I'm just going to let these articles speak for themselves. It's a great follow-up to the EU post from earlier and definitely will stay a hot topic as things heat up and break down in Europe. Martin Schultz, president of the European Parliament, would naturally be for strengthening that branch of legislature, but I am inclined to think he has really solid opinions given that national interests trump in the two other branches. I embrace the idea of a European-wide election with no national elections because it's a concession that clearly puts nation first, continent second. They can have all the EuroVision contests and ERASMUS programs they want, but when it comes down to it, no one is pushing for the real European integration that was originally envisioned.
There's no supra-organization that crosses borders and that needs to stop in order to Europe to really integrate and rely on each other's strengths. Right now they're simply letting nations shift themselves according to the weather report and that doesn't make for strong economic or fiscal policies, which are the order of the day. Integrate politically and then you will see more economic integration; they clearly tried to use economics to force integration, but when the bad hand was dealt, everyone has been looking for a way out.
Let these articles stew in your noggin as the events unfold in this crisis. I'm fascinated and sobered by what I'm seeing.
In other news, I will have a review of a Slavenka Drakulić book AND I am reading a book about Srebrenica, which is breaking my heart with each page turn. I will discuss the impotency of UN peacekeeping missions and why the Balkans is a great point of discussion on civilian protections, war crimes, and inhumane acts in warfare.
Contemporary Discussion of Eastern Europe In All Its Glory
