Europe

[LittleGrizzly]

Question(s) for EU federalists- What's really the ultimate goal of all this? What is the objective of further expansion of the EU? What would be provided by a Euro super state that the current states cannot already provide, given their currently is already near total freedom of trade and movement?

The best parts of it lie in our ability to influence the world, and in turn be less influenced by it (this could be a negative thing in some aspects but a few of the worlds rising powers are far less democratic and human rights concerned than EU states, so mostly a positive.) For example if China was heavily invested in a small eastern European state they may be much more positive to whatever China proposes even if its wrong and against public opinion, whereas this state as part of a bigger European state would have the power to match whatever negative effect China could try to put on it, so China wouldn't bother trying.

Or for an exsisting example check out the Eastern European country's that joined the Iraq war, many did so out of American pressure rather than a willingness to do so, i remember hearing that some didn't even let the public know they were supporting the war...

Another good example would be Russia, i heard differing arguments as to why they cut the gas supply (it may have been for good reason) but if they were to try such a thing with an EU state, they would be sorry. Russians seem pretty pragmatic so i don't think they would even try to mess with such an entity...
And outside of the foriegn policy advantages

Of course as Beskar mentioned as one political union we could work together far more effectively, we can also invest in the eastern european states which have a lot of potential and reap the rewards as they reach western European levels...

And to concentrate on something other than foriegn policy, our own space program, I think the EU has a space program (nothing much) but it would be far easier to organise one more at the American level if we were together as one country. As it is, any money which goes towards an EU space program would be probably be classed as money the EU wastes by the sceptics...

So you want the Europeans to band together and inflict their will on others?

Yes, we will force democracy and human rights on them through persuasion, diplomacy and with an economic carrot and stick. Far more effectively than a bunch of individual nations who have various disagreements or who are bribed into cooperation by larger powers can. We can the larger power bribing and cajouling people into doing the right thing.

China invidually can ride roughshod over some over the poorer EU states (probably some of the bigger ones to, or at least soon) would you want them able to bribe support the same way America was able to do over Iraq, not in my backyard!