The European Union is the Greatest Economy in the World. Will USA catch up?

[okr]

Lolcislaw said:

Wow, the problem is that European Union is not working as a single economy, this organisation obviously ties those economies yet there are so many differences beetween nations states no once could consider EU as a single economy.

To name a few (cause its late):

-Euro is only a currency in 16 nation states
-There is a huge economic difference beetween states from Former Eastern Bloc (Poland , Hungary, Latvia) and those from the "old" Europe; France, UK or Germany
All those countries benefit differently from common agricultural policy for example
-There is a single market, but there is stiff competition within it.

Plus Europe will never become Unified like the United States, i think it is a bit naive to believe in it. Too many cultural, language, ethnic and historical differences have been beetween the countries, and still are. Plus i dont think that majority of us Europeans would like any more unified Europe (european parliament does not really exert much influence on Goverments, it has authority but rarely uses it). Constitution was rejected recently as well.

European Union is not doing as well as some people might think.

This difference will decrease over time, that's one concept of the EU. I think the constitution was rejected because it came too early. This whole process of a united Europe takes time and I think it won't be finished during our lifetime. In my opinion the concept of a European Union already works much better than many Europeans would want to admit. I think the reason why many Europeans are still reluctant to accept the EU (or acknowledge the progresses already achieved) is mainly the fault of politiicans who stoke fears of people losing their national identities.

On topic: I don't care a second if the EU is (or will be) the greatest economy in the world. This is not a fight for power.