Germany rules the EU do you agree, ill tell you why I think that's the case?

[Anonymous]

I can both relate with the brexit voters frustration and think they did the wrong thing leaving EU in that way, as a Swede i feel Germany is like the dictator of EU especially regarding money over human rights etc.. They benefit a lot from dictatorships like China and Russia so they aren't keen to put sanctions or do anything that can hurt their economy and that is the biggest issue with the EU that we elect people that act in each countries own interest so we argue and nothing is being done that's how i feel (I should not need to say this but i'm not talking about the German people i love hanging out with them they can almost drink as much as me and we do a lot of things we regret the day after they're my favorite mates in Europe and my favorite girls are Norwegian)

[nightdrot]

That is a bit of an overstatement. To be sure, Germany is one of the dominant powers in the EU. Moreover, depending on the issue, she can carry a disproportionate weight on certain questions - particularly in matters related to trade, for example.

However, the EU is merely reflective of the extant power relations in Europe. The three principle powers being Germany, France and Italy. (Until Brexit, the United Kingdom was also a major power in the EU.)

The point of the EU being not so much to negate as to institutionalize, so to speak, the relations between the European powers. The presumption being that if the states of Europe have the structures necessary to resolve their disputes by economic and diplomatic means, they will not resort to war as they did in 1914 and 1939.

Lord Ismay said of NATO that its' purpose was "to keep the Americans in, the Soviets out and the Germans down." The European Union performs a similar function.

For Germany, the largest economic power in Europe - 4th largest in the world - the EU provides a framework where it may trade openly with the other states of Europe - and also leverage Europe's overall economic position in trade relations with the rest of the world. Doing so without risking that its' economic dominance will antagonize its' neighbors and conduce to conflict.

For France, the EU was a way to leverage German economic might to finance, in effect, French military power and thus diplomatic influence. In effect, allowing France to play the global role that it had played in Europe since at least the reign of King Louis XIV. This at the same time while facilitating French diplomatic influence without antagonizing Germany and allowing both to face Russia.

For Italy, the EU is the mechanism by which it - the weakest of Europe's great powers - can balance Germany and France against each other. This at the same time, in effect, giving Italy " a seat at the table."

Just to add, it was this institutionalization of Europe's power relationships that ultimately inclined the United Kingdom to leave the EU. Historically, Britain's foreign policy had been characterized as "splendid isolation." That is, standing aloof from the continent's affairs - trading with all equally in the economic realm - unless or until the balance of power was threatened. At which point, the UK would intervene on the weaker side to restore the balance.

Suffice to say, when the EU, in effect, homogenized, the relations between Europe's other powers - (Please note, institutionalizing those relations, not erasing them.) - the UK followed the logic of its' historical interests and moved to stand aloof from the continent. In that sense "Brexit" was merely the latest manifestation of "splendid isolation."

At any rate, Germany tends to dominate the EU in the economic sphere because Germany is the continent's largest economic power. Knock on effects of that to follow.

By the same token, in foreign policy questions France tends to be more influential. Likely that Germany, were this 1914 or 1939, would tend to stand aloof from Ukraine and seek to strike a balance with Russia. Yet the EU has taken a more visible position on Ukraine in part because France has objected to the Russian effort.

To be sure, this is all rather subtle and nuanced. It is not immediately obvious to the student of European relations. Further, there can be no doubt that because Germany is the EU's economic behemoth, that it carries greater weight than many other member states of the EU.

Yet Germany is far from "ruling" the EU. Rather, it is exercising its real power within the confines of the EU structure. It is, in effect, the old great power game being played out within a structure of diplomatic and economic rules.

[BCA6010]

Probably. The German government under Merkel was, and the current administration is very much in bed with the extreme globalist agenda and doesn't seem to care how much it screws over their own population let alone the rest of Europe. Especially with the UK no longer involved, it makes it easy for the remaining powers of influence to run amok. When you have fewer rivals at the table, the power just becomes more centralized.

[Soteris]

No they dont. First of all, the EU is a democracy meaning everyone has a voice and secondly, countries have veto power. In other words, for major EU decisions pretty much everyone needs to agree. If even a single country disagrees then they can use their veto power to stop that from happening. This has become a major problem in a way with certain countries in the EU having a pact together to veto any legislation targeting the other for breaking EU regulations *cough* Poland and Hungary *cough*.

Point is that you can't have a "rulership" as such, for you to become a leader of a faction requires you to convince them to follow you naturally by championing policy or being charismatic. This is also not a problem as much as its just what the EU is. Its supposed to be a cooperation between independent nations, and as such the EU should not rule over the countries within it. If the country dont want something then the EU should not move against them except for extreme circumstances.

[Alexandrubaschet08]

Germany has a pacifist policy. He tries through diplomacy and his own resources to secure what he needs.
The fact that they are not willing to act as quickly in making drastic but correct decisions creates a negative feeling towards them.
But I cannot condemn them as long as they take them, apply them and suffer the same consequences as the rest of the countries, lend money to numerous nations, share the knowledge they have with other countries, train anyone who wants to develop.
Germany is not a coward and even more stupid. Two World Wars fell upon this nation and they always refused to fall.
Germany is the most developed country in Europe due to its post-war actions

[jshm2]

You're wrong of course, and Sweden isn't in the EU as a full member of the Eurozone.

Sweden benefits from dictatorships and terrorists a lot more than the EU does. In fact Sweden is basically a dictatorship, without a dictator at it's head, but rather a conglomerate. It supports many terrorist groups around the world under the guise of "foreign aid".

In fact Turkey demanded it remove it's support of the PKK (a terror group in Turkey) before it would allow it to become a NATO member!

It should be kicked out of the EU and banned from joining NATO for being an abetter of terrorism and dictatorship.

[Asker]

Sweden is in the EU 100% even if we don't use the Euro, your just some troll that is against free speech. Turkey is a dictatorship but NATO need Turkey because of it's location otherwise they would've ben kicked out and no country has been kicked out but it's possible to do so. PKK over Turkey anyday, Turkey does genocides and of course they need to defend them self. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_genocide

[goaded]

Obviously not, because, as you say, "the biggest issue with the EU that we elect people that act in each countries own interest so we argue and nothing is being done". Brexit was Britain shooting itself in the foot and then not bothering to clean or dress the wound. It'd still be better off re-joining even without the advantages that came from negotiations when they joined.

[Anonymous]

The US rules the EU. Any country that has US military bases or IS part of NATO is part of the Great American Empire.