Macedonia and the European Union

[Currency Trader]

Yeah see the thing is that just for the very fact that anyone needs to discuss a country joining the EU makes me think the whole thing is a sham and a waste of time.

Greece is in the EU: look at their economic situation.

Bulgaria is too. Look at their inflation.

Ditto for Romania. Portugal. Ireland.

Sweden is in the EU: look at their economic situation.

Danmark too: Look at their inflation

Ditto for Germany, Austria, Netherlands.


How about some objectivity and the fact that there are 27 EU members? You just counted 5.


.

[Currency Trader]

Parties like UKIP in other countries. I don't know their names or the politicians.

Why don't they put the EU membership to a vote and see how many people want to stay in the EU? They know that people want out of the EU.

The UKIP is not exactly a big party of UK. Although, countries do have populations that are not too excited with EU in light of recent negligence of state finances. As for the membership vote by populations, there have been countries that made referendums. EU got a fairly big vote from eastern European countries.


.

[Currency Trader]

Indigen said:

Not exactly answering your specific question but Spain is one major country that is NOT doing all that well in the "great" EU.

Yes, and do you know the reason for it, other than cut'n paste from news stories on Spain's unemployment?

To be objective,there are more countries in EU than just Spain. But I assume you know that?




-

[Currency Trader]

Indigen said:

Since you try to present yourself as some economic guru, why don't you do your own research? Article was by Sam Vaknin, former dpmne government economic advisor and a Guru to Gruevski himself, and you should contact him yourself (via emai) if you want further explanations!

I don’t recall presenting myself as some economic guru as you claim. Besides, since you posted a text paragraph, you should expect questions on the stuff you posted. That’s not unfair is it? After all, it wasn’t like you revealed the author of this text until I repeated the unanswered questions for you.

Sam Vaknin - The name sounds familiar – I may be wrong, but is this the individual that so many Macedonians dislike because they consider him to be anti-Macedonian or a psychopath?


**************

Indigen said:

You can ask SV about the specifics yourself but, IMO, Macedonian manufacturing industry is mostly in food processing, clothing and textiles and some elements of light manufacturing, mining and steel production. Most of them are sheltered in one way or another and should protection be removed and EU standards applied, they could not compete with either more efficient EU competitors or cheaper imports allowed into the EU as part of its trade agreements with the likes of China, India and other low labour cost economies (states or economic blocks).

Can you shed some more specifics on how the Macedonian manufacturing industry is “sheltered in one way or another”?

Secondly and more specifically, what EU standards would remove the protection for Macedonian manufacturing?

And lastly, as previously stated, before Macedonia can become a member of EU, the country will have to show some significant readiness and transformation which will be closely inspected that it can handle all or most areas as required. This process is lengthy and can take years, if not a full decade before the country is close to become a member.



*****************

Indigen said:

None of them should be compared (or can compare) to RM in political historical terms or in economic development. Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, having been sovereign states for a long time with developed national perspective and policies, possessed national economic assets and infrastructure only independent national sovereign states can posses. They also benefit/ed from having a much larger population and in being strategic assets of the superpowers during the Cold War, where they had a lot of "free" (at the price of political submission) investments in infrastructure projects such as roads, highways, railways, airports and seaports, amongst other trade benefits and assistance. As for Slovenia, it also can not be compared to Macedonia as it was (and IS) in a different economic and political stage of development from the outset as well as benefiting tremendously by the fact of having an advantageous economic and political position during SFRJ days.

If you’re using the argument for having been sovereign states for a long time (Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Greece), then use the Baltic states for comparison on how they handled European competition?


************

Indigen said

It clearly states that it will do badly from full membership at this time or in the near future and that IT WILL DO MUCH BETTER OUTSIDE THE EU

What it states is Sam Vaknins opinion on Macedonia, but without considering the fact that Macedonia will have to DEMONSTRATE full readiness and transformation that it can handle all or most areas as required per EU. So, if Macedonia is ready to really become a full-fledged member, it should be able to handle most of the points Mr Vaknin is making.



-

[DirtyCodingHabitz]

The false economy that a few billionaires created in order to rule the world is not something Macedonia should be part of. Simple as that.

Agree with you on this 100%. But it's impossible to escape it when you have majority of the population wanting a "stronger economy". People need to start waking up and realize that economy is real because people make you think it's real, it's called brainwashing from birth till you die.

I guess the majority don't understand that economy is not real, or, they just don't want to accept it because they are greedy and they love making money.