Prize essay writing competition Your Vision for Europe Here are two of our entries - We do not know the results yet, but we will lock out for the winners of the essay competition who will be published in THE EUROPEAN newspaper. My Vision for europe „The EC is in priniciple a Community of problems." This quotation was given by the Austrian philosopher Leopold Kohr. Maybe he's right with his point of view. Of course, it's better to divide up Europe in many small countries. They can stand in aneighbourly linkand duetothesmall size of the countries there may be no wars. Each country could have its own democratic government, Its own culture etc. Trading could be effected as it was in Antique Greece. This may be a very individual way of a Europe in the 20'^ Century. The main point of criticism of the EG ist the lack of democracy and the abundance of bureaucracy in the still existing EC. This hasto bechanged in thenext years if there is a political, monetary and economic union in 1999. This year the negotiations between my home country Austria and the European Community have started. I think many people are afrald of joining this Community. Expeclally the small farmers, grocers und many more small buslnesses fear to be „swallowed" by monster concerns or to lose their basls of exlstence. This may be the reason that the unemployment in Europe is increasing. Actually, the rate of unemployment ist at 9%, and there are mainly women and young people without work. Many Austrians are also afraid of losing the neutrallty because if we join the EC we are llkely to become a member of the NATC, too. Cther very important issues are e. g. the anonymity of our savlngs books, the quality of life, the nuclear power in our country and - last but not least - the environment. We also would have to pay more into the EC-funds as we would get back. But there are also good reasons for joining the Commu nity. An expansion of exports, cheaper goods, machines, materials etc. can be achieved and you can practise nearly every job in each country without major Problems. It is Said that we will have more problems if we don't join the EC and that we couldn't cope with the challenges that future will bring. - I think the most im portant thing in such a big Community is that there are no wars, that there is a political stabllity and that the people of each country beware thelr identity. Anita Studeregger, lllc
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