Union

[francky]

This morning, i have seen on Euronews that France & Germany study the possibility of a confederal union.
Is there anyone have information about that?

Edit:
On the Euronews Site:

L'amitié franco-allemande pourra-t-elle se muer en une union confédérale?
L'idée serait en train de murir dans les hautes sphères. Confortés par la solide entente entre Jacques Chirac et Gerhard Schröder, les deux pays souhaiteraient aller plus loin, à en croire le quotidien Le Monde. Et pourquoi pas fusionner leurs politiques, qu'il s'agisse d'affaires étrangères, de défense ou d'économie.
Réaction mitigée de la Commission, quelque peu prise de court:
"Si jamais cette union s'achevait, ce serait un fait politique important dans le contexte de l'intégration europeenne, à condition que ce soit compatible avec le project européen, plus largement", commente un porte-parole.
Aussi surréaliste puisse-t-il paraître aujourd'hui, le projet a pour moteur le renforcement de l'axe franco-allemand. Cet axe a pour ambition de peser davantage dans l'Europe des 25. Une Europe qui peine déjà à se mettre d'accord sur sa future constitution et dont les divisions ont été illustrées par la crise irakienne

Will the Franco-German friendship be able to be moulted in a
confederal union? The idea would be murir in the higher realms.
Consolidated by the solid agreement between Jacques Chirac and Gerhard
Schröder, the two countries would wish to further go, to believe the
daily newspaper of it the World. And why not amalgamate their
policies, which it acts of Foreign Affairs, defense or economy.
Mitigated reaction of the Commission, somewhat taken of short: "If
ever this union were completed, it would be an important political
fact in the context of European integration, provided that it is
compatible with the European project, more largely", a spokesman
comments on. Also surrealist can it appear today, the project has as
an engine the reinforcement of the Franco-German axis. This axis has
as an ambition to weigh more in Europe of the 25.
Europe which pains to agree on its future constitution and whose
divisions were illustrated by the Iraqi crisis.

Edit Again :

Commission takes wait-and-see stance about a Paris-Berlin 'union'
It is being judged as more tactical than practical but still a strengthened partnership to be reckoned with. A French-German concept revived earlier this year at the Elysee Treaty's 40th anniversary is gradually evolving.
France and Germany are pursuing a union of the two within an enlarged European Union of 25 states. A spokesman for the European Commission was generally encouraging about the idea.
"If ever this union were achieved it would be an important political act within the context of European integration on condition it was compatible with the broader European project."
The renewed dedication has been shown several times since Paris and Berlin jointly opposed US military action against Iraq. This continuing mutual solidarity is seen as insurance in case the multilateral talks on a future EU constitution get bogged down and spoil plans for next year's enlargement.

[Aaron]

I read a similar article on Helsingin Sanomat.

I just wonder what would be the point on that Both countries are in EU and they can be in a close co-operation anyway.

[Dakkus]

Now someone please help a little bit and tell us what is the difference between a confederation and federation?

[francky]

Now someone please help a little bit and tell us what is the difference between a confederation and federation?

From my (french)dictionnary...and with Lycos Traduction:

• Confederation:
  Association of sovereign states which have delegate some
  competences with common bodies (?)
  (Association d'états souverains qui ont délégué certaines compétences à des organes communs)
  
  Federation (Federal State):
  Composed of several communities territorial on which it is
  superimposed.
  (composé de plusieurs collectivités territorial auxquelles il se superpose)

[BossaNova]

I think this is a stupid idea, and will only contribute to the european crisis..

Germany and France are big, but will be isolated..

don't like this, not a bit..

bn

[Dakkus]

• Confederation:
  Association of sovereign states which have delegate some
  competences with common bodies (?)
  (Association d'états souverains qui ont délégué certaines compétences à des organes communs)

Sounds quite a lot like what the EU has secretly become. What's the actual difference anyway, other than not being formally a confederation?

[Olivier]

This morning, i have seen on Euronews that France & Germany study the possibility of a confederal union.
Is there anyone have information about that?

I am sure it's a plan B in case of a "NO" to the european constitution.

[Olivier]

Now someone please help a little bit and tell us what is the difference between a confederation and federation?

The European Union is already more or less a confederation...

[Olivier]

I think this is a stupid idea, and will only contribute to the european crisis..

Germany and France are big, but will be isolated..

don't like this, not a bit..

bn

On the other hand, what can we do if the europeans reject the constitution... ? It would be a huge crisis also.

[Ning]

I think this is a stupid idea, and will only contribute to the european crisis..

Germany and France are big, but will be isolated..

don't like this, not a bit..

bn

On the other hand, what can we do if the europeans reject the constitution... ? It would be a huge crisis also.

eject countries who voted "NO" if there are less than 3 countries.

[Olivier]

eject countries who voted "NO" if there are less than 3 countries.

Even big countries like Great Britain?

[Ning]

eject countries who voted "NO" if there are less than 3 countries.

Even big countries like Great Britain?

Yes, I was thinking about Great Britain. They are half in the EU. won't be difficult to leave the EU (it's much more difficult for countries who have got the Euro + Schengen Agreement).

[Olivier]

eject countries who voted "NO" if there are less than 3 countries.

Even big countries like Great Britain?

Yes, I was thinking about Great Britain. They are half in the EU. won't be difficult to leave the EU (it's much more difficult for countries who have got the Euro + Schengen Agreement).

Like Ireland (which rejected the Nice treaty once).

[Ning]

eject countries who voted "NO" if there are less than 3 countries.

Even big countries like Great Britain?

Yes, I was thinking about Great Britain. They are half in the EU. won't be difficult to leave the EU (it's much more difficult for countries who have got the Euro + Schengen Agreement).

Like Ireland (which rejected the Nice treaty once).

Ireland use the €.

[Olivier]

(it's much more difficult for countries who have got the Euro + Schengen Agreement).

Like Ireland (which rejected the Nice treaty once).

Ireland use the €.

That's what I'm saying. It would be much more difficult for the countries like Ireland.

I am not in favor of an exclusion for the countries which want to remain with the current EU. On the other hand, they can't prevent the others from going further, building a federal Europe for instance.