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Euroscepticism has become a general term for opposition to the process of European integration. It originated in the United Kingdom, and at first referred to those within the Labour Party and Conservative Party who were sceptical of their parties’ official support for UK membership of the then European Economic Community. Since then, the meaning has expanded, to cover most opposition to the European Union, to its policies, to the introduction of the euro, and to any future pan-European entity in the form of a superstate, a federation, or a confederation. The term entered other European languages as a loan word or calque, for instance Europaskepsis in German. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... European integration is the process of political and economic (and in some cases social and cultural) integration of European states into a tighter bloc. ... The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is currently the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and the oldest political party in the United Kingdom. ... Skepticism (Commonwealth spelling: Scepticism) can mean: Philosophical skepticism - a philosophical position in which people choose to critically examine whether the knowledge and perceptions that they have are actually true, and whether or not one can ever be said to have absolutely true knowledge; or Scientific skepticism - a scientific, or practical... The European Community (EC), most important of three European Communities, was originally founded on March 25, 1957 by the signing of the Treaty of Rome under the name of European Economic Community. ... For other uses, see Euro (disambiguation). ... Pan-Europeanism is often described as pan and the euro, but the truth is that none of these statements are false. ... A superstate is an agglomeration of nations, often linguistically and ethnically diverse, under a single political-administrative structure. ... A map displaying todays federations. ... A confederation is an association of sovereign states or communities, usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution. ... A loanword (or a borrowing) is a word taken in by one language from another. ... // In linguistics, a calque (pronounced ) or loan translation is a word or phrase borrowed from another language by literal, word-for-word (Latin: verbum pro verbo) or root-for-root translation. ...

Euroscepticism is often associated with support for the nation-state and for national sovereignty, and is typically motivated by concern that the “ever closer union” enshrined in the preamble of the Treaty of Rome will erode that sovereignty. However euroscepticism, as an umbrella term, is not a single ideology, and eurosceptics differ on both their vision of Europe and on the manner in which it is perceived to fail. Thus, for instance, some seek a different form of European “Union” (with perhaps a new name), some seek reversal of the process of European integration, some seek withdrawal of their own country from the EU, whilst others seek the complete dissolution of the EU. Some see EU politics as highly bureaucratic and undemocratic and therefore want change within the EU rather than its dissolution. The term nation-state, while often used interchangeably with the terms unitary state and independent state, refers properly to the parallel occurence of a state and a nation. ... “Sovereign” redirects here. ... Look up Preamble in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Treaty of Rome signing ceremony Signatures in the Treaty The Treaty of Rome, signed by France, West Germany, Italy and Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) on March 25, 1957, established the European Economic Community (EEC). ... An umbrella term is a word that provides a superset or grouping of related concepts, also called a hypernym. ... Political Ideologies Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      An ideology is an organized collection of ideas. ...

Eurosceptic influences on European politics

Euroscepticism was at first stronger in Northern Europe. The UK, Sweden, and Denmark, for example, declined full participation in the Economic and Monetary Union. Non-members Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, especially the German-speaking cantons, were reluctant to expand ties with the EU or accept membership. In recent years, euroscepticism has grown in the new EU member states in central and eastern Europe, and even in Turkey, which is still a long way from EU membership. Northern Europe Northern Europe is the northern part of the European continent. ... In economics, a monetary union is a situation where several countries have agreed to share a single currency among them. ...

According to Eurobarometer surveys, fewer than 3 in 10 citizens of Sweden and just over 4 in 10 citizens in the UK feel their countries have benefited from membership of the EU. Most continental European countries tend to be more pro-EU, although eurosceptic movements exist in all European countries in some form. Among the new member states who acceded in 2004, the Czech Republic is the most eurosceptic. Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands and, at times, peninsulas. ...

Euroscepticism is likely to have been a factor (at least in part) of:

• The Republic of Ireland's unwillingness to join the Schengen Agreement.
• the French and Dutch rejection of the European Constitution by referendums held in 2005
• the Norwegian rejection of EU membership, on both occasions
• the Swiss rejection of membership in the European Economic Area
• the initial Danish rejection of the Maastricht Treaty (later approved)
• the Danish rejection of the euro
• the Irish rejection of the Nice Treaty in the first referendum (later approved). See Ireland’s “No” Vote, (it is debatable as to whether or not this was euroscepticism)
• the Swedish rejection of the euro in the national referendum on September 14, 2003
• the fact that Iceland has never applied for membership
• the fact that Greenland chose not to remain in the EU (then the EEC) when it was granted home rule by Denmark in 1979
• the United Kingdom’s unwillingness to be a part of the Schengen Agreement or the Economic and Monetary Union as well as its continued reluctence with regards to the euro.

 Implementing countries  Implementing through partnership with a signatory state  Members implementing from 21 December 2007 (overland borders and seaports) and 29 March 2008 (airports)  Members (not yet implemented)  Expressed interest in joining A monument to the Agreement in Schengen A typical Schengen border crossing without any border control post, just... The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, commonly referred to as the European Constitution, is an international treaty intended to create a constitution for the European Union. ...  EFTA countries (except Switzerland)  EU countries Together these form the EEA. The European Economic Area (EEA) came into being on January 1, 1994 following an agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Union (EU). ... The Maastricht Treaty (formally, the Treaty of European Union, TEU) was signed on February 7, 1992 in Maastricht, Netherlands after final negotiations in December 1991 between the members of the European Community and entered into force on November 1, 1993 during the Delors Commission. ... For other uses, see Euro (disambiguation). ... Treaty of Nice The Treaty of Nice is a treaty adopted in Nice by the European Council to amend the two founding treaties of the European Union: the Treaty on European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, which introduced the Euro and the 3-pillar structure of the EU; the Treaty of... Treaty of Nice The Treaty of Nice is a treaty adopted in Nice by the European Council to amend the two founding treaties of the European Union: the Treaty on European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, which introduced the Euro and the 3-pillar structure of the EU; the Treaty of... Since the introduction of parliamentarism in Sweden six referendums have been held. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The European Community (EC) was originally founded on March 25, 1957 by the signing of the Treaty of Rome under the name of European Economic Community. ... Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ...  Implementing countries  Implementing through partnership with a signatory state  Members implementing from 21 December 2007 (overland borders and seaports) and 29 March 2008 (airports)  Members (not yet implemented)  Expressed interest in joining A monument to the Agreement in Schengen A typical Schengen border crossing without any border control post, just... In economics, a monetary union is a situation where several countries have agreed to share a single currency among them. ... For other uses, see Euro (disambiguation). ...

Eurosceptic issues

The issues on which eurosceptics focus vary from country to country.

In European countries outside the EU, eurosceptics focus attention on the perceived disadvantages of Union membership; for instance, in the case of Norway, the greatest concern is the effect of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy. In those countries which are already members, but have chosen to retain independent currencies (the United Kingdom, Denmark and Sweden), eurosceptics focus on the disadvantages of euro membership as well as on other aspects of involvement with the EU. Some arguments against the Economic and Monetary Union are built on complaints that the Growth and Stability Pact has been inconsistently applied, and on the recent underperformance of the eurozone when compared with those economies that have chosen to remain outside. The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the fisheries policy of the European Union. ... For other uses, see Euro (disambiguation). ... In economics, a monetary union is a situation where several countries have agreed to share a single currency among them. ... The Stability and Growth Pact is an agreement by European Union member states related to their conduct of fiscal policy, to facilitate and maintain Economic and Monetary Union. ... The Eurozone (also called Euro Area, Eurosystem or Euroland) refers to the European Union member states that have adopted the euro currency union. ...

While many eurosceptics take issue with particular characteristics of the EU as it stands, some maintain in principle that the very concept of the EU is an invention of bureaucrats seeking to create a bureaucratic and undemocratic superstate.

Centralisation

Eurosceptics oppose the idea of a centralised European superstate, a United States of Europe akin to the United States of America, which many see as the inevitable outcome of current integrationist trends. This is a perception disputed by some, but by no means all, pro-Europeans. The United States of Europe is a name given to one version of the hypothetical unification scenarios of Europe, as a sovereign federation of states, similar to the United States of America, both as projected by writers of speculative fiction and by political scientists and politicians. ... European integration is the process of political and economic (and in some cases social and cultural) integration of European states into a tighter bloc. ...

Compromising sovereignty

Eurosceptics often disagree with current or proposed measures that they see as compromising national sovereignties, including:

• the proposed European Rapid Reaction Force
• the draft European Constitution
• the proposed establishing of a European Public Prosecutor, or the establishing of Eurojust
• any extension of Europol to include enforcement powers
• harmonising taxation or welfare benefits
• reduction to the number of policy areas subject to agreement by unanimity in the European Council, where each country may veto proposed legislation

Eurosceptics often propose either radical modifications to the structure of the EU, including more influence for national parliaments, or the withdrawal of their country from the Union altogether. This article is about European Union military force. ... The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, commonly referred to as the European Constitution, is an international treaty intended to create a constitution for the European Union. ... Eurojust (also spelled capitalised as EUROJUST) is a European Union body composed of national prosecutors, magistrates or police officers of equivalent competence from each of the European Unions member states. ... Europol (the name is a contraction of European Police Office) is the European Unions criminal intelligence agency. ... This article deals with the meeting of European Union leaders. ...

Harmonising of justice and home affairs

Eurosceptics generally consider the harmonising of criminal justice systems in Europe unnecessary. They dispute pro-Europeans’ claims that enhanced judicial co-operation could provide additional protection against terrorists or organised criminal gangs. They believe that moves towards centralised decisions on issues of justice and law are examples of the EU’s lack of choice and poor cultural awareness.^{[citation needed]}

While most^{[attribution needed]} eurosceptics acknowledge that all current systems of justice in the EU offer adequate protection despite their differences, others,^{[attribution needed]} including members of the British Parliament,^{[citation needed]} contend that common law systems of justice are incompatible with civil law systems which, according to them, do not provide enough protections with respect to presumption of innocence and other guarantees. (These guarantees, however, are laid out in the European Convention of Human Rights, which all EU members must sign.) This article concerns the common-law legal system, as contrasted with the civil law legal system; for other meanings of the term, within the field of law, see common law (disambiguation). ... For other uses of civil law, see civil law. ... Presumption of innocence is a legal right that the accused in criminal trials has in many modern nations. ... The European Convention on Human Rights (1950) was adopted under the auspices of the Council of Europe† to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. ...

Eurosceptics in the European Parliament

In 2004, 37 MEPs from the UK, Poland, Denmark and Sweden founded a new European Parliament group called “Independence and Democracy” from the old Europe of Democracies and Diversities (EDD) group. The main goals of this group are to reject the Treaty establishing a constitution for Europe and to oppose further European integration. Some delegations within the group, notably the United Kingdom Independence Party, advocate the complete withdrawal of their country from the EU. A Member of the European Parliament (English abbreviation MEP)[1] is a member of the European Unions directly-elected legislative body, the European Parliament. ... Established 1952, as the Common Assembly President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP) Since 16 January 2007 Vice-Presidents 14 Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP) Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) Gérard Onesta (Greens – EFA) Edward McMillan-Scott (ED) Mario Mauro (EPP) Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PES) Luigi Cocilovo (ALDE) Mechtild... IND/DEM logo The Independence and Democracy (IND/DEM) group, formed July 20, 2004 is a euro-sceptic political group with 36 MEPs in the European Parliament. ... Europe of Democracies and Diversities was a euro-sceptic political group with seats in the European Parliament between 1999 and 2004. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe The constitutional treaty as signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 by representatives of the EU member states The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE), commonly referred to as the European Constitution, was an unimplemented... European integration is the process of political and economic (and in some cases social and cultural) integration of European states into a tighter bloc. ... The United Kingdom Independence Party (commonly known as UKIP, pronounced //) is a British political party. ...

The group’s leaders are Nigel Farage of UKIP (10 MEPs) and Jens Peter Bonde of Denmark. Nigel Paul Farage (born 3 April 1964 in Farnborough, Kent) is a British politician, and leader of the eurosceptic United Kingdom Independence Party (Ukip). ...

The right-wing Union for Europe of the Nations Group is also eurosceptic as are some parties within the left-wing Confederal Group of the European United Left—Nordic Green Left and the European Greens—European Free Alliance. The UK’s largely eurosceptic Conservative Party are part of the European People’s Party and European Democrats which has mainly a pro-European agenda. UEN logo The Union for Europe of the Nations is a nationalist and (mostly) euro-sceptic party grouping with seats in the European Parliament. ... GUE-NGL logo The European United Left–Nordic Green Left is a socialist and communist political grouping within the European Parliament. ... Logo of the European Federation of Green Parties - EFA The European Greens – European Free Alliance (The Greens - European Free Alliance; Greens - EFA; French: Le Groupe Verts - Alliance libre européenne; Les Verts - ALE, German Fraktion der Grünen/Freie Europäische Allianz) is one of the parliamentary groups in the... The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is currently the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and the oldest political party in the United Kingdom. ... The European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats is a group in the European Parliament. ...

Euroscepticism in France

1970s

In 1978, Jacques Chirac, a rival of then president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, published the Call of Cochin in which he clearly alluded to Giscard’s party as the “party of the foreigners.” Giscard is a well-known pro-European. Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... “Chirac” redirects here. ... Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard dEstaing (born February 2, 1926 in Koblenz, Germany) is a French politician who was President of the Republic from 1974 until 1981. ... The Call of Cochin (Appel de Cochin) is a famous pamphlet published on December 6, 1978 by Jacques Chirac, former Prime Minister of France, president of the Rally for the Republic party, and mayor of Paris. ...

Recent events

On the left of the political spectrum, the Parti des Travailleurs, Jean-Pierre Chevènement and the French Communist Party are eurosceptic. They see the European Union as a means through which unpopular economic measures of free markets, free trade, the gradual demolition of public services and Social security and increasing technocracy, all of which they see as part of a right-wing agenda, are imposed on the French public. The Left is split along similar lines on the topic of the proposed European Constitution: the Communist Party, and parts of the Socialist Party, oppose the Constitution as carving “ultra-libéral” free market policies in stone; but the majority of the Socialist party considers the constitution an improvement, according to an internal vote. In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition... The Party of the Workers (Parti des Travailleurs or PT), is a French political party which was formed by the Trotskyist Internationalist Communist Party (PCI) led by Pierre Boussel better known by his pseudonym Pierre Lambert (it was customary for senior leaders of the party to be known under pseudonyms... Jean-Pierre Chevènement Jean-Pierre Chevènement (born March 9, 1939 in Belfort) is a French politician. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... A free market is an idealized market, where all economic decisions and actions by individuals regarding transfer of money, goods, and services are voluntary, and are therefore devoid of coercion and theft (some definitions of coercion are inclusive of theft). Colloquially and loosely, a free market economy is an economy... Free trade is an economic concept referring to the selling of products between countries without tariffs or other trade barriers. ... Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly (through the public sector) or by financing private provision of services. ... Social security primarily refers to social welfare service concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply the right, are terms which refer, with no particular precision, to the segment of the political spectrum in opposition to left-wing politics. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe The constitutional treaty as signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 by representatives of the EU member states The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE), commonly referred to as the European Constitution, was an unimplemented... The emblem of the French Socialist Party The Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste or PS), founded in 1969, is the main opposition party in France. ...

On the right, Jean-Marie Le Pen (Front National) and Philippe de Villiers are eurosceptic. They are against compromising French independence and the possible integration into the European Union of countries that they contend are not European in essence, such as Turkey. Le Pen is also opposed to the Common Agricultural Policy and would rather have protectionist measures against imports of foreign agricultural products into France, and other imports as well. While the integration of Turkey was supported by former president Jacques Chirac, it is opposed by many, including 2007-elected president Nicolas Sarkozy. In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply the right, are terms which refer, with no particular precision, to the segment of the political spectrum in opposition to left-wing politics. ... Jean-Marie Le Pen (born June 20, 1928, La Trinité-sur-Mer, France) is a French far-right nationalist politician, founder and president of the Front National (National Front) party. ... The National Front (FN, French: ) is a French Far right, nationalist [1] political party, founded in 1972 by Jean-Marie Le Pen. ... Philippe de Villiers in Toulouse in April 2007 Philippe de Villiers (born Viscount Philippe Le Jolis de Villiers de Saintignon on March 25, 1949) was the Mouvement pour la France nominee for the French presidential election of 2007. ... The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a system of European Union agricultural subsidies and programmes. ... Protectionism is the economic policy of restraining trade between nations, through methods such as high tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, a variety of restrictive government regulations designed to discourage imports, and anti-dumping laws in an attempt to protect domestic industries in a particular nation from foreign take-over... “Chirac” redirects here. ... Nicolas Sarkozy at Paris, May 2005. ...

Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom

Main article: Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom

The debate around euroscepticism has been a major political issue in the United Kingdom since the inception of the European Union (then the European Economic Community or EEC), and has not reduced significantly following UK membership of the Union. It has been suggested that Euroscepticism#Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom be merged into this article or section. ... The European Community (EC), most important of three European Communities, was originally founded on March 25, 1957 by the signing of the Treaty of Rome under the name of European Economic Community. ...

The appropriate use of the term eurosceptic is sometimes disputed by those on both sides^{[attribution needed]} of the pro-/anti-EU debate. Eurosceptics who feel that their position should emphasise a desire for greater national and parliamentary independence over specific criticisms of the EU^{[attribution needed]} sometimes argue that the positive-sounding antonym pro-European contrasts with the more negative eurosceptic, giving a rhetorical advantage to those who advocate European integration.

In order to avoid this, euro-realist has been coined as an alternative. However, in recent years this term has sometimes come to denote^{[attribution needed]} a milder form of euroscepticism, according to which it is not necessarily in countries’ interests to withdraw from the EU or disband it completely, but rather to modify its structure to some extent.

Other synonyms that are sometimes encountered include euro-critic and the much more pejorative europhobe.^{[citation needed]} The simple adjective anti-EU can also be used, although in most cases this is not a synonym since many British eurosceptics do not seek for the UK to leave the EU, only for the pushing for considerable reform of the EUs organisations.

Many^{[attribution needed]} eurosceptics disapprove of the term pro-Europeans to denote their opponents. They maintain that their pro-democracy ideology is more “pro-Europe” than the federalist position. They prefer to call their opponents “europhiles” or euro-fantics and their philosophy as pro-EU, federalist (cf. the f word), integrationist or euro-centralist. For theological federalism, see Covenant Theology. ...

Many British eurosceptics are opposed to metrication, which they see as an EU imposition.^[1]. The United Kingdom Independence Party is currently the largest Eurosceptic political party in the United Kingdom. The introduction of the metric system has faced popular opposition in a number of countries over the past two hundred years. ... The United Kingdom Independence Party (commonly known as UKIP, pronounced //) is a British political party. ...

Euroscepticism in central and eastern Europe

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A vandalised EU sign in Poland, seen 2003.

One common argument^{[attribution needed]} raised by eurosceptics in the new EU member states from Central Europe is that the European Union’s bureaucracy and perceived socialist tendencies may be sustainable for mature Western European economies, but will bring the still fragile post-communist economies to a grinding halt. These viewpoints have often been encouraged when governments tried to excuse increases to the fiscal burden as harmonising law with EU requirements, even when those laws had not been introduced for old EU member countries. Pro-Europeans argue the increased regulatory burden is feasible through post-accession increased economic growth, and that now inside the EU they will be able to help reform it. Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... Image File history File links European_Union_sign_2003. ... Image File history File links European_Union_sign_2003. ... Central Europe The Alpine Countries and the Visegrád Group (Political map, 2004) Central Europe is the region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      This article is about the sociological concept. ... Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community[1] for the purposes of increasing social and economic equality and cooperation. ... A current understanding of Western Europe. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ... Fiscal municipality in Huesca, Spain The term fiscal refers to government debt, expenditures and revenues, or to finance (particularly financial revenue) in general. ...

Other issues include the need for new entrants to initiate EU-level border controls with non-accession neighbours. This has a big impact on Poland’s border with Ukraine. The introduction of the EU’s visa regime has often greatly reduced cross-border trade with these neighbours, thus bankrupting many small family business in one of the poorest regions of Poland. Some consider Poland’s joining the EU to be an act of disloyalty towards Ukraine, ultimately pushing the latter further into the Russian sphere of influence. Many economists believe that, on a country wide level, these disadvantages will eventually be offset by the freedom to travel and do business across the EU, though the benefits may be distributed unequally. This article is about the country in Europe. ...

Other criticisms of the European Union are related to its inability to prevent the recent increase in ethnic nationalism across Eastern Europe; the example of Kosovo is often cited. The EU is sometimes accused of trying to impose models that worked in the Western European countries without any regard for the different reality of Eastern European life, and it is claimed that this approach produces more problems than it solves. Ethnic nationalism is the form of nationalism in which the state derives political legitimacy from historical cultural or hereditary groupings (ethnicities); the underlying assumption is that ethnicities should be politically distinct. ... For other uses, see Kosovo (disambiguation). ...

Some Romanians, Slovaks and Croatians claim that Hungarian irredentists have found a new platform built by the European Union in Eastern Europe. Alleged irredentist Hungarian politicians are claimed to be helped by European regulations in involving themselves in the internal affairs of neighbouring countries. The main practice denounced is that Hungary is trying use the legitimate concept of ethnic minority rights in order to promote various forms (mostly subtle) of revanchism in the region. The claim is supported by Hungary’s amending the status law trying to redefine the idea of nation and extending special economic, social and cultural benefits to ethnic Hungarians in neighbouring states (Romania, Slovakia, Croatia and Ukraine), who had objected to the law in 2001. The European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), a body of the Council of Europe, was called in by Romania and criticised the Hungarian initiative. irredentism is position advocating annexation of territories administered by another state on the grounds of common ethnicity and/or prior historical possession, actual or alleged. ... Revanchism (from French revanche, revenge) is a term used since the 1870s to describe political campaigns to reverse territorial losses incurred by a country during previous wars and strifes, sometimes quite distant in time. ... Anthem Ode to Joy (orchestral)  ten founding members joined subsequently observer at the Parliamentary Assembly observer at the Committee of Ministers  official candidate Seat Strasbourg, France Membership 47 European states 5 observers (Council) 3 observers (Assembly) Leaders  -  Secretary General Terry Davis  -  President of the Parliamentary Assembly Rene van der Linden...

Euroscepticism from religious groups

The EU has received strong criticism from members of some religious groups, most notably evangelical Christians with dispensationalist views. [1]They complain that the EU is rooted too strongly in secular humanism and undermines traditional Christianity with its policies. Some go as far to describe the EU as the beginnings of the one-world empire allegedly foretold in Bible prophecy. According to their interpretation of the Apocalypse, it is believed that such an empire will eventually be led by a single ruler, the Antichrist. Arguments for this view include a perceived occultic significance of EU symbolism[2], an allegedly “un-Christian” nature of EU policies[3], the refusal to mention the Christian God in official documents[4] and the effort to encourage the people of Europe to reject their national identity in favour of a European one. Also the Polish religious sect known as the Radio Maryja Family, and led by Father Rydzyk, strongly opposed the EU. Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. ... This article is about the religous people known as Christians. ... Dispensationalism is a school of Bible interpretation that is associated with fundamentalist Christianity; the primary alternative within the evangelical community is covenant theology. ... Secular humanism is a humanist philosophy that upholds reason, ethics, and justice, and specifically rejects the supernatural and the spiritual as warrants of moral reflection and decision-making. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... Bible prophecy is the concept held by various people that many Bible verses contain prophecies. ... For the Friedrich Nietzsche book, see The Antichrist. ... For other uses, see Occult (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Christian Trinity. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Signs such as this one in Łagów are a common sight in rural Poland, indicating the local frequency of the station. ... Father Director The Reverend Tadeusz Rydzyk, also known as Father Director and Father Founder (Polish: Ojciec Dyrektor, Ojciec ZaÅ‚ożyciel), born May 3, 1945 in Olkusz, is an influential Roman Catholic priest and Redemptorist, creator and head of the controversial Radio Maryja station, and a grand leader of the...

See also

• History of the European Union
• Pan-European identity
• European Constitution
• Sovereignty
• Nationalism
• Nation-state
• Patriotism
• United States of Europe

The European Union is a unique geo-political entity covering a large portion of the European continent. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Pan-Europeanism. ... The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, commonly referred to as the European Constitution, is an international treaty intended to create a constitution for the European Union. ... “Sovereign” redirects here. ... Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolising French nationalism during the July Revolution 1830. ... The term nation-state, while often used interchangeably with the terms unitary state and independent state, refers properly to the parallel occurence of a state and a nation. ... Defence of the fatherland is a commonplace of patriotism: The statue in the courtyard of École polytechnique, Paris, commemorating the students involvement in defending France against the 1814 invasion of the Coalition. ... The United States of Europe is a name given to one version of the hypothetical unification scenarios of Europe, as a sovereign federation of states, similar to the United States of America, both as projected by writers of speculative fiction and by political scientists and politicians. ...

References

External links

Studies of public opinion

• Euroscepticism statistics from the European Commission
• Europe and the Ballot:Voting Behaviour in Referendums on European Integration

Eurosceptic sites

• Independence/Democracy Group in the European Parliament
• The Better Off Out Campaign
• The Democracy Movement
• Democracy in Europe
• Sovereignty
• The European Foundation
• Free Europe Vote Initiative
• UK Independence Party
• English Democrats
• Eurorealist
• Bruges Group
• Research Centre Free Europe

Specific criticisms of the EU

• Criticism of EU “propaganda”
• Problems with CAP
• Welfare shopping in Ireland
• Put an end to the moving circus to Strasbourg

Euroscepticism rebuttals

• The European Commission’s Press Office in London
• Benefits of European Union membership (Europa)
• Europe In 12 Lessons (Europa)
• EU - 50 Ways Forward (PDF File) (Europa)
• Britain in the EU (UK FCO)