The issue of this thread is not that if US WANT to or CAN join the EU, the issue was that the US don't even fulfill the basic criterias.
Mostly that which also has hindered Turkey from joining; the death penalty.
But propably also some minority group issues and some economic issues.
That which Thermo says about Germans and French relations propably exists most in his mind and not in reality, the tensions now are mostly between Italy and Germany, tensions spanning from the end of WW2 and the war between them (After Germany occupied nort italy and instituted Mussolini again as a puppet).
Relations between Germany and France has propably never been better, and I do not belive any Germans feel threatened by Poland.
There are no reasonable possibilities of war inside the current EU for atleast 10-30 years, it might change if Turkey and/or the turkish part of Cyprus gets accepted into the EU, and some of the balkan countries including Serbia want's in.
The Coal and Steel union (EU) never existed prior to WW2 and I think that it is a good way to defuse any potential inflammations in Europe.
Germany are not required to keep peace in the south-east regions, there is no current large EU military force, there might be in the far future, but now we have only a small fast reaction force.
Most military cooperation is carried out in NATO and PFP, security issues are mostly handled in Europe by the OSSE, which is an organisation outside of EU.
The south border is guarded by the nations that have those borders.
Germany needs it money for other things right now.
And EU doesn't consist of two powers, there are alot of countries, including the powerful UK, so far all countries including our small Sweden has equal say in all issues, that might change in the future though.
Svensk försvarutredning
[ July 25, 2003, 20:51: Message edited by: Ruatha ]