The UK is to have a referendum on the treaty and I am wondering about the other EU countries. I am interested in everybody’s perspective - there are some questions for Americans and others down the bottom, but feel free to answer any questions that you want to.

1) What country are you from?

Sweden.

2) Are you having a referendum on the proposed EU constitution? If you don't do you think you should?

Not likely. And no, not really. There are way too many stupid people out there who are misinformed on the issue. The politicians both have time and interest in the question, and are elected for the purpose. I still think it would have been better for a small economy such as sweden's to be tied up to the whole euro deal... (we are already tied up to the monetary union, the only thing that referendum provided for us was that we do not use the practical currency... not that I'd really want to use a currency with those small coins anyway. The only politicians who didn't want it are those protest parties...)

3) Have you read the constitution?

No, I haven't, and thus I can't give an informed opinion on the matter.

4) I have read parts (because I don't trust the BBC or any other news outlet to portray it in an unbiased fashion). I plan on reading it fully. Would you find it useful for me to make post summaries and what I think the implications are of the various articles?

As we're not having a referendum, it wouldn't be particularly useful for me.

5) If there were a referendum tomorrow how would you vote (assume just a yes or no question – yes to accept, and no to reject)?

I'd skip voting. Because it would not be fair of me to say anything on the matter.

6) Do you plan on voting in the European elections in the summer?

Ah, of course... if it is the elections for the european parliament. I have however not decided how to vote.

For those that are having a referendum:

7) Do you think that your government will set a simple, unbiased question just about the EU constitution?

For the Americans & others:

The EU is getting to a scale where it can compete with the US economically. The EU is enlarging from 15 to 25 countries this year. At this point it will be bigger than the US in terms of population and the economic gap will diminish even more, possibly, over time to a situation where it will be bigger than the US.

a) What is your impression of the EU at the moment?

b) Do you know much about it?

c) Does the above (the intro to question 8, i.e. EU getting just as big if not bigger than the US) bother you?

d) Why? / Why not?

e) Do you think it is good to have a counter-balance to the US?

OK, that's about it. Thanks to those of you that take the time to respond - I am really very interested in all your opinions .


~jonathan

I mean you harm.

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