Greeks dissatisfied with EU

According to an article in Kathimerini, Greeks are not impressed with whatever benefits EU membership has offered. There seems to be an ongoing trend of dissatisfaction amongst the starting member states, as evidenced by the overwhelming no votes to the Euroconstitution in France and the Netherlands.

Some 70 percent of Greeks say they are against Turkey joining the EU - well above the 52 percent average for the 25 member states, according to a Eurobarometer poll conducted for the European Commission. However, the overall picture of Greek views on the EU appears to be much less clear-cut. Some three-quarters of Greeks say they favor a common foreign and defense policy but 49 percent say they are opposed to the idea of a single currency - the highest in the eurozone - and just under half feel that EU membership has not given the country any added economic stability.

Personally, I think the EU is a good idea, but I don't know if in the end it only has value in theory, but not in practice. I still think it needs time, with each addition of member states it grows and changes, and it is difficult to balance the impact and benefits while the EU is still expanding.

I am a bit on the fence when it comes to Turkish membership in the EU. From some things I have read, it seems the Turks resent the changes required of them and their country to be a viable EU state. In that case, why join? I think in the end it could be a positive change to have Turkey in the EU, but it could also be a disaster. Of course, who knows if the EU will still be together by the time Turkey can get invited in. I hope it survives though, people just need to give it a chance.