For deleting the original diary without asking, but I wanted to get in before there were comments on it. I guess I'll have to dig up the responses to surveys on Ireland, mixed with personal opinions. That's work for tomorrow though.

 

what does each country ideally expect from the EU?
 

Lots of cash. Especially for farmers.

what does each country get out of the EU?

Not enough cash.

 

what does each country contribute to the EU?

Bugger all.

 

what does each country believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?

Relieving them of their cash.

what does each country ideally expect from the EU?

To act as a loudspeaker for France. To keep the German peaceful. To adopt - and enjoy - our administrative system. To keep the Brits away.

what does each country get out of the EU?

To speak with a voice equal to that of the USA. To pay for our farmers. To pay part of our French-made Airbuses.

what does each country contribute to the EU?

Panache. An alternative to the Anglo-Saxon model. Culture. The political will to say no to the Americans. Brilliant civil servants.

what does each country believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?

Same as above, why?

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

What does Spain ideally expect from the EU?

To regain its rightful place among world powers. To achieve European integration before Spain breaks up into its constituent atoms/to undermine Spain by gaining equal representation rights for said constituent atoms (depending on who you ask). Money for infrastructure, farmers, miners, shipbuilders, fishermen and the "historical debt with Andalusia". A crackdown on ETA/a ruling by the European Human Rights Tribunal upholding the Basque right to self-determination. Gibraltar.

what does Spain get out of the EU?

Money for farmers, infrastructures and the poorer regions, but not any more for fishermen, miners or shipbuilders. A boost to our battered self-esteem: "we are European now, finally!". A convenient place to retire national political figures fallen into disgrace. French farmers no longer burn lorries carrying Spanish produce. High-speed trains.

what does Spain contribute to the EU?

Flamenco, bull-fighting, tapas, paella,  beaches, golf clubs. Megalomaniac former prime ministers. A pro-EU public. A port of entry for illegal Africans and Latin Americans.

what does Spain believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?

Political connections with Arabic nations and Latin America. Able pro-EU politicians. The Spanish way of life. Spain is different. Everything under the sun.

guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper

Sorry, am too sleepy for a serious reply.

what does each country ideally expect from the EU?

Paying our budget deficits and infrastructure building. Allowing some international grandstanding for our little PMs. Punish Romania and Slovakia once a while.

what does each country get out of the EU?

Bliars, bloody liars.

what does each country contribute to the EU?

A set of corruption and embezzlement practices they aren't yet prepared for, political insanity even more alien than our non-Indo-European language.

what does each country believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?

Invention of the perpeetum mobile.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

at least if I tried to do it seriously.

I don't even think I could pull off snark, although I could do it from a stereotypical American tourist's poitn of view, as in, "duuuude, my parents gave me $5,000, let's go to Europe, duuuude!"

what does each country ideally expect from the EU?

Disintegration, so as to allow us to fulfill our Manifest Destiny, or at least a stopping of integration in Britain, so that we have a powerful ally to be our prison bitch on foreign policy.

what does each country get out of the EU?

A headache (see Jerome's comment).

what does each country contribute to the EU?

Constant bitching about America's role in the two world wars from American citizens who weren't even born at the time the two were fought.

what does each country believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?

A reason for the British public to demand that Labour throw out Tony Blair.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

I'll have to do the EU week in (p)review tomorrow... er... later today.

guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper

Q:What does each country ideally expect from the EU?

A:Finland sees EU originally and primary as a matter of national security. It sees itself moving further away from Russian sphere of influence. This question (in 1995) was framed as: "EU or CIS? These are choices to be made." The economical aspects or market access to Europe are added bonus.

Q:What does each country get out of the EU?

A:Essentially Finland has fared quite well in EU. Finland sees itself politically stronger and having more freedom of action than ever before in its history. Thus the political and security aspects have been more than satisfactory fullfilled. For example, aggressive Russian political pressure against Finland of early 1970's is nowhere in sight.

The economic advantages of EU have been mixed. The market access is reality and Finnish industries fare well but EU is generally seen as too slow and incapable of shedding its skin to reform itself to match challenges of tomorrow. Lisbon Treaty has been disappointed in sense of missing its goals.

Q:What does each country contribute to the EU?

A:Finland effectively offers more bulk to EU but nothing truly vital in larger scheme of things. EU has had two major regional changes for Nordic countries, both related to Nordic Council's abadonment by EU members (Finland, Sweden, Denmark).

http://www.norden.org/start/start.asp?lang=6

First, it has led to near collapse of NC that was widely used in 1980's and 1990's as vehicle of regional cooperation and integration as these issues are now discussed through EU.

Second, this has also led to near complete collapse of Norway's strategy of influencing EU through NC. This has forced Norway to reexamine its relations with EU and importance it has through various institutions. Iceland has always been breed apart politically.

A: What does each country believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?

A:Finland sees itself as major gateway to Russia. Finns as whole are highly suspicious of Russians but they also see themselves are true experts in this issue would like to see EU's added weight in dealing trade issues with Russia. Finland sees that there is huge amount of money to be made in Russia and thus sees expanding trade relations with Russia (by EU) as nationally vital issue now that fear of immediate Russian invasion has passed (or at least postponed for several decades to come).

what does each country ideally expect from the EU?
what does each country get out of the EU?
what does each country contribute to the EU?
what does each country believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?

italy :

1. to be taken seriously + help in stamping out mafia
   
2. it's taken MARGINALLY more seriously, various mafias doing fine
   
3. pizza, spaghetti, ice cream, eros, mandolin orchestras
   
4. total destruction, via vaudeville, cruel laws, neo-machiavelli-ism and historical, hysterical, sheer shamelessness

It's a fine line between homage, parody, and consumer opportunism. Jess Walter

what does each country ideally expect from the EU?
Peace, stability, open borders
Independence from the U.S.
+ a way to be express patriotism without appearing nationalistic (strong role for the E.U. in the world with Germany being strong in the E.U. vs. strong role for Germany in the world), some police integration

what does each country get out of the EU?
free travel, some independence from the U.S., some regulations, some police integration

what does each country contribute to the EU?
1) Money 2) Money 3) Money. Support for the French. Depending on the current government, a role as mediator between France and the U.K.

what does each country believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?
Ideas, people.

(those opinions are not necessarily my own)

_______________________________________________

"Those who fight might lose, those who don't fight have already lost." - Berthold Brecht

With greatest respect to Nikita,

And the following is what is expected IF we join.

what does this country ideally expect from the EU?
That the EU will usurp local control of oil and eliminate the right to hunt whales*.

what does this country get out of the EU?
ZIP, most norwegians feel (true or not) that Norway already follows EU regulations and guidelines more closely than existing EU members.

what this country contribute to the EU?
Already sell the EU oil and gas, but on our own terms.  Join up, and then it's on the EU's terms.

what does this country believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?  Idealistically, some small amount of influence.... realistically???? nah!

* On a side note, many many norwegians do still enjoy whale meat, though most won't readily admit to it.  One cafe I used to frequent, after several months of regular dining, and getting to know the owner.  One day he leans in close and whispers "We also have whale available, though it's not printed on the menu".

"In war, the moral is to the physical as three is to one" - Napoleon

All these snarks... That doesn't give me clear focus. I need this off my chest first.

what does each country ideally expect from the EU?

To be left alone.

what does each country get out of the EU?

Money.

what does each country contribute to the EU?

Tourists and hence, money.

what does each country believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?

Are you kidding us? Legal distribution of marijuana, of course.

I'll ponder on the serious answers when I've eaten my cheese-sandwich with milk and have gone on my bike to my office. I shall not wear clogs.

What does Sweden ideally expect from the EU?
Cheap booze. Cosy jobs for politicians. Pretexts for passing unpopular laws.

What does Sweden get out of the EU?
Cheap booze. Booze related problems. Cosy jobs for politicians. Pretexts for passing unpopular laws. Arguments over Swedish laws impopular with the EU.

What does Sweden contribute to the EU?
Cash.

what does Sweden believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?
As little as possible.

*  what does Britain ideally expect from the EU?

Fairness, the best deal for the most people, improved quality and standard of living

*  what does Britain get out of the EU?

common human rights, common regulations, open markets, free movement of people, cultural and social exchange, very nice holiday destinations

*  what does Britain contribute to the EU?

A different perspective, (although I don't believe in an 'Anglo Saxon' anything)

*  what does Britain believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?

Cakes, gravy and a proclivity for changing our minds, pragmatism?

All opinions being my own and of course not representative of Britain or the British...

Because even though I'm not European, I want to save this thread from total snark-related ruin.

What does the U.S. ideally expect from the EU?

A reliable trading partner.  Constructive criticism when warranted (as it always is), and restraint of unfair criticism (i.e. George Bush plotted 9/11).

What does the U.S. get out of the EU?

A reliable trading partner.  An ally in potential wars.  A better model of government which we hope to emulate.  Someplace other than Canada with decent liberal governments.

What does the U.S. contribute to the EU?

Hundreds of jobs from our archaic military installations in Germany.  Proof that there are people in this country that call it the "United States", not "America" as if we owned the whole continent.

What does the U.S. believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?

The hope that you guys understand that not all of us are insane.

what does each country ideally expect from the EU?

To please take our political class and flog it. To efficiently rule us, something we are unable to do. To bail us out of mexican-style democracy. To make the rich pay taxes (they currently don't). To pay out our surreal budget deficit. To give us time to do all those wonderful things that don't make money.

what does each country get out of the EU?

protection for typical agricultural products. Strong consumer protection and "health & safety" laws. An inspiration to get better at administration. Money that should be spent on education and infrastructure and routinely ends up in politicians' pockets or goes back to Bruxelles as unspent. A stage where we can be ridiculised thanks to inept politicians. A couple of good football tournaments.

what does each country contribute to the EU?

Some underpaid, unrecognised and highly-skilled workforce. Lots of lovely food, nice clothes, the classiest holiday destinations, a mediocre football team, never-ending supplies of snarkiness and opportunities for nordic people to feel superior, women you would die for. A well-oiled and organised criminal infrastructure, less flashy and tacky than Eastern-European counterparts and less hostile than Chinese cartels. The source of all European history and the very thought of Europe as a single entity. Rome. Opera. Opera in Rome.

what does each country believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?

history, culture, entertainment, research, fashion, you name it. Just don't make us think about money.

what does each country ideally expect from the EU?

that each EU membership state checks and balances the outbreak of totalitarian regimes of the other membership states and that the EU prevents it from happening, including the totalitarianism of itself toward the citizens of all EU member states and to stand united against the influence of a totalitarian outbreak in the US, Russia or Asia.

what does each country get out of the EU?

a suspicious and jealous neighbour state that checks up on him and tells him to behave legally, humane, civil, fair and for the common good of all EU membership state's citizens.

what does each country contribute to the EU?

an opposing view point about how to achieve what each country expects of the other with the willingness to find a compromise for the common good of all.

what does each country believe its contribution to the EU can be, ideally?

I am a lousy believer in ideas. I pass.

One thing that seems to be overlooked in all the nationalistic discussion is that the EU offers a chance that Europe might get through a half century without neighboring countries attacking each other.

Since most Europeans now alive were born after the end of WWII they have little personal experience with the cycle of perpetual warfare that existed previously. That seems like something worth defending, to me.


Policies not Politics
---- Daily Landscape

According to Google the sentences

Germans are known for *
Italians are known for *
Norvegians are known for *
etc., pp.

render the following internationam map of opinions:

"The USA appears destined by fate to plague America with misery in the name of liberty." Simon Bolivar, Caracas, 1819