
Norway or Switzerland. But they don’t want to, so I guess it’ll be Belarus or Serbia.
First we must strengt ourselfs and help candidates to use our values.
Catalonia and Scotland, with no doubt!!
Switzerland? :)
None. Let’s clear the mess first.
Even more – the question shall be: who should leave the EU first?
Nome
Republic of Moldova !
If Turkey decide to have very close relations with rusia EU is going to lose very strategically important partner and that is one of the big steps the end of the EU ,
Today Turkey has been waiting for fifty years on the door for the permission to enter the EU, it won’t be surprise for me if EU decide in one night and accept Turkey in the EU.
Im Portuguese and i think Republic of Moldova as the most poor country of Europe deserves a chance to go to EU, look Portugal before goes to CEE was a myserable country now we are diferents of course many people say we are in crisis since 2010, but the fault of the Portguese situation is of the bad internal politicians we have. But i think the big problem is the euro not the EU, it was too soon to some countrys like Spain, Portugal and Greece to go to euro in 2002. The solution is now a United States of Europe…….but of cours the most rich countrys like Germany, Finland etc etc not gonna be solidaire with the most poor countrys its very rare the rich people worry wiht the most poors!
Imperial overstretch and white elephant projects before the Second Fall of the Roman Empire.
And just like the last time, the Irish will have to rebuild Europe – again.
Turkey.
In my opinion, Europe must focus on strengthening its’ economy, democratization of decision-making process and careful balancing in foreign affairs’ theater. Europe must redefine (or re-invent) its’ appeal as a zone of peace and prosperity through common market. Otherwise, Europe will crumble, and, in any case, it will have little to offer to any potential candidate. In similar fashion, potential candidate should be able to contribute to EU. In that sense, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland are welcomed at all times, nonetheless of written above. With reforms, way out of economic stagnation, more jobs, applying to bigger trade and investment partnerships, EU should be able to find its’ way from current slowdown. Than, we can observe possible candidates. I cannot say that either of the countries mentioned in article is self-imposing as credible, obvious candidate – maybe I am wrong. EU also made grave error in judgement by accepting a lot of ill-prepared countries as Romania and Bulgaria into its’ ranks, and t sent very wrong message to their neighbors i.e. that they can, somehow, get a free pass, and focus on lobbying instead on institutional changes. If you wish, real enlargement should be right now to bring countries such as Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Croatia back on path to progress, employment and better future, and not increasing load with countries in similar (if not much worse) conditions.
None!!! First we have to solve our mess
In 2013 , Croatia became the newest Member State of the E.uropean U.nion. Seven or eight ( 7/8 ) countries are now widely seen as likely candidates to follow them in and eventually join the E.uropean U.nion. However, with the E.U. still struggling with ever-present economic malaise, plenty of critics are lining up to warn that ? bigger isn?t always better ? when it comes to European integration . No new countries are likely to join the 28-nation bloc until at least 2015 , with some arguing that the E.U. won?t be ready to take on new members until 2020 . There are also several roadblocks in place for some of the candidate countries . Kosovo?s independence , for example , is not recognised by all E.U. countries , although a surprise Serbia-Kosovo deal , brokered by E.U. High Representative Catherine Ashton in 2013 , paves the way for its eventual E.U. membership . Turkey has been pushing for membership for decades , and it could still be at least 15 years before negotiations can be completed , especially with the E.U. so divided over whether Turkey should even join at all , but actually U.K. and Deutschland is too contrray. Maybe Ukraine , but only after the end of the civil war between the friends of Moscow..
The other ” Western Balkan ” countries have all been told they can one day follow Croatia into the E.U., as long as they make progress on democratic and economic reforms. However, a dispute with Greece over the name ? Macedonia ? has frozen that country?s membership prospects seemingly permanently. Iceland was keen to pursue membership after the financial crisis rocked the tiny Atlantic nation in 2008 , but a new eurosceptic government recently suspended membership talks altogether and actully it’is out ( cause her ” Pub. Deb.” never covered ) . To read some in-depth analysis of the progress made by ” Western Balkan ” nations towards E.U. membership , be sure to check out the recent report published by our sister think-tank , ” Friends of Europe “.
No other country should join the EU until 2030. We need to solve our own problems before we accept new countries in the club.
I’m from Azerbaijan and i don’t want my country to join the EU. Cause actually Europe is like Titanic, first they must solve theirs own problems. Azerbaijan is rich in oil and gas and we have a good union with Turkey and Georgia.
Lebanon … then it would be a unique step made by the EC :D
Ukraine as it will assure our needs for food for Europe to grow and Turkey as it will be the gateway to the middle east and its energetic resources. In the long term North Africa and Caucas, but we need to invest alot in them. But the Black Sea and Mediteraneean will be a huge advantage for trade and prosperity.
Ukraine as it will assure our needs for food for Europe to grow and Turkey as it will be the gateway to the middle east and its energetic resources. In the long term North Africa and Caucas, but we need to invest alot in them. But the Black Sea and Mediteraneean will be a huge advantage for trade and prosperity.
Georgia !!!! Save south eastern Europe, save the region! If you see the country and people they deserve being in EU more than many others. It’s definitely an Europe from the viewpoint of values and culture.
China
Armenia!!!
Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Libya etc…
Russia!!!! Putin wanted Free Trade for ever… till he got emotional & invaded Ukraine!
I see some poor comments against the membership of Turkey and I wanted to write my comment which normally I don’t like to share in this platform.
First argument of people here is Erdogan. OK, you guys are fairly right about it but the membership is a process which Turkey experiences for almost half of the century. So you guys can’t blame Erdogan for everything and this process.
Another issue is collaboration with IS. Oh how intelligent you people are. :) Turkey is the first country which is under damage of IS. And look how many British, French and other EU member state citizens are fighting in IS. So stop bullying with that serious case.
There are many things Turkey should fix and rise. If anti-Turkey people could come with right argues, I would definitely understand their worries but now it just looks like something funny.
Turkey has got different, rich, inheritance and dynamics over this land. Instead of focusing to EU, they should see whole geography and its positive effects.
I think that Albania should be the next country. It is well known that albanians want to enter to EU more that any other state. As it has gain the candidate status, it’s time to be a full member. Eurosceptism has to be faced. It would be great for albanian citizens and for the albanian students to move freely.
russia lol
Albania of course
It is Interesting to see how this kind of debate goes feeding the spin doctors of some particular Balkan countries. So far the comments I have read are done by subjective perspectives; be it nationalistic or EU ignorant (part of the current if we may say so EU citizens).
To the nationalistic ones I have to say well done with the pejoration of the image of your neighbors. It helps and preserves the negative perception of the Balkans!
To the EU ignorant who speaks about contributor and net benefit benefit countries, I simply have to say that the so called contributions made are overstated and that in many cases the core EU countries are also the ones to profit with preferential status in the investments they make in these not yet member states. There is EU and there are EU actors, whatever they sell as news the core member states drive the game. States remain unitary actors!
Going to the debate, none of the current candidate or not yet member states fulfills the Copenhagen criteria! However, EU criteria can be shifted seeing its long term institutional interests merging with main actor’s state interests, such as Russia’s puppet in the Balkans Serbia for example and its influence in the EU energy security problem . To conclude EU has shown not to apply the same standards when it comes to state’s path to full membership, Greece and Portugal became members based in minimal requirements as opposed to the accession of .Bulgaria and Romania for example. Western Balkans have additional requirements based on the failure to properly integrate the later entrants harmoniously with their domestic reforms etc etc. Personally, being an Albanian I hope we fulfill the reforms to become members and finally decide to say NO. There is a clear core and periphery created in today’s EU reality when it comes to development and financial clusters, the later one member state enters the more the peripheral status will be sealed for it!
The real question nowadays is which country will leave first?
Is Britain going out, or will Greece be kicked out?
https://www.facebook.com/SupportUKIP/photos/a.644917608891127.1073741829.641497352566486/764017266981160/?type=1&theater
The real question nowadays is which country will leave first?
Is Britain going out, or will Greece be kicked out?
https://www.facebook.com/SupportUKIP/photos/a.644917608891127.1073741829.641497352566486/764017266981160/?type=1&theater
Say one thing good about UE, I will give ? 5…. Say one thing bad about UE I should receive ? 1….. I will be rich!!
Serbia…to stabilize the balkans once and for all!
Fully agree
Catalonia
Suia! ggld
Iran..
Macedonia… I think it is better than Greece…
The countries from the Western Balkans have to join the EU asap in order to make the region more secure from further ethnic tensions and conflicts, protect the region from Russian influence and interference with their internal affairs etc. The faster we delete those borders the quicker we will start making business and realize we are all the same people, many of us speaking the same language, and all of us sharing the same ancestry and heritage. Whatever that is.
Next EU state will certainly be Serbia, whenever that might happen.
There are countries that want to join the EU and/or the Euro? Are they insane? don’t they see that a slave market is European Union?Don’t they see what a chain and whip is the euro?
i think algeria,africa should join the eu ,,,,
Serbia will be the next member-state of the European Union
serbia.but first federalize E U
Macedonia and Bosnia , possibly Serbia
join? Countries are about to leave.
And thet’re right
Close.
Iceland… there’s no sense they stop the accession procedure just five years after they asked to enter. We should say to the icelanders to decide now: become part of the EU now or never in the future
The union is only big enough when the entire geographical area which we call Europe is united into a federative democratic multi-ethnic state without corruption and discrimination on whatever ground. The next country to join should be a country, that is able and willing to join based on the aforementioned criteria.
TAB?K? TURKIYE ;;)
Russia. Obviously. :)
Join the EU.
Motherfuckers they been in this continent the entire life.
Who are those to decide for these countries?
Serbia, Bielarus, Macedonia
Enough
Why should there be a “first in line list”? Why shouldn’t the order be “whomever has qualified” according to the set criteria? Why does everything need to be a race? Let us just do it right! No timeline needed!
.
You are joking right ?
The question you should be asking is ‘Which country will be the first to leave the EU ?’
Albania -Kosovo and Montenegro !!
Ukraine
Albania is a good choice even though many do not think so.
Ukraine, Turkey and Georgia, kick UK keep Scotland.
We wait until Scotland gets Independence…..kick out the English…..invite every European country except Russia and England to join. Become Federal. Kick the Russians out of Ukraine and Crimea….kick the english out of Northern Ireland and Gibraltar. Not sure about Wales
Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Albania, Ukraine and Montenegro. But firt FEDERAL EUROPE !!
Bhutan
We’re too big already.
We should be worrying on federalizing the EU instead of growing our borders and taking more members in.
What for?!
ALBANIA
Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia! (Macedonia, if tries to get rid of the serbian and russian KGB, and stopped stealing history from Bulgaria)
country joining eu used to be a trend issue some years ago,
The EU will have HUGE problems, if violent and primitive serbia becomes part of EU. That will be WRONG move and could provoke IIIWW! They DO NOT BELONG amongst civilized people!
Kick out UK, and replace with Turkey as soon as the get rid of erdogan…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVrN-gkzVYI
Nigeria maybe?!
Catalonia
Montenegro is the next one. Goodluck and too bad the Icelandic Government decided to withdraw the application
Montenegro first because:
1st, it already uses euro as a currency
2nd, low percentage of muslim / islam believers, who are difficult to be assimilated in european communities
3rd, it has the second lower unempoyment percentage after Albania
4th, small country with small population almost in the “heart” of Europe, very close to other EU-members
5th, last but not least, it is important trade partner in Balkans…..
Montenegro
Scotland
Francesco Gerli
~ None … Is this a real European Union as it Was planed FROM the ORIGINAL founders? ~ Look what they put Greece on NOW, while destroyed Greece agreed IN LONDON IN 1953, upon rebuilding Germany, after all these massacres THE GERMAN NAZIS CREATED into the Greek people during II W.W…Decide for yourself IF this is a union, that we, the European People would like to live in, under A German Occupation…
no Christian country should be part of this demonic union
indeed it will be dismantled and reduced to 10 nations very soon.
All Balkan, Switzerland and Ukraine with neighbouring countries and Iceland
Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Serbia. But at this point also Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.
Now is time that some of them should leave it. Greece is in the poll position.
Hope someday all European countries will be in. Then we can start on building a united world.
Yes close the door…to much crisis. .
Madness to want to join a bankocracy
Bulgaria on the way
Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova!
The most likely countries to join next are Montenegro and possibly Serbia. After that probably Scotland and Catalan Countries, followed by Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, then Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Moldova. Finally Ukraine, Northern Cyprus reunifies with Cyprus, and Turkey.
Norway , Montenegro
Russia, then all the other European countries, and Turkey .
I think if all ppl are like this commentators here EU should dissolve! Too much nationalists here and hate, some ppl are pathological racists.
Turkey.
Albania should join the Eu.I belive it’s time .There are still problems to be solved,but they are doing huge steps to make things better,such as increasing of economy.More n’ more people are now working,roads are getting better everything is getting much better.Why not to be a part of EU ?!
Montenegro AND Albania
Montenegro and Serbia…
Of course non Turkey!
Why Kosovo is listed as a country?! KOSOVO IS SERBIA!
Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Muntenegru, Turcia should be in E.U. as soon as posible ;) Maybe 2017. But not Ukraine!
Also think at Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan as candidates and members from 2020.
Why not Ukraine? first, Ukrainians are very poor(currently the poorest in Europe) and they deserve to live better, and EU can help them. Second, Ukrainians love the EU, they are loyal to it, and they strongly hope. They even participated in pro-European protests, and they sacrificed(and still sacrifice) their lives to join the EU. Yes, first time the EU will subsidize, and will help, but then, under the EU-rule, Ukraine will develop and will be prosperious like Poland or even better(Poland was also extremely poor before joining the EU), and Ukraine will be able even to help other countries. Don’t look at Ukraine as at a burden, if EU helps, Ukraine will be not less strong than Germany, and the EU with Ukraine is much more mighty than without
firth cleanup the bureaucracy, then we speak… ok?
Swisse
For what do they need it??? They are rich even now!
? without a shared banking system? really?
Why Kosovo is listed as a country?! KOSOVO IS SERBIA!
Serbia, Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia, Muntenegru, Turcia should be in E.U. as soon as posible ;) Maybe 2017. But not Ukraine!
Also think at Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan as candidates and members from 2020.
Close and disband
dont EU has enough problems ??
.
The only reason countries want to join the EU is for free handouts of money..
Didn’t work out to well for Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, France, Cyprus, etc, etc… did it.
The EU has to be dissolved, an undemocratic totalitarian body with no mandate from the people of Europe, whom it claims to represent. Close it down now!
i hope armenia and georgia, cant understand why iceland and norway won’t join the EU
Because they are already rich!
For Turkey clouse the door please
Any country that stup?d enough to ready to share rest of ones debts
Union means mutual respect! Unfortunately the EU has shown only arrogant politicians who think their power is to divide and congor under a union scheme! Oxymoron, isn’t it?
we should get more united than devided
Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.
New Zealand
Switzerland
Not turkey or albania for sure
Kazakhstan & Turkey!
The European mafia Union to be exact
qual unio?
The UK.
Its absolutely of no relevance…. EU is in a dying process….
Moldova.
If Turkey then the Islamic Caliphate, Uzbekistan, Kirgistan, Kebapistan and the test of the third world
Like each empire, EU needs to grow, if it doesn’t, it will collapse! :-) None of the members was asked if he was agree others countrys to join EU, Fashington will deceide, nobody else!
Russia
What about all the countries starting with the letter “N”? Like Nicaragua, Namibia, New Zealand… For sure it makes more sense than some of the comments I’ve just read here… Like the people who wants to include Georgia and Ukraine (!!!) or others who want to include countries that DO NOT want to join EU.
Why do you think including Georgia and Ukraine is a bad idea?(even putting three exclamation marks in parentheses). do you want them to stay poor, wild and corrupted?
Dear Ivan Burrows,
You’re just as free to leave democratically as others are free to stay or join democratically.
If the UK would decide to leave, we would respect that. Just as the UK and you would have to respect that the others stay and new members join.
I believe for creating a safer, peaceful and democratic Europe, All of the Balkan Countries (inc. Ukraine) shall accede to the EU.This will encourage these states to 1-) improve the quality of national services they provide, 2-)strengthen their economies and 3-) introduce modern human rights measures, for ensuring and protecting the rights and freedoms of its citizens. At least, apart from the UN bodies, EU and its bodies will make sure that while protecting the rights of all of the EU citizens, it will have the power to stop States from attacking/invading/mass killings AND instead, force them to provide better services for their people. However, we should not forget that this union had capitalist aims (and still) and first it started as an economic union; therefore, in order to create a balanced and peaceful Europe: first these states should be guided and helped to improve their economy so that parties within the EU cannot use /scapegoat other states or their slow/low economises: and give material/aid rise of the far right groups. (Ps: yes personally I want a United Federal Cyprus too ! )
As soon as France will leave this undemocratic union, it’s equal which land will join it! :-)
Albania
The most importa question should be “What is the next European country coming out of the Eu?” In 1 and a half year the euro will disappear and after that also the Eu.
Montenegro
It’s failing immensely, what do they need more countries, Iceland turned then down, who’s next ..
Bosnia and Hercegovina
I think the European Union is big enough right now and that we should consolidate what we have. We have a significant problem regarding corruption, especially amongst our newer members which MUST be addressed. We must also look at how our wealth is spread throughout the union, ensuring membership is still benefitting all states!
Only crazy people would do this. Iceland rocks!
Ukraine, just to give putin a headache :D
How about making the EU functional first? After that, expansion should be on the table, maybe for the Western Balkans first. I doubt CH and NO will be rushing to join…
Let the EU wither and die. The sooner, the better. Then it can be possible to regroup within wider Eurasia.
ALBANIA- Jovan Ivosevic- ALBANIA
None. This is not a union.
Russia
Not Turkey
enough
What ? Close doors lool idiots
EU don’t rush… System inside problem!!! No way Turkey!!!
Fix the one we have first.
All ex-Yu countries should join soon
Moldova,Muntenegru,Georgia and Serbia should be !! :)
I think that the EU is big enough and we don’t need more members.
India
First question who rules the eu second who dose the earth elongs too?eu dose not rule no body and nobody can’t stop no one to trevel everywhere so stop talking things that rnt reasonable eu should split or every country should join in.
Iceland (but they would refuse) and Montenegro. For others wait decade or more.
Albania
Debating Europe I would kindly ask you to react on some of the replies in the comments… I believe there should be 0 tolerance towards hate speech and insults on a national basis, especially here. I am Croat and I feel deeply ashamed of the speech that Suncica Cvitkovic Anderson (possibly another Croat) is using here. Hate speech is considered a hate crime in EU, afterall. I hope somebody will report this incident to the relevant authorities… hate crimes should not be tolarated in any context towards any nation member http://fra.europa.eu/en/theme/hate-crime
People always want to be on the Winning team
The answer lies in the hands of the citizens of the applicant country; if they share our values and principles, and will live by our rules then they are welcome. If they do not, then there is no point to apply for membership.
No others at the moment. The others have to bring a value to the Union and vise versa. Besides we must get a lot done with what we have before considering other “countries ” to become a Cultural Region of the EU.
none. u should first bring up to standard the countries that are with you. insist on professionals coming in side by side and spending monies on programs that integrate newly joined countries with the best of yours. u seem to take things on without responsibility or expecting reponsibility from your members and that is slowly making u weak. we all want a strong europe.
All countries in Europe
nope….eu is already to big to take now members….
I’d say that I’d like to see the EU develop better institutional capabilities first. The candidate countries should sit in EEA or EFTA while they wait for that
Should close the door :)) becauze the window is too far
North korea
Turkey would be the highest gain I think.
United Arab Emirates and United States. Or actually everything what is already united. African Union too!
NONE ! We have enough EU member states to bail out…and more complexity does not aid in any conceivable way to achieve what the designers of the European Union had in mind
URSS?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8xAXJx9WJ8 … This video should be seen by all citizens of all the Nations thinking about joining the EU in any way…
Is it not one of the founding principles of the EU that any country within the European continent can join the EU as long as they meet the membership criteria? In that case, the EU would have no ability to refuse new countries joining.
it starts to look like an empire.
same shit over and over
Bosnia and Herzegovina. Great and ohnest people, they really impressed me as co-workers.
Until 2020 there must not be any enlargement of the EU, if there will be any other enlargement it will be en suicide for the EU. Until the 2020 the EU have to be reinforced inside and have to strengthen here presence to the candidate countries of western Balkans, because with such corrupted governments if this countries are accepted will be a shame for EU and a disappointment for the population of this countries. So the EU have to do more pressure to change the corrupted governments of the Western Balkans countries.
We should take a break and think about a vision of EU. Where should it go to? For example, I think we need common fiscal policy if we want to keep the Euro. Another thing are the asylum seekers and the social benefits.
Before expanding, EU should consolidate itself and adopt a real unionist policy. Desposing the corporatist interferences in governmental institutions and rebuilding trust among the partner states would really make a step forward n order to achieve the European dream. Other that that, negociations with the other countries are essential and must be on EU agenda at a daily basis.
Maybe Isral should join, then it would have to respect human rights.
EU should build the wall on the eastern border of Croatia.
The ones that fight for freedom and democracy.
Will EU be a proper union in the near future..
U.S.A.
Serbia <3
If I would be the one to decide it would be B&H ! I am from Croatia 100 % so am not bias but B&H was member of K u K monarchie before the first world war and Serbia was the one that coused it. MN was partly part of the same monarchie ( Boka Kotorska) so do not see the reason why not, but half of the population is of the Serbian origin and shall take a long time to put them on the leash !
deeply disturbing and xenophoebic comment
If possible would be the first one to give my vote to enable ‘Vojvodina’ to join the same company !
.
Bookmakers are offering 5/1 on Greece leaving the Eurozone & 2/1 on Finland leaving.
Time to end the madness, time to end the antidemocratic EU.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11541657/How-sleepy-Finland-could-tear-apart-the-euro-project.html
Fix the big current problems first and then start with the invitations…..
The EU is not country or a confederation like the US, its just a union with targets to create a federal government so it can carry on on extending till its target states.
Germany.
Norway
The poor countries would like to join in but the rich is going to pay the debt.
Cyprus.
Will be Shengian in 2016.
SERBIA is the best for new member of EU
Close,get federal.
Guapo
Enough.
Strengthen the existing structure before speaking of enlargement.
There are a number of problems in THE EU as is.
A stronger EU first.
Our country is big enough.
My country should give it’s membership to whoever applies, so we could FLEEE !!!
Moldova
Albania
Morocco
EU candidacy status would help strengthen democratization in Morocco/Tunisia
Russia.
ex-Jugoslavian countries
…Albania and all ex Jugoslavian countries! Then should close the door to new members!…
Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco, Andorra, Norway, Iceland, Faeroer, Scotland ;-) ex-Jugoslavia, Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine and maybe on time even Russia :-D Alright, lets say all geographically pure European countries (so not Russia and Turkey, only those if they have a pure democracy and this counts also for the countries who are not so democratic at this time…)
I think we have repented quitea few for joing the austerty that makes us poorer every day . This is an establishment for the oligaequies , if I were them I would keep away from such a foolish comittment.
Easy come, easy go?
aderire !?
no EU without Albania
Luis Miguel l o artigo. Recordas o Ingls e aprofundas o conhecimento de geografia. Eu aposto na entrada da Turquia, e tu?
Neither the US politics, nor the Russian ones should ever interfere with the European plans. After all, we do have common interests, nu matter being already a part of the EU or not.UK must be let with Washington, it’s not possible to change the British conservatorism anyway. Ukraine and Moldova should be supported by all the actual members to follow a democratic, anticorruption view in public administration., in order to become members themselves as soon as possible. Of course, along with the Balcanic countries and Georgia.
Serbi
This EU is pure madness
I’d love some of them to leave rather than to join.
ALBANIA (Y) AND All States EUROPEAN
Japan?? Brazil?? The Federal Republic of the Moon??? You choose!!!
Akualo pijo??
No more… for now.
Should close , finish, kaput ! Period!
Catalonia, Scotland and Basque Country
Por mim a EUROPA j acabou h muito tempo s entra lixo e mais lixo. J agora a Sria tb e o Qunia. O Mali
Turky
Russia XD
of course turkey
Liberland! ;)
If Norway or Switzerland want to join (unlikely) they should be next. No other countries should be admitted in the next 20 years.
and obviously only European countries should be admitted, not Turkey.
I think is too much
Ukraine, obviously.
None…better to start leaving.
dreamofblueskypoetry.blogspot.com
HEALTH and EDUCATION have complex problems :( Lying, theft, prostitution, trafficking, murder :( the lack of money, the lack of drinking water, the lack of electricity, the lack of old original documents, and sale of every moral value, :( causing DESTRUCTION and DEATH of the INDIVIDUAL, SOCIETY and NATURE , and it must STOP here and now :(
Kuba
Education more than ever in the countries and we need to do it now not tomorrow, please!
Education more than ever in the countries and we need to do it now not tomorrow, please!
ALBANIA
ALBANIA
Switzerland should join the EU.Turkey shoul be left out.
Turkey IS NOT part of EU ! LOL
Switzerland should join the EU.Turkey shoul be left out.
Serbia and than Albania
Serbia and than Albania
Island, Serbia,
Serbia!
Serbia definatelly!
If Iceland wants to join, we should get on with that process. Other than that, I think we have enough on our plate for years to come… So let’s not add to our problems =P
Russia,Serbia,Macedonia you choose!;)
Serbia :)
The VALUES countries !!! And you could find Values in every corner of the world! I think the Balcan country’s need a chance to share their positive sides, to believe the future will be better! They have already paid a lot for the decisions of the “Strongest”!! Before judging and being racist lets give all nations something important —-> HOPE!!
Turkey naturally!
Albania and Iceland
I am in favor of a European nations
Expansion to any country that promotes free movement of persons, capital, goods and services; freedom of stablishmen; democracy and respect of human rights… Any country with this background and shared borders. The Economy has no “natural” frontiers, so, right now, the limits to the candidates to join the EU as a supranational integration experiment are South Africa and China.
Albania and Turkey.
…should join one another
is very substantial only if it is the same of other members working towards the same goal, is it a global Union?
No it has the mask but not the juice for all and thus cannot accomplish the purpose of the that it was conducted for
Serbia in EU? – Bad idea, very bad… It is enough with Greece, like it is today (I mean pro-russian actions), as well we have such stupid fractions in European Parliament and European Commission, who are trying to destroy EU from inside, so one more whole country full of ‘putinoids’ (not all, of course) – it is too much!
We need a BETTER Europe, not bigger
now there should be no new countries into the European Union
Serbia is the next logical EU member
Serbia will join around 2020 (negotiations have started 2 years ago)
Serbia is the next EU member state
India should join(if possible) because their currency is very strong.
States that will join European Union: Caucasian Nations (Exception: Russia and Azerbaijan). States that are independent that will join the EU: Kosovo.
That’s right! Kosovo, Abkhazia, Transdniestria and South Ossetia should join at the same time!
Georgia and Moldova are likely candidates. They will prosper from membership and the Union will benefit form having these two countries as member states. Moreover giving Georgia EU membership could help towards resolving the conflict in the areas of Abkhazia and South Osettia currently under Russian occupation.
Kosovo, Abkhazia and South Ossetia can join together around 2130
in this moment switzerland,norway,iceland. after 2020 serbia, macedonia, montenegro.
What surprises me most is the problem Greece has with FYROM. The province of Luxembourg in Belgium (a one-time part of Lux. until 1839 !!) does not seem to cause any ill feeling among the population of the “petite Grande Duché de Luxembourg”. Neither is the opposite the case.
Alexander the Great originated from Macedonia. I think the Greeks should rather be proud of the fact that there exists a Country bearing the name of one of their Provinces. Perhaps they dislike the fact that Macedonian is a Slavic language nowadays and uses a Cyrillic alphabet? Some Macedonians do however understand Greek, even nowadays. I think one should go the bottom of this debate before forcing anything on either the Greeks or the Macedonians. Perhaps some adequate PR will speed up the process of understanding…..
Anyone, but Ukraine! Obviously, Europe cannot to subsidize it endlessly. Most likely everyone understand quite well that full EU membership for Ukraine is still a long way ahead, but Kiev continues to press now Brussels to grant Ukraine more and more preferences on the way towards it
http://i.imgur.com/LnBr2iH.png
In my opinion Ukrainian officials must stop demanding from Brussels that “integration mechanisms should be used more actively towards Ukraine now”. The problem with Ukraine is that it is too slow in transforming its institutions, economy and society that would allow them to be fully compatible with EU institutions and practices. In this case some “individual road map of European integration process for Ukraine” puts the EU full membership for this country on the back burner!
Replying to the Dan R. June 4th, 2015
Really? Where are you from? Now Ukraine is the poorest in Europe, has a war, so they suffer more THAN ANYONE ELSE in Europe. They war with Russia at the East, keeping the Putin’s Empire from moving forward to Europe thus protecting not only Ukraine, but the whole Europe as well. Also, they proved their pro-European loyalty at the Euromaidan. They even paid their life for willing to join the EU. I think that Ukraine has fully deserved to be a part of the successfull Europe. And of course, they need some help, if they enter now, then of course, Eu. will help somehow, maybe will subsidize(like it was with Poland), but in return Eu. will broaden its borders, its influence in the world and will have one more seccessfull member that can be in the same line with Germany and France. Ukraine must be in its European family. About the Ukrainian officials. most of people really HATE them. Speaking of me, I don’t really know whether they do something correct or something wrong, but most of people are dissatisfied with them. maybe they are wrong, or maybe just the situation is very hard. “The problem with Ukraine is that it is too slow in transforming”-don’t forget that Ukraine has war that complicates all these proccesses you’ve mentioned. Anyway, Ukraine must me in the EU, and the official should not be an obslacle on this way. If Europe thinks the officials are unfitting for it then ok, let them choose some correct officials that would fit the Europe.
“In my opinion Ukrainian officials must stop “-in my opinion, Ukrainian officials will not stay in charge till the end of 2016, maybe even sooner. Ukraine is a very unstable and crazy country, it needs to join the EU in order to become stable and relatively sound
EU gives the best to support Serbia in way to EU. It means EU works much more then Serbia about this question. About Kosovo sovereignty, almost every state in EU has much greater problem with prats which want to be Independent. Srbia is very important for EU, then every other country.
Serbia is the next EU member state
albania and Serbia
i see many people talking so wrong about Kosovo , lombardia was and is full of italians was land of ethnic italians so doesnt need to separate from italy …. kosovo was albanian land full with ethnic albanians and albanians there had minimum of rights cuz serbs was criminals …. dear people its like with russia when it was soviet union … imagine russia would invade germany or any other country and calling it russian land …. what would your grand childrens do after 100 years … they would accept russian regime cuz is nice with them …. nobody would accept it so please dont dream anymore and talking only sh*t things in here for something u dont know about …. and as for topic i think Albania is the other state or country who should join EU … :)
Albania as the least developed country on the entire continent shouldn’t even have the candidate status for the membership, not to mention membership itself.
That’s what Russia did with Koenigsberg/Semba/Twangste.
Kosovo will be able to join the EU only indirectly: through Serbian passports (in 2020), or Albanian citizenship (around 2030).
Kosovo should be in the EU
Kosovo, as a part of Serbia, could be in the EU within a couple of years but choses to remain isolated
Any country without a strong developed economy would be stupid the enter the EU after what has happened to Greece , Spain , Portugal , and Ireland , and as most EU economies are on the decline , there is no real reason to join seeing the FTAs that the EU has signed . Who needs to be member and lose your sovereignty when you can negociate an FTA .
It is also very clear that the current EU setup needs re-organisation and re-negociation due to the number of different countries and economies involved.
Can many of the countries wanting to join come anywhere near respecting current EU legislation from pollution to economy , I doubt it .
i live in pakistan My country is the best country in the word :)
The full text is located here: http://www.imninalu.net/myths-Vlach.htm
In the reality, the late-nomadic Vlachs (romanians) migrated from Bulgaria and South-Eastern Serbia to the present-day territory of Romania in the 13th century. The nationalistic daco-romanian continuity myth (which is the compulsory curriculum for children in romania) is not generally accepted by western academic scholars. That’s why all major Western Encyclopedias (E.Encarta, E. Britannica, E.Americana, German Brockhaus, French Larousse etc…) mention the romanian state-supported daco-romanian myth, but they are also mention the reality: the Vlach migration from the Balkans in the 13th century.
Vlachs (medieval romanians) were the latest people who introduced the literacy in Europe, and they were one of the latest shepherd nomadic people in Europe. There were no orthodox bishopry in medieval Vallachia & Moldavia, even most of the monks and priests had to be „imported” from Serbia. Due to the lack of literacy and own history writting (medieval chronicles) until the Grigore Ureche’s chronicle in the early 17th century – who wrote about the balkan migration of his Vlach people – The poor romanians had to built up a so-called “speculative history-writting” (or fabricated history), where speculations based on earlier speculations and fictions etc..
There are no material proofs (cemetries cultic places) which can support the romanian (vlach) existence in present-day territory of romania before the 1200s. There are no CONTEMPORARY written documents about the existence Vlachs in the territory of later Vallachia Moldavia Transylvania before the 1200s.
WERE WERE YOU HIDING for 800 years dear “daco”-romans?
The neo-latin elements in Romanian language remain the best proof agaist daco-roman theory. Unlike other neo-latin languages, there are no proofs for development of dacian language into a neo-latin language, because there are not remained dacian vocabulary for the posterior. The dacian conquest was the shortest lasting conquest of the Roman Empire in Europe, it lasted only 160years, the relations between the roman legions and dacians remianed hostile. (Note: The contemporary multi-ethnic legionaries were Roman citizens, but they were recruited from various primarily multinational, non-Latin provinces, so THEY WERE NOT ROMANS ) This very short & hostile circumstance are not an ideal contingency for romanization process. There are no CONTEMPORARY historic records for the survive of dacians after the Roman withdrawal, and later the territory was the FOCAL POINT of great migrations (serials of many strong powerfull and brutal barbaric tribes and people such as Huns, Goths, Gepids Longobards, Avars, Pechenegs and Cumans.). There are tons of contemporary written documents (chronicles from early medieval to high medieval age etc.) about the sheprherd nomad Vlachs in Balkan peninsula, but there are no material or written proofs for their existence in the present-day territory of Romania before the 1200s. However the roman rule lasted for 500+ years in many territories of Balkan peninsula (where vlachs were often mentioned by many early medieval chronicles) There is also no trace of lingual influence from any of the other peoples who lived in Transylvania after the withdrawal of the Romans, the Huns, Goths, Gepids Longobards, Avars, Pechenegs and Cumans. If these languages did not have any influence on the Rumanian language, we can be sure that this is proof that at that time there were no Wallachian settlers in Transylvania. During the creation of romanian literary language and language reforms in the 19th century, the high ratio of south-slavic, albanian and turkic words were purged from old romanian language, and they were replaced by adopted modern italian french and other neo-latin words and even full expressions (which were not belong to the ancient latin and vulgar latin language)
The territory of modern romania belonged to the Bulgaria first, later it came under Byzantine rule. From the late 11th century, the territory was occupied and ruled by the turkic Cuman tribes. After the mongol invasion in 1240, nomadic Vlachs (romanians) started to migrate towards modern romania, and their (turkic) cuman overlords (like Basarab) estabisilshed their first Vlach romanian principalities. It became vassal state of the Hungarian kings and later they were vassals of Polish kings. In the 16th century, romania became an Ottoman province until 1878.
A book about it: http://www.magtudin.org/ONE_LAND_TWO_NATIONS.pdf
VLACHS (Romanians) WERE THE LATEST NOMADIC ETHNIC GROUP IN EUROPE. Vlachs were known as late – nomadic people in medieval chronicles. The first romanian vlach churches were built only around the turn of the 13th and 14th century. No known archiutecture existed before that period. The romanian literacy and chronicles appeared only in the early 17th century.USE Google books! (The word’s largest digitalized library, the largest collection of printed books) See the google book results (search the british american candian authors about medieval romanians Vlachs):
Carleton Stevens Coon: The races of Europe, Page 614
” Vlach colonists are nomads living in black tents like those of … A greater variation is found in the cephalic index; on the plains of Moldavia and Wallachia, and in the Dobruja”
Robert William Seton-Watson: A history of the Roumanians: from Roman times to the completion of unity, page: 12
“The Roumanians undoubtedly preserved their nomadic habits to a very late date, as is proved by the existence of Vlach colonies in Moravia (the so-called “Little Wallachia” — long since completely Slavised)”
Mandell Creighton, Justin Winsor, Samuel Rawson Gardiner: The English Historical Review page:- 615.
“He shows that the Vlachs of the Balkan peninsula throughout the middle ages are nomads of the strictest type, … that Vlachs began to move north of the Danube to Wallachia and Transylvania ”
Joan E. Durrant, Anne B. Smith Global Pathways to Abolishing Physical Punishment: Realizing Children’s Rights ( PAGE 210)
“Between the 3rd century A.D. and the 14th century A.D., Dacia was invaded successively by nomadic peoples, including the … Romanians ”
Norman Berdichevsky: Nations, Language and Citizenship -page: 181.
“The “true Romanians” are held to be interlopers who were nomadic shepherds that migrated into Transylvania from the … then transferred to “Wallachia,” the traditional core area of the Romanian state located east and south of Transylvania.”
Other elements in the population of Greece are the Wallachians or Vlachs, the Turks, and the Jews, but they have never … The Wallachians are a curious nomadic race
David Bruce Macdonald – 2002 Balkan Holocausts?: Serbian and Croatian Victim Centered … page- 131
“These hinterland Romans evolved into highland herdsmen, who for centuries led a primitive nomadic life”
Lampe, John R, Jackson, Marvin R. Balkan Economic History, 1550 – 1950: From Imperial Borderlands to … page – 612.
“Vlachs had first acquired their commercial connections in the course of moving their livestock seasonally back and forth between high and low ground. …
Alan J.B. Wace and M.S. Thompson, The Nomads of the Balkans (New York: Books for Libraries Press, 1971)”
Jane Perry Clark Carey, Andrew Galbraith Carey : The Web of Modern Greek Politics – page 73
“shepherds and nomadic herdsmen, wandering through the Balkans and the north of Greece. On their early migrations they gave the Vlach name to various districts, including the province of Wallachia in present-day Romania”
Chambers’s Encyclopedia – Volume 14. page:- 339.
“The Vlachs are usually mentioned as following nomadic or semi-nomadic lives as shepherds etc. in wild mountain … nth century was known as ‘Great Wallachia’ and seems to have contained a relatively dense and settled Vlach population.”
Denys Hay: Europe in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries page: 220
“In the first half of the fourteenth century there also appeared there the two Romanian principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia. … or whether the Hungarians are right in
their thesis that these Vlachs were recently immigrated nomadic shepherds”
Frank Moore Colby, Talcott Williams, Herbert Treadwell Wade: The New International Encyclopaedia Voluma 20. Page: 219
“Owing to their nomadic and predatory dispositions these Vlachs, as they are called by the Greek writers, were a … the autonomous Rumanian principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, which grew rapidly towards south and east until the former”
Isaiah Bowman: The New World: Problems in Political Geography page – 282
“or Wallachians The Rumanians, or Wallachs (hence Wallachia), are of mixed race but of distinct speech, the Ruman, … Home places of the nomadic Vlachs The Vlachs , Rumanian nomadism is seen in its purest form among the detached”
Norman Angell : Peace Theories And The Balkan War page: – 107.
“It had been founded by a conquering caste of non-Slavonic nomads from the trans-Danubian steppes, but these were completely … This Bulgarian state included a large ‘Vlach’ element descended from those Latin-speaking provincials whom the Slavs had pushed … had established itself in the mountains of Transylvania, and was just beginning to push down into the Wallachian and Moldavian plains”
Tibor Frank, Frank Hadler : Disputed territories and shared pasts: overlapping national histories in modern Europe, page: 251
“Reference to Romanians in their preunification (1859) history was linked to the regional designation of Wallachia (today Oltenia and Muntenia) to the south … This designation relates to the nomadic existence of the Balkan Vlach population.”
Paul Coles : The Ottoman Impact on Europe – page: 114
” nomadic pastoralism provided a new lease of life for the Rumanian-speaking Vlachs, migratory herdsmen whose native principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia had fallen under Ottoman dominion during the fifteenth century”
Wace, Alan J. B. and Maurice S. Thompson. .:
“The Nomads of the Balkans: An Account of Life and Custom Among the Vlachs of Northern Pindus.”
No one will join the EU anymore until the EU becomes a democracy with elected president and stops spraying chemtrails in the sky.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3QmxSWNkc4
Very well said. And I want to add. Freedom of movement is important within the EU, even to the western Europeans, but €uro currency must go, seriously. We are not United States of KFC. We are countries with distinct cultures and we deserve our own currencies. The ones who work hard for the Deutschmark (sorry, the €uro) are Germany, the Benelux, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Austria, Lithuania, perhaps also Slovakia. All others reap the benefits of free give outs from mainly Germany and its hardworking neighbours.
You people stupid? kosovo is nothing to do with serbia!!! The are albanian and to be honset the have persevered the albanian tradition better then Albanians. Obviously EU leader have read the history of Kosovo and gave them their independence. You people need to read the kosovon history. Kosovo is albania. You also need to read into GREAT ALBANIA. Fk serbia HITLER got reincarnated as SLOBODAN MILISEVIC.
Kosovo has been half-recognized for years now and will enter the EU once Serbia as a member state decides to support such move around 2030
The European Union should first try to overcome its many financial problems before accepting new members. It should, also, try to deal with the chaotic differences between Western/Eastern and Northern/Southern member states. At present, wealthier non-EU countries, such as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are discouraged by the current situation. On the other hand, war and poverty-struck Western Balkan countries might find it difficult to cope with the inside problems of the Union, once they join. So, any future enlargements of the EU don’t seem feasible in the short-term future.
Serbia and Montenegro are undergoing accession talks for a few years now, so they are planned for the short-term future, at least from the standpoint of EU institutions.
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Serbia, Karelia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania eventually. While Switzerland, Norway and Iceland will probably never join. Moldova will probably become part of Romania anyway.
Macedonia should be accepted as a member in EU ,because it have the qualifications and the constituents to to go ahead ,and to develop its economic, educational and social systems, and to raise the standard of living and well-being of all citizens with the help of members of the EU.
P.S:Macedonia has a great situation for investing so use this to make EU a greater ‘UNION’ …….
Not Serbia… I don’t want to be part of the EU. These days, with the refugee crisis, we can see the real face of this Union. Serbia to stay neutral and independent. The hell with the EU!
Serbia does not have the choice but to join, now when it is on EU doorstep
Serbia and Montenegro have been negotiating for years and are recognized as the first upcomming EU member states around 2020. All other Balkan candidates are years behind on Eurointegrations agenda.
Serbia and Montenegro are undergoing final phase of accession to the EU. Whether we vote for it or not, these two states will be the next to join
True. Serbia has been preparing to join by 2020
I would like to see pakistan in EU Member countries ..
That would be great! Welcome brothers!
Açores.
Serbia ( including kosovo as an autonomy ),Montenegro, and Fyrom (if resolves the naming dispute with Greece)
Kosovo, Transnistria, Abjasia, Ossetia, … should Not be independent states
Serbia and Montenegro will be the next EU member states
Here’s an idea…how about membership for countries who can make a financial contribution to Club EU,and stop the spongers joining ….sorry that should read…countries who are going to be in receipt of the money paid in by the others.
Laws of the jungle dictate when one becomes rich one does not need any unions. Look at Norway, Swiss, Iceland, or even Japan. Does Japan want to join some Union? No way Josep.
E.U. expansion is peace expander because it makes small countries lesser worried over their basics like subsistence and security,it also bring in common standard and many options that a small or medium sized countries can not have. it also respects cultural and political independence of nation-states. it is crucial to understand European Union is final answer to something that Soviet has begun as a try in cultural integration of many different societies with many different civilizational level. all pressure that Europe has today is coming from outside sources such as China, whom are worried of possible requests from Russia,Central Asians,North African arabs and even western Asians who have similar genetic kinship to Europe. for now, Asians have undeclared economic union that includes All indochinese regions from India to Indonesia/Malaysia/Philippine/Japan/Korea and slow leadership of China. in here, countries like Australia and New Zealand and oceanians and situation is similar with south americans-who have european heritage-are alone there and they must either approach EU or make something like EU with Britain- like old times of currency union- if such crucial integration between EU with countries in neighborhood or in cultural vicinity has not happen, then this economic war will cost many on this planet,especially with this unbalance of population growth in Asia and central/southern africa with rest of the world.
Koenigsberg should be next.
Serbia, which has been negotiating its acession for 2 years now, is expected to complete the talks by the end of the decade and join the EU as its 29th state.
Welcome Serbia, but please do not get rid of your currency. We need to get rid of Euro while staying in a Confederation, not a Union with faceless unelected EU government. Keep that in mind and demand that while joining the EU.
Serbia should probably not get rid of its currency once it joins for a while, even though Euro beats Dinar by a long shot :)
I believe Bosnia is the one who deserves to be the next to join the EU. They should get their candidate status at the end of 2015 and get their membership in the summer of 2017. Why should the EU reward Serbia or Montenegro their membership? They both destroyed Yugoslavia (especially Serbia) and Serbia should solve their problems with Kosovo first. On the other hand Montenegro is so small they don’t have any power so they don’t deserve their EU membership before Bosnia at least. Macedonia could be the one to go together with Bosnia they have been waiting for so many years and they avoided the war so they don’t have any problems. Kosovo will probably be the last to join in about 2040 unless they solve their problems with Serbia fast and gain more power for their government.
I think that Bosnia and Macedonia should be the next ones to join the EU. Why should the EU accept Serbia or Montenegro. They both ruined Yugoslavia (especially Serbia who is so violent) and they don’t deserve it. Serbia should accept Kosovo and join in about 10 years. Montengro is so small that it doesn’t have any power so they should wait for another 5 years. Bosnia should get its candidate status in the beginning of 2016 and join together with Macedonia in the summer of 2017. Macedonia has been waiting for so many years and Bosnia deserves it more than anyone. Kosovo will probably be the last to join in about 25 years (2040). Croatia should’nt have joined for at least another 3 years from now because they still have border disputes with 4 countries (Slovenia, Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro).
Croatia is in the EU and Serbia and Montenegro have been undergoing final entry talks for years now. Deal with it
Bosnia, Montenegro, and Macedonia to join in about 3 years. Serbia has to accept Kosovo as an independent country and then start being less violent.
your 3 same posts do not imply more argumented debate
Kurdia (Kurdistan).
If we really want to join EU we can very much fast, but the political members of parliament in Albania don’t want to as they are all mafia,
Just 2 words can put us in EU “if you don’t put us in EU we are going to be friends with Russia so they will have access on Mediterranean Sea and see after if they want us in EU or not”
So people stop wasting your time and arguing with each other for nothing . Have a great life all of you no mayer where you all are from bless human being
Ervin
Hans your talking nonsense, really…On the past most of the countries that u mentioned has been occupied and colonized by European countries such as France, I will not teach u the history right, should I..no one invited them to concur these countries Hans..and again, it is France and its Leadership though, which interfered in Libya, Tunisia and other ex colonised middle east and African countries… For my opinion Germany is doing a great job by keeping EU intake, however, keeping countries like Greece and inviting Serbia to become part of EU is not a good idea. Inviting Serbia to become part of EU is inviting and installing Russian interest in EU which is bad on the long run. EU has block Russia’s hands in Europe zone since the interference of Russia in Ukraine therefore Russia will find other ways to dominate EU via Serbia. Second, how would a country like Serbia with its Leadership be invited to become part of EU when Serbia leadership did not apologies yet for thousands lives they slaughtered during the war in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosova? How would the European Union who predict democracy, freedom would promote these countries with such Leadership? A country with a Leadership who prais war and massacred innocent people, women and Kids. Remember, in Kosovo there are still thousands of Kosovo dead bodies massacred from Serbian army wich are yet to be found from mass graves in Serbia. Serbia is yet to apologies for the massacres and proudly welcomes its war Generals who has been accused for war crimes in Hague. In the other hand, keeping Greece in EU is a bad plan, Greece been barging with EU and threatening to work Financial crises with Russia if EU doesent easen its debts.. Greece financial crises is the result of mismanagement of the Greece gov and its citizens who think they r well to do n keep spending with no limit. On regards to the refugee crises in EU, I agree to have a detail scan of the people who move from the countries such as Siria, Irak, Libia and Iran. Lot’s of exstremist groups may cover up and move easly in European Countries. Last but not list, We should carefully analyse whos interest is to bring this large number of refugees in Europe? why now? who is helping Asad regime to mass cleanness its own people and pressure EU with refugees? With all these issues ahead I am sure 2016 will be a difficult year ahead for EU Leadership and I hope and pray to have a safe and peace Europe the great continent where I belong. Cheers
Serbia has started negotiations 2 years ago and will be the next EU member state around 2020. Once Serbia joins, the region will have positive spillover effects.
Chechnya – Ichkeria is next.
ScrEU the EU… they are unelected government, undemocratic, satanist, liberasts, narcotics users. EU is destroying such great countries as France, Germany, Italia, Grece, etc. It better it fall apart, no more, Euro and European cultures will prosper again. We don’t need another AmeriKKKa on the European soil.
No one it is enought full
None..europe is not an open bar
This post, in itself, shows the complete and utter biased rubbish that this page really is; this isn’t a debate, it isn’t an impartial discussion of the pros and cons of issues surrounding the EU. It’s bare-faced, pro-European, supra-national propaganda. Hell, you can’t even differentiate correctly between “debating europe” and asking questions about Issues related to the EU, when we all know that the EU and Europe are 2 different things.
Well with a bit of luck Ukraine, Albania, Armenia, Lichtenstein, Andorra, San Marino, the Vatican, Switzerland, Norway, Georgia, Russia, Turkey and I would also take in Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria… otherwise rather rapidly depending on a bunch of twats… NI, Wales and Scotland and we could have closer associations with Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina…and Cuba (pinching it from both the US and Russia simultaneously) invite them to join the Euro too… it would also be wise to have a couple of counters in Asia so I suggest proposing a membership to Singapour… and call for the independance of Hong Kong and make it an EU protectorate
Turkey
Iceland
The problem is not who will join….the problem is who wants to be controlled by Brussels….
All europeans are welcome (not Turkey…)but we want another europe…a respectful europe for its citizens and economiccally just..not controlled by political or financial lobbies.
Russia, Georgia and Armenia, as they are the very stock of European identity
You better ask which country it’s about to take off. Enough is enough assholes!
Liberland and Izrael – Izrael first, of course, because of their human democracy. :D
Never Turkey please
Russia :D
Moldavia I hope,Germans were separated by Stalin,so did the Romanians.It’s time to make justice to the Romanian people once and for all.
Turkey never please! No question, it’s a completely different culture.
Russia
Turquía ni de coña, no por ahora.
Y por el resto me da igual si cumplen con las leyes y D.D.H.H.
Armenia should definetley join the EU! A tiny country with unique culture :)
Well, most of the last countries who entered didn’t prove to share European values so far. They are usually against further integration, against refugees, in favour of nationalistic propaganda, disrespectful to human rights and freedom of speech and some of them have turned into illiberal democracies. I am very hesitant about letting other countries in for the moment. Iceland is certainly a very advanced and progressive country, but they’re no longer interested in joining.
Albanian government is full of hypocrites and criminals. The problem is that we all know and we do nothing about it…We all feel powerless to this system that has been caught by these people with dirty money and propaganda.
I would like very much to see Albania in EU, but to be honest we do not deserve it. I think that EU shouldn’t accept new members without merit. It is against every principle of EU. I think most Balkans do not deserve to be member.
OSCE must come here and see the problem in the eye. We are being cheated and forced to obey to the low that is written by criminals. It is a big humanitarian problem.
Please don’t push us in another race with Balkans. We have to bring people together for this. Sure if we want to call ourselves one day “Europeans”…
The EU has outgrown itself already. It is time to step back l, reinvent itself and become an institution value.
None
except Turkey of course!
The EU has outgrown itself ! It no longer serves a purpose …
None
No one I hope!
Let’s first try to keep the current countries (except the UK, Scotland is still welcome and can replace UK) in Europe, by reducing bureaucracy and implementing more democracy.
We almost had more democracy in Europe. The European constitution was a big leap forward as it took power from the commission and gave it to the parliament. But we now how it went, the EU failed to explain why it was good and the anti-europe groups were better prepared to burn it down.
And now less serious. I think the next countries who must join are Transnistria, Abkhazia and Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
China lel
or which should leave it ?
I Do not know and I do not care. It can be South Africa for all I care. I just know which country should exit next. Mine, Portugal!
Serbia
Wtf? Which country should join the e.u next? Is the e.u wanting to expand its borders? There are words for that,…..in commerce its celled ‘takeover’, in military the word would be ‘invasion’. Why cant the idiots in brussells understand that not everybody wants to live the way we do? Or maybe they do know that and simply dont care.
European identity is diversity itself, so Bosnia as a priority.
Also a combination Serbia-Albania is interesting. They need to work together prove how European they are.
Abkhazia
There is no european UNION only euro control from Germany.the refugee crisis has highlighted the fact that this so called union is a farce.
Serbia
Serbia and Albania alltogether!
NONE!
Are u serious?
TURKEY-HAVEN’T THEY WAITED ENOUGH?
No more expansion please. Who will pay?
Western Balkans, Iceland, Norway, Ukriane, Moldova , Belarus, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Why not in some time and Russia.
None!!
Is there still an EU??? EU is a huge disappointment !
It looks like countries rather want to leave then join
.
Turkey followed by Azerbaijan & Kazakhstan.
What will eventually make the EU collapse? It is disunity and yet the EU speaks of expansion. Unity will only come with a Federal Europe which is not going to happen ever.
No more countries should join until the current Union learns how to operate and guarantee the safety and welfare of its citizens. As long as this doesn’t happen, we don’t need to complicate things ever more by adding new members that will need slow the Union even more by adding time to the decision making process.
None lol
Europe doesn’t have complete determined borders, so any regional state can join it.
Norway
german
Those that do not share the EU vision should better vote and leave. That way the others can make real progress towards to full United States of Europe, with union of currency, laws, taxation, banks, etc. Completing the building under construction!
The first candidate is Georgia, without any doubt. We need a little bit more to be ready for euro integration.
Norway.
Turkey of course, at least according to Merkel
Norway and Switzerland no doubts! But not in this UE… A more democratic, humanitarian and united Europe is necessary…!
NONE! EU should end! According to high representative Federica Mogherini, EU and multiculturalism are experiments, and they are not working well as we all can see.
PRIORITY OF EU IS NOT EUROPEANS. EU and multiculturalism are an EXPERIMENT! Read it:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/index_en.htm
Over 10 BILLIONS(it can 100 billions or more!) in 2 years! Plus the billions that we, enslaved workers-taxpayers, pay for them inside our countries, total amount that the governments don’t even know how much it is.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2224174387721174&set=a.101457473326220.2187.100003859025336&type=3&theater
And all those huge cost for people who don’t care about teaching hatred-violence to their children who grow up and become those evil adults destroying and killing their own people and countries.
All those huge costs while we, enslaved workers-taxpayers, don’t have proper health care-security-retirement-wage-elderly care inside our countries.
Besides, those situations of disgraces and miseries are endless because EU and UN just keep using palliatives by feeding them to have more time and energy to go on making more wars and-or children and-or corruption, no demands to them to take responsibility and start working and building their lives and countries.
All this irresponsible decisions from EU just because a bunch of arrogant politicians decides to make an experiment according to high representative Federica Mogherini – EU/EEAS:
“Europe is the more advanced EXPERIMENT of living together”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0QAYds2f3o&feature=youtu.be
Since the beginning of the 90’s, after all this time paying so high taxes to finance EU politicians’ dishonest vain illusions, they just delivered this dangerous chaos today because they take our lives as experiments in a laboratory. They play with our lives, that are very different of theirs, and this is why they think that there is a “SUNNY SIDE THAT IS EXCITING TIMES” as Madam Federica declares.
EU have played with our lives and the future of our children! Their philosophical illusions are becoming nightmares, the world has worsened according to UN despite all the xx-millions of billions EU-UN have taken from our taxes to finance their uppish experiments seeking for power.
Until when will we continue to be slaves paying for your arrogant delusions??? We, workers-taxpayers, are human too and we have the human rights of living safe and work to support only our own livelihood!
Firstly make EU attractive for countries such as Iceland, Norway or Switzerland then think about Turkey and other countries as of second category that still need to change a lot in their countries, not to change EU.
None! UE should solve its problems and nonsense first.
To join the club? EU is an experiment in progress. Some want to leave the club, some don’t want to join, some would like but they are not so desirable like Turkey so they must wait.
Watykan is very REACH State
Νone.EU desperatly needs widening in depth, in Institutions.Some countries ( ex USSR oriented) recently joined EU , cannot even understand the fundamentals of EU.There is a lot of work to be done -in depth.
Honolulu? http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_Honolulu.htm
Kaliningrad should join the EU next and Moscow Oblast.
saudi arabia
Nothing!
I think we’re done. The country is big enough and we don’t need no more new member states.
Syria… It’s the solution to solve refugee crises!
I think Serbia should join the EU next.
Saudyarabia
none
ISRAEL !
Because will teach eu how to occupayed other places, imprisoned children, build a wall between other country’s , arm is citizens , killed anyone who is agains it, cry every day because no one likes them, so on and on ,
Yes for me % 100
ISRAEL
Russia
None. The EU has become so disfunctional, lacks any decent, wise or insightful leadership that it needs to get its own house in order regarding structures, processes and accountability that simply adding more countries adds to the confusion, chaos and general unhappiness.
Hehehehe which EU?? You still believe in this myth? It’s just Merkel empire .
Cheers
It would be better if UKRAINE was the next country to join the EU.
How on earth Romania and Bulgaria EVER got into the EU club is still a mystery and a step too far. Better to let Ukraine join the club than Turkey.
the UK?
Join?The countries that are in the EE, start running away.
NO ONE! GO AWAY FROM THE U€-HELL!
Problem is that EU can collapse if Germans don’t remove Angela Merkel . I don’t care for EU if they want to make Arab country out of it. We have bad problem with Christians and Arabs are radical , .
Russia to tie her up in knots of negotiating access and convergence for decades. Also a joint Israel and Turkey accession . Make a viable Kurdistan and Palestine a condition for them as well sorting Turkish Cyprus out.
Europe must deteinate its priorities first of all, then a public debate is necessary. Not a falae ideas .
How about some of the countries that already joined in theory and treaties, joined in reality and spirit?
All the western Balkan countries should join, however Serbia must recognize the independence of Kosovo (since its declaration has been verified internationally in ICJ that gave the right to Kosovo under SUI GENERIS conditions without cauzing other problems to the member state countries).
FYROM has to finally change the name and plus Bosnia needs a new constitution where the serb nationalists are not going to literally block the country.
I think the question is all wrong. Which country will leave the EU first?
It is both, some will join, some will leave. Poor ones join in. Once they become rich they are likely to leave. It’s like a laundry. This would indicate a HEALTHY Union.
Ν one!!!!That’s enough!!!
Why would anyone want to join? EU is only interested in money. Greed is the only principal adhered to for the last decade. The greatest human crisis since WWII is occurring… Europe with closed borders isn’t Europe at all. No wonder far right wing parties are gaining almost everywhere.
What EU?
The US, just to super confuse UK conservatives
the balcan states that are still outside EU Serbia and Bosnia…if Europe is a project for peace…it’s very important they join…but let’s not be naives…like we are seeing in this crisis… some of the east bloc members were not full prepared to enter (Hungary)..it’s not just entering and receive the money…they have to share our values of democracy!!
Why to bring anymore if the EU is in a political, moral and etic brankrupcy ?.
Only one – Russia :)
Maybe Serbia. It is more stable economicaly, at the moment and willing to work for it. Turkey is EVIL. They DO NOT understand Europe and people do not have free will there . And even if they start to change , probably are going to need 20 to 25 years.
Albania for sure!
United Kingdom!
Russia!
Russia!!!
Israel. Definitely.
Russia is European in culture, Christian in Religion, an Educated and Cultured people that would fit into the European Community without complication. Europe is in danger of falling apart with the Islam people coming in millions calling themselves refugee while the majority of them are soldiers from other nations… 77 to be exact nations have sent young, strong, military haircut, soldiers!!!
I think the word you’re looking for is ‘leave’.
laugh while you can, EU, your days are counted…
Turkey
anyone except Turkey
Russia 😈
Albania absolutely
Bangeladesh :D, Since they have many similarities to Danish and Belgians (culturally and even characteristically) :D
Congo. Why not?
Congo people speak French, and they know very well the Belgian politics…
Bosnia & Herzegovina!
European Union will transform into European Onion, so it ca repell the new “candidates”.
Macedonia is the small country protecting the big, strong and dumb EU and doing it alone. They are number 1.
Macedonia is the small country protecting the big, strong and dumb EU and doing it alone. They are number 1.
Macedonia, because it is a small country and will not cause much problems to EU
Scotland ;)
Iceland, Norway or Switzerland would be the first choice.
Ukraine.
No one for now
Joint? Éxit .
England ;)
it will be Ukraine, sure
Mars!!!
No country at all….actually every EU MS should leave so the corrupt EU will disintegrate!
Serbia and/or Bosnia
No one!! First you should have a European Union… Than in a distant future you think properly if is good to everybody anyone came to EU.
Canada, Switzerland, California to make a better Europe
NONE Jesus as if we dont have anough problems already
ALBANIA. We were europe before religions existed, we were christians since the times that sain paul spread cristianity. Now we have all the religions and we live in peace and harmony just like europe itself is trying to be.
Kosova
Perhaps none would be a suitable quantity, looking at more recent (and many older) entrants.
Serbia
Provide more jobs – there are people who are in poverty. Where’s the European minimum wage? What should the new member state do, join the euro. With the euro our currency was devalued by almost 20%. It makes more sense to get out then to get in. It’s up to you. When you’re in – get the consequences of your actions.
After creating a hell of a problems and has destroyed the supposed european standards of livings to the halph of the countries belonging to EU By not respecting the foundind principles of humanism and the purpose of creating the Eu having build an economic system which destroys the economies of smaller countries and creates more wealth to the bigger i think its time to destroy new countries as more cheap labour is needed for the multinationals which are legislating in Europe instead of the Europeans..
Syria… It would solve refugee crisis cause they would be already in EU…
There is no Macedonia. Some people must wake up!!! Enough is enough with this ridiculous propaganda!!! Whoever is serious laugh with that!!!!
The Vatican.
Serbia should not! They destroyed Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegowina and Kosovo!
any … first high standard !
Αλβανία
Η Συρία
I just can’t believe what I’m reading… especially today :-( I just… can’t find words… I’m struggling here to… just to find words… :-P
Maybe China… or North Korea, that would be a nice match too… I mean… these two are both located in Europe… right??!?!?!? – how ridiculous this EU has become, unfortunately :-(
Londinistan
when #Montenegro join EU and Schengen countries?
soon :D I hope
Opinions always are welcomed . But racism has to be not welcomed . Clearly you will understand when you read all the opinions . How come in the first 21 century we will judge people we will judge the entire countries we give names bad or good . We all are humans and related somehow to each other . We all come from the same tree . I think in my opinion the time it’s close for the all people to come together to be united . Albania needs Serbia so Serbia needs Albania . The same Greece needs Albania , Albania needs Greece . All together we will build the future of the young generation .
How dare this people think they have the right to say Kosovo and Bosnia Herzegovina are not a states After thousands or even millions of people were killed and massacred by Serbs. This people maybe think Hitler didn’t killed the Jews. Do you really know who are Greeks and Serbs. They’re not European’s but both are decented from Russia to do bad to European project as none of this country’s like Europe but are loyal little b…. to Putin politics. Albanians are peaceful people with big heart and always will believe in European values as peace and tolerance but remember we always will give the rest to them who will try down us. Maybe is mad idea to join EU after all when in and out of the club are country’s like Greece and Serbia. They should start their own club with Russia on top and f…..
them self’s and then maybe we all have peace.
the eu is already bloated enough. it was originally 6 countries. why not let the whole world join, including usa, australia, new zealand – lets go for it – the whole wide world could be a member of the bloated fat europen union! goodbye democracy hello federalism!
Serbia or Montenegro are the most likely. If Iceland had not frozen their application, I would have said Iceland beyond a doubt. It is truly difficult to debate a topic like this. But I honestly believe that if Montenegro is 29, Serbia will be 30, and vice-versa. They are both pretty close, and about in the same place in terms of ascension. (I believe Serbia is slightly ahead).
I’ll take a moment to address Turkey, while Erdogan is in power, Turkey has no chance to join the union. I’ll say Turkey is qualified to join since it’s a member of NATO and the Council of Europe. Anyways, Turkey needs to do the following: Settle Cyprus, relax censorship of the internet and the press, start negotiating autonomy with the Kurds (at least be not so discriminatory), and finally, become more secular.
The other candidates, Albania and Macedonia, have not started negotiations, so I think it would be difficult for them to join for years.
There are nations I think have a “Golden Ticket” to EU membership, (Will only take a year or two to negotiate ascension). These are Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland. If they decide to take European unification seriously, they could easily become the 29th without really trying. (I think most the Micro-states will have similar ease).
Albanian they lake to be in europan union, bicose in balkan is the history, and the people is so smart not stupit, if the balkan they don’t go to european union is goin to be big problems over the world,balkan lake europe bat not ather countrys only europe Albania love europe
People of Albania are so smart not for enythink
I think Montenegro or Serbia.
I’ll never understand opponents of a European superstate and people who only envise USA or prefer isolatinoism/nacionalism.
One of the unexpected members would be Uzbekistan, even that it is in Asia. Its a very friendly and entertaining folk. I doubt they will join soon, but by 2040-2050 it is possible. On the other hand I believe the EU has to crumble and transform itself once again into a larger European Economic Community with all its own currencies and its own immigration policy and its own army, yet with open borders within the EEC and freedom of labour movement. Nothing more! No federal state! No central government! Not even in Armenia! :-)
What is the reasoning behind allowing countries to join the EU, that have nothing to offer in terms of trade deals and skilled labour, and are fundamentally economically unsound.
How do they pay the exhorbitant EU membership fees, or do they not pay.
How do they afford to import goods from the EU, if they produce very little or nothing to export.
Are they just a drain on EU finances, recieving development funding for projects
that they cannot afford to undertake themselves.
If the reason is strategic, we already have NATO.
Why does Europe need more economic migrants from failed countries, europe is at saturation point.
EXACTLY!!
Prior to take a decision to take any more country in EU, the people of each state should have been asked about that, action should be taken if they are happy and wins majority over 80%.
We should update this question to:
Which country should leave the European Union next?
Albania should join the EU.
What about Ghana
The UK
Georgia!!
Hahahaha..Lets see who is leaving as next!!!
Scotland
Albania
Catalonia
VATICAN. Same question. Same answer.
Russia
Vlaanderen
Which one should be expelled for non compliance with the European Laws?
Serbia :)
None…. first the EU must solve its problems. … their are a lot and very serious to be thinking where to continue selling BMW for Germany.
.
After the French start the process of leaving the EU next year there will not be an EU for any other Nation to join.
The next EU country should be Serbia. It is the biggest orthodox country in the Balkans and it has a place in the Union. The serbians are very pro-european people as well, so it is logic to be in this way.
Stop it for the next 15 years.
Agreed!
Britain?
The United Kingdom of England and Wales, along with Scotland.
None, even if the first three criteria from the Copenhagen-criteria are fulfilled by the country, don’t forget you have a fourth one that isn’t fulfilled right now; the capability of Europe to accept another country.
Lilliput.
Serbia
Guys the UK is part of the EU untill 2019.. And btw I really doubt it will leave :)
Guys the UK is part of the EU untill 2019.. And btw I really doubt it will leave :)
Scotland.
Scotland.
Egypt
Egypt
Росси́я – Российская Федерация – Russia
Росси́я – Российская Федерация – Russia
Al Maghreb !!!!!for the Eurabia Union !!!!!
Al Maghreb !!!!!for the Eurabia Union !!!!!
Russia. Big and promising market. End of war games and budget on weapon era
Russia. Big and promising market. End of war games and budget on weapon era
China
China
Canada 🍁 and Turkey
Canada 🍁 and Turkey
https://img-s1.onedio.com/id-576fa4c5c3527f9335388d12/rev-0/w-500/s-c54cff3bbb51ac65042e1c1426733f73bc834ff9.jpg
https://img-s1.onedio.com/id-576fa4c5c3527f9335388d12/rev-0/w-500/s-c54cff3bbb51ac65042e1c1426733f73bc834ff9.jpg
They are fine outside why they would like to get in.
They are fine outside why they would like to get in.
U mean :”wich country should be spoiled by resources for bennefit of the trio Germany-France-UK?”
U mean :”wich country should be spoiled by resources for bennefit of the trio Germany-France-UK?”
Japan
Japan
If you want or not, it’s in Europe or not but it will be Syria guys…
If you want or not, it’s in Europe or not but it will be Syria guys…
I suggest turkey
I suggest turkey
well in the first place, if EU wants to exist, it needs to find a policy which is capable to keep the members already in together… maybe then it’s possible to think about the inclusion of other countries.
well in the first place, if EU wants to exist, it needs to find a policy which is capable to keep the members already in together… maybe then it’s possible to think about the inclusion of other countries.
Correct!
North Korea
Scotland! :)
Let us start from 28 and add more after that. This is a consumers union not a citizens union.
well, at this rate we should consider to include at least half of africa..
None.
None. Let’s go back to EU-15
Get the house sorted first!
Everybody are welcome..:
Albania..Serbia..Bosni i Hercegovini.. Makedonia..Turkey..even if i would have preferred the Russia
Too.
Serbia :)) 🇷🇸 & Albania 🇦🇱
It should be Sardinia ROFL
NORTH KOREA?????
there will be some country that still want to enter the EU? for what? to be despoiled?
Icelan d
None except Iceland but will the EU technocrats listen? doubt it. By the way things are going they are ready to open the doors to anyone.
The right question is not which country should join next, but which will leave next? My money are on France.
Canada!!
Georgia and Armenia :)
None, since european “union” is nothing more than a utopia and a romantic idea of the mid 50s.
None! If the EU is to have a future it has to consolidate what it has now and stop this expansionist nonsensical attitude!
None!
If the EU is to have a future it has to consolidate what it has now and stop this expansionist nonsensical attitude!
Jamaica…..
You had the NERVE to suppress my Western views on my previous comment!! You are perhaps a leftist organization. So I will suppress you as well!
Oh! BTW -And I’ll try to circulate among my many Friends – your suppressions techniques!! If your not leftist you are perhaps an Islamic org???
The queue is to exit.
The UK!
Scotland……
Ukraine 🇺🇦
U.S.A
Narnia
I think we should accept in time Serbia, Montenegru, Macedonia and Republic of Moldova. I don’t see as a solution Albania and Bosnia. Kosovo should be accepted only as a part of Serbia. There is no country called Kosovo.
i agree
SOMALIA AFRICA
none
one by one as it is already prepared
I think the country that should join the EU for now is Ukraine.. But the countries that should Not join the EU and certainly still got a lot work to do I’d say Albania.
Maybe Scotland??
Egypt, Turkey
Or which going to getaway next?
It should be the UK.
GREAT BRITAIN.
Uk
The question should be “Which country should leave the UE next?” Mine is the answer….
whoever joins should be motivated to participate in the stability of the common region in a global market and not just to increase national profit through exploitation of the other EU members.
Israel!viva Israel:)
No one
Only for dispair. No inteligent people wil accept to belong to such a ue where only the big contries matter.
Europe is a political dream, and endeavor, of a world with no borders.
Georgia )
Kosova
Saudi Arabia😉
Catalonia, next free state
UTOPIA
If there will be than western Ukraine
The EU is an anti democratic regime that is only consumed with the interests of stengthening their power at the expense of the European people. It must be destroyed
i dont know which should join E.C.O.G but i know which country must leave the E.C.O.G (European Countries Of Germany)….. and that is my Hellas !!!!
The UK.
No one..
Don’t know but Poland and Hungary should go away with their fascist presidents.
Macedonia
Iceland,Ukraine, turky, Rússia, uzbequistan (beautiful landescape..)
Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein should be the next three. I agree about Iceland and Ukraine, but Turkey is not entirely European and neither is Russia. Uzbekistan is not European at all. European Turkey should be GREEK !!
The Antártida and eart moon…
Scotland.
Syria.
Iceland, Schweiz and other wite spots like Schweiz on the EU map. After that rest of Europe
UK Turkey and Scotland
Scotland and NI!!!!
Scotland ;)
Switzerland and Norway should stop being neutral. They can save the Europe. 😂😂😂
Catalonia!
Catalonia!
Ukraine? Svitlana Litvinenko
Uk
Iceland and Albania…
And in my dreams, Canada!
Norway
All Arab countries , we are going to destroy church business , they are never again going to make money on to import Arabs to the EU .
Which country should leave the EU next? Any one with dignity.
Virginia and Maine
Scotland
EU should join Russia after a major split of several western countries. Viktor Orban should be the minister of Vodka.
If there are serious questions I can answer it to.
The eu is in agony, no need for new contributors.
Russia.
None till Europe is a fiasco…
Serbia, naturally.
Syria of course in hands with Israel
Which country will leave the European Union next? That is the right question!
None. The EU needs reform and deepening not widening
USA.
Nigeria
Afghanistan
Umm, none? But there may be another exit
Scotland! :)
none … we must get rid of new entries
New entries bring new markets and more money to Western-Europe’s oligarchs. The more the better.
UK ?
Russia!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NZ04BG7TfA
No new country should join the union for the next five to ten years. We now have to deal with the issues of nationalism spreading all over our union and consolidate our project. Also and foremost, we have to create a stronger, more ambitious sustainable project handling the contribution to climate change all over the world and the effects on the EU and others. We also need to set goals to face robotising of all industries. We have an unprecedent context, we have to face it!
Switzerland
Turkey
Norway
Canada
China or Uganda
MONTENEGRO !!! :)
Serbia
None…..let the awuful eu go hop.
Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia. That’s it. No maslam countries should be accepted unless they convert to Christianity. Therefore Bosnia, Albania, Serbian Province of Kosovo, Turkey, not a chance. And I think it is better if Eurozone fails and EU becomes just an Economic Community with their own currencies representing their own economic situation in every country. History repeats for super states, which keep on failing.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia sounds like Former Indian Territories of America. “FYROM” or NGM = Not Greek Macedonia. I think the EU in its current status should be dissolved.
Serbia and Montenegro will be the next EU member shortly after 2020.
Go Serbia!
After Montenegro and Serbia, the next will be Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia and Tunisia.
Serbia, as the most advanced state in current Enlargement agenda (final accession talks under way since January 2014)
Futeni Shqiperine dhe Kosoven ne BE ju qifsha nenat. Shqiperia eshte kandidat tamam , Mali i Zi nje aplikim ka bere vetem. Ju qifsha robt o shqiptare qe flisni anglisht
Someone made a good point about bigger picture here, of course, why would hegemonistic, corporate and bloody rich – literally and figuratively speaking – west want us in? We are nothing but a small change, and that is the best case scenario. Why, if not for some buffer zone for some other union to cut out some other union? Plus, GB is out, someone needs to pay those bills now, c’mon, you haven’t gave us those loans out for nothing. That tells us a lot. Of course, it is never about taking care of citizens and human beings, building and keeping the peace and democratic principles, strengthtening the rule of law, or any other washed up and empty, overused phrase from the piece of paper we keep hearing about on the magic box. It is always and always has been and always will be, just a bisiness. Geo-political bloody and straight to the point ruthless business of mass murder, war, rape, theft and coruption. Like a game of chess, but with fatal consequences. Global coruption and greed just changes its face, but never its nature. Was it the kings, the church or todays corporate conglomerates, it’s all the same; sword, cross or bank note, faces of different killers, but in the end the saddening fact is that the human stupidity will be the end of us, as a matter of fact it was the very reason all those sheeps in wolves clothing are in charge in the first place most likely. So the universal paradox reveals itself, who is to blame, chicken or the egg?
Serbia and Montenegro will join the EU within the next 5 years, following the final completion of its final EU accession negotiations. Other countries have yet to begin final accession talks which take up to 10 years. Both Serbia and Montenegro have been negotiating for about 5 years now and EU needs to accept them as members if it wants to preserve the credibility of its Enlargement agenda.
Serbia is around half way in its EU accession talks and will join as the next member state shortly after 2020, judging by the dynamics of its membership talks.
Kosovo has no right to be a separate country. It should just become part of Great Albania
Serbia is the next EU member state
is there any chans to Armenia come in EU before 2020
Kosovo is a historical territory of Serbiaaaaa, Serbia never give in and up, you will bring it back , fuck EU and NATO, support from Armenia and the Czech Republic
Albania should become an EU Member they are more than just tour outdated statistics. Ukraine also should be given a chance so that Russia will stop destroying them! ALBANIA AND UKRAINE ARE MUCH BETTER COUNTRIES IN COMPARISON OF BULGARIA, CROATIA AND ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WESTERN BALKANS AND FORMER SOVIET STATES OF EASTERN EUROPE !!!
Rep.of Moldova,is part of the romanian nation splitted by Stalin.
More victims
UK perhaps?
Serbia, Montenegro, and Noth Macedonia are economically ready to join, and they’ve done most of the necessary legal harmonizing, too.
None. The biggest the club the weakest the unión. The EU is like a gipsy fair.
Brazil of course. All powers are watching the Amazon region, that has the same size of the European Union.
Venezuela?
None until the current EU fixes its problems, many and really important, and defines what future it wants and how to do it.
No one.. First make a real union from the ones that are included. It’s not only about economics.
None, fix ones problems first and no more anemies.
North Macedonia and Ukraine. And the European club of coutries must close after that.
and Russia.
No one by now. First consolidate this Union.
Germany want Turkey to join first
Germany wants way too many things now. Including being the one behind the marionettes.
Türkyie…but without sultan Erdogan
Martin since when Turkey is in Europe?
Turkey is culturally in Europe in the same way as it is Asia, and if we aknowledge that, we will profit from that…if not, Turkey will become fully muslim orthodoxe and ”oriental” country
Georgia, Albania, Urkrain.
None!
orthern Ireland and Scotland…if the worst happens over here. ❤
The UK 😂😂😂😂
There wont be E. U if turkey decides to attack Cyprus and Greece, european member and borders, it will be proven a weak entity once more..
United Kingdom
Adrian some day in the future maybe
None! The EU should dissolve.
Scotland.
Is it a game show?
England because the rest of the UK want to stay. hehehehehehehe
Turkey and Russia ;)
Canada
I didn’t know Canada is part of the European continen
Two overseas territories of EU members, Greenland and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, lie adjacent to Canadian territorial waters. Greenland is an island of North America.
Greenland an autonomous territory of Denmark. Is Canada territory of an EU member?
Sounds like, but its simply not.
Erik I still think Canada will be the next EU member.
Rick I would like to see that, but i’m afraid they won’t recognize.
Greenland, Iceland and the Azores can be American islands yes… if Hawaii islands are American islands…
and Canada can be European because the top ruler of Canada is an old European Queen..
Canada has a parliamentary system within the context of a constitutional monarchy—the monarchy of Canada being the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The reigning monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, who is also monarch of 15 other Commonwealth countries and each of Canada’s 10 provinces. The person who is the Canadian monarch is the same as the British monarch. Sounds like an autonomous territory of an EU member.
North Korea
N Korea, they would fit in easily
Its not who should be the next to join but who will be the next to leave
Macedonia and Montenegro
North Macedonia
Definitely China. :D
IF, and I stress IF, they ever chose to become independent and IF they did do so, probably Scotland. I think it would make sense for them IF they did to shack up with EU while trying to keep on good terms with the rest of the UK.
None of they have any sense, for the eu it needs some net contributors and not another country suckling for all its worth. They need to replace the contributions which are sizable
North Macedonia and then close the door.
N.Macedonia
Scotland
The UK ?
no thanks
England
Turkey
Greece will love that, however I’m sure the economists in Berlin would prefer Turkey over Greece, both have Olives, one actually has industry
UK
Iceland
What E.U?
The way eu operates now?
Simply none. The question is which country is going to leave the eu after gb
That is what Trump and Putin want. Isn’t that a clue? Open your eyes.
Jacques, my eyes are open, watching whats going on in EU. You need to try a bit more ti persuade me
Greece been a member of the EU is not invited in political talks vs Turkey which is NOT EU member is invited. Question your self wich country is going to leave next, if the community gives this kind of examples
Àfghanistan
United States or Russia
Switzerland Norway and Israel
None hopefully
Russia
Serbia
they will eventually just like the remaining Balkans. We are just figuring out a way to have less political interference once the process is launched….
Well thought if it works
Brejoin?
Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia
Kurdistan
Albania!
I hope Scotland ,Wales and Northen Ireland!!!
they dont have any money
But they have nice people and places to visit
That makes sense! Those are actually real countries which are within Europe borders. If England wants to leave, so be it, but let these guys stay! I support that!
Scotland!
There’s a very good case for Georgia.
Serbien ans North Macedonien, so we can travel without borders to Greece
that will be so awesome….. i pray it happened soon.
I’m romanian… I would exit EU if you ask ME… But i know IT îs almost imposibile, s-o i think Serbia should join… And kick Hungary out for God sake… They are Russia slaves in EU
Turkey…..nAtome….lol
China
Canada. New Zealand. Australia. Taiwan. South Korea. Uruguay. Japan. In that order.
we already have in place trade agreements with them. And they can participate in many of our initiatives (e.g. research)
I mean we should get over the geographic argument and go to what matters: a community of liberal democracies. Sharing values is more important than sharing a continent.
Not really, it’s called the EUROPEAN union for a reason, and all it was ever supposed to be was an economic/customs union, which is what it seems to be forgetting nowadays
see answer above. Several EU members are less worthy of the EU than the countries I named.
Lets canvas for russia….will have all the gas they need, plenty of space to put immigrants, seems perfect.
None…
Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, I hope.
Another Countrys dosen’t make sense if the EU don’t want to destroy itself.
There will be a referendum in each country to vote? I don’t think!
A question, is there any advantage be a member of EU? Norwegians are managing quite well, they are no a member country.
Good point. Norway pumps oil, invests it in london real estate and covers it with tesla marketing. Maybe all countries should do that…
well they are paying members of several initiatives (e.g. research) and it so they can profit of the EU, but have no word on it. Oh and they have oil. Like lots of it. That helps …
There’s ni advantage to be a member of EU; it isn’t a wish of peoples, the empire will collapse, like each time he tried to unite Europe!
they have oil. Not so many countries can brag with that.
not turkey !!!
You won’t be asked!
Russian Federation
Ask Uncle Sam before!
If I was a strategist for the EU project I would recommend it to reform radically to make sure we reform its institutions and political systems ie EU parliament and the creation of a second elected chamber (e.g a senate), then I would consolidate the existing members, while seeking expansion into Ukraine and Turkey.
Northern Macedonia. Membership will allow to further stabilize a country with a strategic position in the Western Balkans and help to isolate Serbia which is a pro-Russian factor destabilising the region.
Europe is peace, did you forget that?
Peace is to be attained by isolating proxies close to Russia, which continue to behave as nationalist countries seeking to destabilize the Balkans. And Russia in its present form is an agressor. This shouldn’t be forgotten.
some as example without corrupted politicians, is there one?
Who wants to join EU?
Not Serbia!!!!!!! Better friendly and tasty Georgia…
None….we should change it or get out of it. This Union as it is ,is just a place for recycled bad politicians or a group of people who obey greed and bureaucracy and not the well being of the people.
rubbish,we love it
You get out if you want,but many of us will not rest until we rejoin
you need history lessons; please search about the two world wars and the reason why several organizations, like the EU, were created.
How about places like Monaco, Andorra, Liechtenstein, the Vatican, San Marino AND Switzerland?: That’s where the money is!
Sure, we saw twice last century where those plays of alliances brought us!
Vatican can’t join because it’s not democracy but a absolutist monarchy. And rest of them are too well off. They don’t have single reason.
haha…history lessons. …You live on a cloud my dear…E.U. has nothing to do with peace….and search about the persons who created it, before giving your advice….
@Jocelyn 😥you must be from northern europe… ( no offense intended❤)
There is a huge difference in your geographical location as to how one would react to this, unfortunately. The EU has an invisible line horizontally dividing it . North Europe and South Europe as to how everyone benefits from it…
The union îs a great thing. Just because there are some frustrations now it dose not mean that the System dose not work.
Tell me then a common point between all the members states!
We’re all Europeans
Scotland 2024
Taiwan :)
Russia.
Enough… Make it stronger first
Switzerland will never join the EU. However this does not apply for Lichtenstein, Iceland or Norway. It is Possible that the next might be those countries which are also very rich.
Maybe other countries will be Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus. Lets not forger that the European Union is a christian club.
I highly doubt Belarus will ever join the EU, because they are in the Russian sphere of influence and Lukashenko will probably stay as the the president of Belarus. Lukashenko is loyal to Russia which don’t really like the EU. Ukraine could possibly join in, but there is some hesitation about that. Moldova could possibly join in the EU, as so has Romania joined. Moldova would require lots of help from the EU to rebuild the country as isn’t really stable. Other possible countries that could join, could be newer countries that have recently become independent or have been longing for independence. For example, Kosovo has recently gotten it’s independence from Serbia, in 2008, but since it has been a troubled and very poor area to live in, if it joined, the EU could buildup Kosovo to be a nicer place to live. Another point to make is that if the EU would try supporting the independence of certain countries, then it could be hurtful to countries that already control this area that are in the EU. For example, the EU shouldn’t push for an independent Vojvodina unless they support the independence of Catalonia, which they won’t as Spain is in the EU and it could harm Spain.
The next EU seven according to BBC are: Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Turkey and Iceland.
Quoting BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11283616
However I think that Turkey will not be accepted. Lets be honest here Turkey is mostly Asian and its European part is a heritage from the Ottoman Empire.
Greece can get all the Aegean islands and even the Turkish ones like Tenedos and Imbros, because they are Greek populated. Cyprus should unite.
However I think that countries like Norway, Lichtenstein, San Marino, Monaco, Andora and the Vatican city should be part of the EU.
North Macedonia
Its time for Montenegro. Before Russia eats it up with gas pipelines and hydropower.
In simple geo-political terms it would be only logical that Bosnia & Herzegovina joins EU next. Not to mention that the only positive legal reforms in the country were made by trying to come closer to EU legislation. In addition joining would definitely soothe most of the ethno-nationalist strife and extreme right wouldn’t be able to fearmonger the population into voting for them (as they have been doing for the past 30 years). And if our eastern neighbors joined as well that would, in my opinion, almost completely solve the instability of south-eastern Europe inherited from the 90s.
EU would get the world recognition and diplomatic capital as a positive force, their south-east border would finally be stable and prosperous and EU would finally start being Europe. Countries like Iceland (and maybe GB) would probably have much better opinion and talk about EU being a massive, ineffective bureaucracy. It’s a win win, from my perspective.
I think they should focus more on retaining what they already have.
You have a point there. The EU should now think long and hard whether it wants to focus on its economic role or expand for political reasons.
i also think a 500m people block is big enough, but it looks like Armenia could use a hand
The problem with Armenia is that it’s separated from the other countries of the EU by Turkey.
So is French territory in the carribean.
Not the same. Most of the France is in Europe (I know that Armenia is in geographical Europe but the situation is quite different). All Armenia is in a “bad” geographical position, at west Turkey, at north Russia and at south arabic states. Besides right now there is a war so they couldn’t join EU before the peace.
None, until within this fragile union, among other issues, agriculture, finance, taxation, social security, asyl policies and qualitative majority voting process is established and a strategy against misuse of EU funds is in place. This may take time.
Still waiting for the EU to impose sanctions against Turkey, for its illegal activities in Cyprus. Let’s divide the EU; France, Austria, Greece, Cyprus in one real European union, so that Germany can finally hold hands with their allies, Turkey.
The republic of Scotland, followed by the disunited kingdom of England and Wales
Armenia seems it could use a friendly hand
lol? Who would need a poor ass Russian satellite country in EU?
what do you think of that idea? (Armenia as part of Europe) and is it true it’s a ‘poor ass russian satellite’ country??
and Georgia and Ukraine !
makes sense to me no? Although I’ve never been to either, living in Slovakia I see Ukrainians visiting us are quite close in mindset to ‘mainland Europe’
That is difficult to say. Up until this year, Armenia had the fastest growing economy of all the former Soviet Union republics. Its GDP growth was 8.3% last year. Armenia is also a democracy, albeit a new one. It was really just beginning to come into its own in an area of the world where democracy, free press, and openness is hard to come by. Armenia has no oil. Instead, it relies on its “people power.” Armenia values education (in both girls and boys). If it is allowed to continue to prosper by its hostile neighbors, I believe it would be a beacon of openness and democracy in the area. It still has a long way to go, but Armenia was heading in the right direction up until Covid and now Azerbaijan’s attack on Artsakh.
Yes, Armenia, the first Christian nation in the world, needs Europe’s help. It had forsaken or was complicit (Germany) in the killing of 1.5 million Armenians and other Christians in Turkey during the Genocide. Europe cannot stand by and let two immensely corrupt dictatorships (Turkey and Azerbaijan), commit ethnic cleansing in an area where Armenians have been the vast majority for two millennia.
thank you. That’s the kind of proper insight I was looking for.
Apart from those- NONE (you’ve gotta draw the line somewhere otherwise it’ll end up like the Eurovision Song Contest)
None.. I think the Union should focus on reducing the difference in economic levels of the present members.
Both Serbia and Montenegro, closely followed by North Macedonia and Albania.
Agree with Serbia, but still 3 main issues: Kosovo, NATO and Russia.
West Balkan together.
Nono, at least until we take out unanimity voting in the EU Council.
So the EU can force their contributions, laws and immigrationpolicy even better on the sovereign states. No thanks.
then no further integrations 🤷♂️. In fact, the EU as it is now is just a neoliberal tool to impose restrictions on the ability of member states to help their people. So no need to add more countries to the mixture.
Our neighbor North Macedonia!!
Should not first be looked at the one in the union to apply the values of the union? Before new one join, the EU should make a strong point about that and if needed kick countries like Hungary out who obviously don’t care about that and just like to have the advantage of it
UK, and as fast as possible
How about try to work out a European Federation first? Of course that Balcan countries are always candidates to join the EU..
Scotland?
Bosnia Herzegovina
The more urgent question is: which countries need to be expelled in order to preserve everything the Union stands for?
When that’s settled, then we can talk about new members.
If we don’t, it will continue to enlarge and weaken
Montenegro, followed by Serbia, then North Macedonia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Albania, Kosovo, then Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia and then Belarus.
Norway and UK
We should leave EU!
it should be I not we
You are free to leave individually. Ask Putin for details.
the question should be:which country will leave next?
i don’t need putin’s details. Fluent in 7 languages, i can deal with it on my own. EU is like a cancer to all societies.
how rude…. travelling through Europe, enjoying free travelling without visas but asking to leave EU. Clearly something is broken there…
I do whatever i want to do. Actually this is what i do for living. If you find it rude, than you are jealous. I do travel, because in my home land Ukrainian imported labour lowered the monthly remuneration up to 250 euro.
None. The EU should focus on determining what the EU is all about in terms of structures and internal processes. The identity of the Union should be determined before inviting anyone else to join.
Ukraine, Moldavia and of course the rest of the Balkan countries to be followed by Belarus. But more important is to expand NATO than the EU.
Brazil and Argentina … They are Portuguese-Spanish and win World Cup in football.
NONE and take out the fascist states that entered, Hungary and so on who do not share European Principles, and Bulgaria and Romania run by scam artists who were not ready to join by any means when they were put in.
EU should focus on the Balkans. Probably Montenegro and North Macedonia deserve it more!!!
None, it’s problematic as it is. Try and solve the current issues in the EU before even more countries (with their own issues) join.
Let’s wait and see whether the existing states will remain as are first before new states join in.
Certainly not Turkey at all. Germany wouldn’t allow it
Germany already speaks for Turkey, no need for Turkey to actually be in the EU.
I am afraid I don’t agree. As you know, the impact of joining the EU would clearly undermine Germany’s position since the decision making policies are centered in the European Parliament. Should Turkey become member, it would have the most number of MPs in the European Parliament.
Turkey has never had anything to do other than war/competition with European States.
I think a better question would be “Which country should join the Schengen zone next?”.
Norway would be good , but probably they still do not want to share their oil and fish resources
Albania and Montenegro first and then Serbia, Bosnia and Macedonia. Last but not least Belarus, Turkey, Moldova and Ukraine
those countries should make their own union.
Turkey? No thank you
65% of Macedonia (Greece, Bulgaria) is already in EU
Turkey? You must be joking…
why not Pakistan, Burkina Faso and Guatemala?
Serbia, Bosna Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia
should never join EU
why not ?!
they will join one by one in few years. Just EU now has to deal with its own internal problems and arise
FYROM and Bośnia have nothing to do with the EU.
None. Some should actually be asked to leave again.
The UK!!
I swear to god I opened the comment section just to write that. You beat me!
I think Jamaica would be a great addition
Russia should join the European Union !
None ! The EU must first streamline its present member states towards integration and a stronger international presence in foreign affairs and defense before it is further diluted !
– irland of the north
– Scotland
– turkish occupied part of Cyprus
– then the “5+1” part of western balkans IN THE SAME TIME
– the english and wales Kingdom
– Ukraine
After it rest Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and belarus… no pronostic for their adhesion
The EU is not a good place, the EU tolerates mafia, for example with Bulgaria government.
Probably, maybe, you should ask what country is leaving the EU next… Just saying..
Cathalan countries confederation should be the newest euopean country!
The better question today is “Which country should leave the EU next?”
EU requires for the moment, an effective step on it’s integration. Political, economy, social, all fields integration on the way to an effective federation or confederation, with it’s own military independence.
After this accomplished we could think on other potential members, not before……
None. We need to stabilize those who are already inside. There is no point in expanding with internal problems.
None. EU is just another Soviet Union
All the Balcan states, Ukraine, freed Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Israel, Iceland.
Which country will exit next? This is the question.
Turkey of course, which is already the EU’s de facto chief.
Turkey, the bully state
I was being ironical, Lydia.
I know (everybody knows actually)
I think in future we will need to expand EU as EES states where there will be free movement of capital inkluding former USSR and rest of Balkans.
Israel, Canada and Montengro could easily become members of EU.
Israël with Palestine or without ? Why not Morocco ( better than Turkey )
What a stupid remark. Read my lips “EU” = “EUropean country’s. Country’s in the EUropean part of the world.
Otherwise stop calling it EU and rename it “the 4th Reich”.
1. well i think definetly we should expand free movement of goods and services with many countries.
2. EU is supernational juridical entitity not a lexical concept
Canada, South-Korea and Australia are already integrated in the EU Horizon 2020 programmes
From a strategic point of view Serbia. From political and economy points of view none. There are fundamental problems within the current framework, and Hungary is only the most resent example. In the east the EU is a money source and not a political concept, adding more countries will make the problem even more complicated. There are small countries like Norhtern Macedonia that won’t make much of a difference either way, but for the next 20 years the EU has bigger issues internally and those would require incremental refactoring of the concept. A nice place to start is a joined coordination of the military forces with two main points- border control and disaster recovery. The first one has two parts- the external borders and the internal ones. I do believe that this is already moving forward. As a second step, we must look at education standards. A potential expansion in terms of economic cooperation stands on its own in this context, and should continue. It however should not come with the EU funds. Any spending there should go through NGOs operating in the particular country.
says bulgaria
no, I said it.
They should all leave EU and form Yugoslavia II.
Turkish state of Cyprus. Regards from #kyrenia
North Macedonia we dont have any dispute regarding to neighboring which is policy of Eu ,corruption has been tackled also in the highest form we are 2 million in which we can not disturb eu economy
Definitely not Turkey with all their internal human rights abuses on its own people and regional occupations and tensions they escalate in the countries around them – Cyprus, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Artsakh and beyond.
Let Europe first help free its member states from occupation (Cyprus still has 40% of its land occupied by Turkey) and they consider the possible entry of new member states.
Norway, Switzerland, Brunei, Dubai or any other rich country to pay the debts.
NONE AND REMOVE UNITED KINGDOM BECAUSE IS NOT INSIDE EU
Russia. For historic reasons, for economic reasons and development, the EU needs raw resources. Russia is a strategic trade partner with Germany the biggest economy in the block.
The question is shaping more like… which country is going to leave the EU next?
Armenia/Georgia
Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia!!
According to the schedule, it will be Montenegro, as far as I know.
Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Lybia and Egypt
You still have not understood that enlargement killed Europe. None
Ukraine!!
Monténégro
Kosovo no Doubt
Israel and Iran
I hope for Iceland
no country, its already too full
Norway, to pay our bills with their oil fund
Western Balkans!!
How funny
Why EU does not think of making itself a better union before expansion? The more member states, the more deadlock created, and the less efficient in formulating policy. Too many member states without shared values, consensus and not ready to compromise would sacrifice interest of the people, even worse, it would tear the union apart. Brexit has already created lots of trouble for EU, it is time to strengthen the union, particularly on the anti-epidemic and economic recovery cooperation.
The EU is a regional organization. An organization is like an organism, it can grow, strengthen and prosper. At the same time, it can shrink and even die. The survival and prosper of EU does not depend on more member state but how to make a better union and how to grow shared values, to develop consensus and learn to compromise so as to benefit the people. So, less political consideration and think more the well beings of the people and the union.