Changes

There is no EU military.  Each nation has its own forces, but nearly all are members of [[NATO]], in which the U.S. has a preponderant voice.  

There is no EU military.  Each nation has its own forces, but nearly all are members of [[NATO]], in which the U.S. has a preponderant voice.  

The EU is a driving force of global economic and political integration, but Hix (2008) sees three problems with the EU: policy gridlock, lack of popular legitimacy and the democratic deficit. He notes, "In substantive terms ... the EU is closer to a form of enlightened despotism than a genuine democracy."<ref>Hix (2008)</ref> In addition, on February 5, 2000, John Laughland indicated in ''The Spectator'' that the European Union's entire purpose was to subject Western Europe to Marxist-Leninist/Marxist-Trotskyist thought.<ref>THE [European ]UNION CAN MAKE A VITAL CONTRIBUTION to the reform of the international economic architecture and to the establishment of a mechanism for collective governance.<br />

The EU is a driving force of global economic and political integration, but Hix (2008) sees three problems with the EU: policy gridlock, lack of popular legitimacy and the democratic deficit. He notes, "In substantive terms ... the EU is closer to a form of enlightened despotism than a genuine democracy."<ref>Hix (2008)</ref> In addition, on February 5, 2000, John Laughland indicated in ''The Spectator'' that the European Union's entire purpose was to subject Western Europe to Marxist–Leninist/Marxist-Trotskyist thought.<ref>THE [European ]UNION CAN MAKE A VITAL CONTRIBUTION to the reform of the international economic architecture and to the establishment of a mechanism for collective governance.<br />

*From: Commission of the European Communities<br />

*From: Commission of the European Communities

*Brussels 9.2.2000 [COM (2000) 154 final] <br />

*Brussels 9.2.2000 [COM (2000) 154 final]

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, The Council, The Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions:<br />  

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, The Council, The Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions:<br />  

*STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 2000-2005<br />

*STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 2000-2005

*"SHAPING THE NEW EUROPE"<br />

*"SHAPING THE NEW EUROPE"

Writing in The Spectator (London) of 5th February 2000 John Laughland stated that "The West is now on the verge of achieving that of which Lenin and Trotsky dreamed in 1917. For the point is not to replace nation states with a European or world superstate. It is instead to achieve the old Marxist dream of abolishing statehood altogether" </ref>

Writing in The Spectator (London) of 5th February 2000 John Laughland stated that "The West is now on the verge of achieving that of which Lenin and Trotsky dreamed in 1917. For the point is not to replace nation states with a European or world superstate. It is instead to achieve the old Marxist dream of abolishing statehood altogether"</ref>

==Politics==

==Politics==

Each nation elects members to the Parliament in proportion to population.  The June 2009 elections saw sweeping gains by conservative and anti-immigration parties, as labor and socialist parties lost heavily.  Since the 2004 elections the largest grouping has for the last five years been the centre-right European People's Party '''EPP''' (288 seats out of a current 785), followed by the centre-left '''PES''' (216) and the liberal '''ALDE''' (100). With the 2009 election EPP made gains and retains power in the parliament.

Each nation elects members to the Parliament in proportion to population.  The June 2009 elections saw sweeping gains by conservative and anti-immigration parties, as labor and socialist parties lost heavily.  Since the 2004 elections the largest grouping has for the last five years been the centre-right European People's Party '''EPP''' (288 seats out of a current 785), followed by the centre-left '''PES''' (216) and the liberal '''ALDE''' (100). With the 2009 election EPP made gains and retains power in the parliament.

==Structure==

==Structure==

===The [[European Commission]]===

===The European Commission===

In September 2009 Jose Manuel Barroso, was re-elected as president of the European Commission after the European Parliament voted to give him a second term. This ended weeks of uncertainty during which Socialist, Green and Liberal critics tried to block Mr Barroso's candidacy on the grounds that he had yielded too much power to national governments and promoted the kind of free-market liberalism that led to the financial crisis.

In September 2009 Jose Manuel Barroso, was re-elected as president of the [[European Commission]] after the European Parliament voted to give him a second term. This ended weeks of uncertainty during which Socialist, Green and Liberal critics tried to block Mr Barroso's candidacy on the grounds that he had yielded too much power to national governments and promoted the kind of free-market liberalism that led to the financial crisis.

The role and responsibilities of the European Commission place it at the centre of the EU's decision-making process. Acting as the EU's policy and executive engine, the Commission is composed of 28 Commissioners, one from each state, and is supported by a substantial staff located primarily in [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]]. In matters relating to economic integration ("First or 'Community' Pillar"), only the Commission has the right to propose legislation for approval by the EU Council and European Parliament. As "guardian of the Treaties," the Commission ensures that EU laws are applied and upheld throughout the EU, prosecuting member states and other institutions for failing to follow treaty precepts or otherwise apply Community law. The Commission has full authority to enforce Community competition policy, and its policing of implementation of Community legislation preserves the integrity of the EU single market. The Commission likewise manages and develops the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), implements the budget, and represents the European Community in its areas of competence, notably including international trade negotiations.  

The role and responsibilities of the European Commission place it at the centre of the EU's decision-making process. Acting as the EU's policy and executive engine, the Commission is composed of 28 Commissioners, one from each state, and is supported by a substantial staff located primarily in [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]]. In matters relating to economic integration ("First or 'Community' Pillar"), only the Commission has the right to propose legislation for approval by the EU Council and European Parliament. As "guardian of the Treaties," the Commission ensures that EU laws are applied and upheld throughout the EU, prosecuting member states and other institutions for failing to follow treaty precepts or otherwise apply Community law. The Commission has full authority to enforce Community competition policy, and its policing of implementation of Community legislation preserves the integrity of the EU single market. The Commission likewise manages and develops the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), implements the budget, and represents the European Community in its areas of competence, notably including international trade negotiations.  

A significant number of Europeans on the political right-of-center are opposed to the EU on the grounds that it undermines national sovereignty and identity. The term "eurosceptic" has risen in popularity in Britain to describe these people, and among them are such members as the former British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] (although, while in power, she committed Britain to the 1986 [[Single European Act]], a major integrationist measure). They also, however, include less well-respected politicians belonging to "far-right" or [[nationalism|nationalist]] parties, such as France's [[Jean-Marie Le Pen]]. There are also extreme left-wing opponents of the European Union, such as ''Die Linke'' in Germany, who regard it as constituting an anti-progressive "Fortress Europe", and claim that EU membership impedes countries from following socialist policies. However, compared to [[conservative]] critics, left-wing Euroskeptics usually take softer positions against the EU, as they still support many of its policies such as on immigration and nationalism.

A significant number of Europeans on the political right-of-center are opposed to the EU on the grounds that it undermines national sovereignty and identity. The term "eurosceptic" has risen in popularity in Britain to describe these people, and among them are such members as the former British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] (although, while in power, she committed Britain to the 1986 [[Single European Act]], a major integrationist measure). They also, however, include less well-respected politicians belonging to "far-right" or [[nationalism|nationalist]] parties, such as France's [[Jean-Marie Le Pen]]. There are also extreme left-wing opponents of the European Union, such as ''Die Linke'' in Germany, who regard it as constituting an anti-progressive "Fortress Europe", and claim that EU membership impedes countries from following socialist policies. However, compared to [[conservative]] critics, left-wing Euroskeptics usually take softer positions against the EU, as they still support many of its policies such as on immigration and nationalism.

The European Union has been described as "a culturally amorphous post-ideological world. A cosmopolitan easy going [[agnostic]] world where the European Parliament invites a long haired bearded [[Transgender|shemale]] to perform in front of its building and announces him/her as 'The voice of Europe' singing for equality, without anyone batting an eye."<ref>https://gatestone.eu/eu-going-down/ </ref>

The European Union has been described as "a culturally amorphous post-ideological world. A cosmopolitan easy going [[agnostic]] world where the European Parliament invites a long haired bearded [[Transgender|shemale]] to perform in front of its building and announces him/her as 'The voice of Europe' singing for equality, without anyone batting an eye."<ref>https://gatestone.eu/eu-going-down/</ref>

===Anti-Israel===

===Anti-Israel===