| I think you just helped my argument. The EU does not maintain operational competence over these areas, just as the Canadian federal government and the US federal government do not maintain competence over most areas either. But just as in USA/Canada - the EU laws reign supreme, they create regulations, they coordinate policy. So - not only are EU laws and court rulings override national laws and rulings - the EU does in fact regulate and manage those 'very large budgetary' elements, just as in other federal states, like the US and Canada. The EU interdicts on Healthcare: https://europa.eu/european-union/topics/health_en The EU interdicts on Social Welfare: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=750 The EU interdicts on education: http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/school_en The EU has made several rulings with respect to services and access that have overridden national policy. The EU will determine who can, and who cannot receive services, if services don't meet a minimum 'humanitarian' requirement, etc. etc. If the UK for exampled tried to privatize it's healthcare system (not suggesting they should) - and make a US-style 'pay for it' type model - the EU would step in a major way. Same thing for schooling and other services. I'm sorry but I don't think you can say that since the 'EU does not maintain competence' in these areas, that they don't act like a federal state. They still 'own' the show at the end of the day. And to boot: the level of interdiction is only increasing. Within 30 years, many of those systems will be federalized at the EU level - or at least - have enough regulatory elements such that they de-facto run the show. Markel and others have already called for an EU Army. |