Also the EU repeatedly called out Hungary for corruption but now Hungary is having its moment pointing that several member of the european parliaments have been caught in a very serious corruption scandal (and these are only those who got caught).
What a great happy honorable Union full of integrity we enjoy too.
> Are you saying there is a corruption issue right now?
If you have followed Hungary's trajectory under Orban it is pretty obvious that there are corruption issues. Not that Hungary is the only country affected, it's just the most obvious
Orban’s party won reëlection. Orban is popular [1]. We can crib about disinformation and this or that, but holding Hungary accountable for his decisions is perfectly acceptable.
> Because they cause issues? I mean, every country causes some issues.
Both Hungary and Poland have been consistently undermining the rule of law for years. Hungary has also started going after freedom of expression and minority rights and let’s not talk about the anti-gay laws for which the European Commission is suing them. The only reason they haven’t been stripped of their voting rights in the EU (the harshest sanction available) is that the unanimity of the other members is required and they shield each other. It’s a disgrace.
>This is such a pity. European Union is (was ?) an incredible achievement. I don't think we realize exactly how improbable uniting Europe around a common destiny and a shared set of values is.
Only we never done that. We just allowed for easy border access, united a few laws, and had central bureaucrats and heavier countries step on the throats of lesser ones.
> Poland and Hungary, two countries which should never have been allowed to join and are currently causing the union a lot of issues
May I know why exactly these two countries should not be allowed to join EU? Because they cause issues? I mean, every country causes some issues. In the current context Germany and its former government lobbying for Russian gas causes issues of perhaps much larger scale. Tell me about corruption.
I'm awfully worried about both Poland and Hungary, and their place in the EU even though I'm a brit, and now out of the EU. I think both countries should have had their EU membership suspended years ago, for corruption; meddling with judicial appointments; and generally not allowing free media. I suspect Hungary is much worse, but for me, a major reason for supporting Brexit was that I didn't want to be in a political alliance with countries that didn't comply with international treaties, which the EU was so reluctant to enforce.
They are not being strong armed, they are being treated with way to lot consideration, given that they are ignoring the treaties they signed.
Especially Orban in Hungary is basically a robber Baron, and if the EU doesn't move against his BS strongly, they will lose support in the other countries.
> Name one important issue where the EU has reached a satisfactory agreement and results.
The ability to travel, reside, work anywhere I desire in the EU as a right that I can rely on instead of having to ask for permission. The fact that I could marry another EU citizen from another country without having to ask for permission. That we have no extra paperwork related to that, even with a child. I still remember passport checks at the border.
Last but not least: 75 years of peace in Europe. Making the arch enemies of France and Germany friends.
Not all is good about the EU, it suffers from large deficiencies, but it has also brought great successes.
The EU is a political construct yet you promote the benefits of a stronger EU while deriding the political system.
>This private justice would ensure that the free market reigns, not the misguided whims of bureaucrats who like to make tyrannical regulatory laws in their quest for more political power.
> No, but I really believe European leaders are jealous of the authoritarian powers they lack, and are working to resolve that.
You can believe anything you want.
That wouldn't make you right.
national parliaments have to pass these legislation, EU is formed by 26 countries, all with very different ideas, traditions, political stances and objectives.
So, Orban?
Yeah he would love to be the sole leader of his country.
In my country?
those that tried have been destroyed by their same allies, out of fear of having to live in someone else's shadow.
If everyone wants to be the one and only leader, nobody will ever be.
Opposing forces always balance themselves.
Funny that all USA businesses lament that there is too much democracy in EU (like too much democracy is bad!), but now HN says that there is an imminent risk of totalitarianism...
> The EU is a behemoth that absolutely steamrolls smaller countries into submission
Yet curiously Hungary has been allowed to steep down into authoritarianism, and none of Orban's excesses like media or judicial overreaches have been been overiden through submission.
Also the EU repeatedly called out Hungary for corruption but now Hungary is having its moment pointing that several member of the european parliaments have been caught in a very serious corruption scandal (and these are only those who got caught).
What a great happy honorable Union full of integrity we enjoy too.
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