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THE EU POSES A THREAT TO INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CULTURES
A common accusation levelled at the EU is that its bureaucracy and regulations threaten the cultures of its member states. Is this true? Or would these cultures be under threat even without the EU?
The EU poses a threat to individual national cultures
Yes, because... Euro
The European Union is committed to the Euro. But by encouraging countries to join it, it diminishes the importance of national currencies. People attach great importance to their currency- it is something that symbolises their country, often has a picture of their monarch on, and will historically be linked to that nation. The Euro by contrast is new, impersonal and has no links to the country’s history.
Who are these people who have such a tenuous link with everything that the country they live in has done that their coins must be a certain shape and type? Euro coin designs are different from country to country. If you really feel the desire to love your country, is it really the coins that make all the difference?
The Euro is a protector against runs on national currencies and other large economic shocks like those that happened to Iceland. If Ireland had been outside the Euro it would of suffered far more damage to its economy than it has actually suffered. This system is vital in a global age and our economy would benefit if we joined the Euro with our French and German counterparts.
Vote on this point: Euro
See history of changes to this point
The EU poses a threat to individual national cultures
Yes, because... Rules
European regulations supersede national law. This means that when the EU legislates on for example production standards or health and safety, the individual countries must follow suit. Many idiosyncratic local customs have fallen foul of EU legislations, for example because they could not meet the over strict regulations surrounding that area. This shows that the EU is not sensitive to national cultures, and has no problem threatening them for its own wider objectives.
this is not necessarily a bad thing but of course depends on the 'wider objectives' of the EU.
Vote on this point: Rules
See history of changes to this point
The EU poses a threat to individual national cultures
No, because... EU protects culture
The EU understands the value of national cultures and actively seeks to protect them. Take for example its protection of national foods. The EU has legislated to say that some foods can only hold a certain name if they are produced by traditional methods in a specific area eg Parma ham, Champagne, Stilton cheese. This shows that the EU values the importance of these goods as part of their local cultures, and has helped to protect them.
The EU poses a threat to individual national cultures
No, because... Would happen anyway
The modern world is changing. Regulations on safety and rights are becoming the norm as the world realises that governments have a duty to protect individuals. These regulations would be occurring at a national level, if the national governments had not realised that it is more efficient to do it at an EU level. So traditional cultures would be being forced to change regardless of EU involvement.
Vote on this debate: The EU poses a threat to individual national cultures
Modified:
06 Apr 2010
Point 1. Euro
The European Union is committed to the Euro. But by encouraging countries to join it, it diminishes the importance of national currencies. People attach great importance to their currency- it is something that symbolises their country, often has a picture of their monarch on, and will historically be linked to that nation. The Euro by contrast is new, impersonal and has no links to the country’s history.
Who are these people who have such a tenuous link with everything that the country they live in has done that their coins must be a certain shape and type? Euro coin designs are different from country to country. If you really feel the desire to love your country, is it really the coins that make all the difference?
Point 2. Rules
European regulations supersede national law. This means that when the EU legislates on for example production standards or health and safety, the individual countries must follow suit. Many idiosyncratic local customs have fallen foul of EU legislations, for example because they could not meet the over strict regulations surrounding that area. This shows that the EU is not sensitive to national cultures, and has no problem threatening them for its own wider objectives.
this is not necessarily a bad thing but of course depends on the 'wider objectives' of the EU.
Point 1. EU protects culture
The EU understands the value of national cultures and actively seeks to protect them. Take for example its protection of national foods. The EU has legislated to say that some foods can only hold a certain name if they are produced by traditional methods in a specific area eg Parma ham, Champagne, Stilton cheese. This shows that the EU values the importance of these goods as part of their local cultures, and has helped to protect them.
Point 2. Would happen anyway
The modern world is changing. Regulations on safety and rights are becoming the norm as the world realises that governments have a duty to protect individuals. These regulations would be occurring at a national level, if the national governments had not realised that it is more efficient to do it at an EU level. So traditional cultures would be being forced to change regardless of EU involvement.