> EU hate each other

I see how it may look like this from the outside. But I think it would be like saying that siblings hate each other because you witnessed an argument.

Most people in most EU countries consider the other EU countries as allies, even though they don't agree on everything. Now the fact that 27 countries argue means that they talk to each other. I think it's a lot less polarised than in the US. Or course there are extremes too.

The EU needs to be more vigilant than ever, though. Russia has been trying to export their nationalistic totalitarianism to the EU for decades and now the US has openly declared a goal of exporting their brand of blind ignorant nationalism to the EU as well. Both influences will boost alt-right parties if successful. The obvious intended outcome for both powers is a EU that is breaking up from the inside.

On the positive side, this shows that the EU has gained a level of international influence that is taken very seriously by other major powers. It's not 100% certain that it will survive this current wave of assaults, but if it does, it will be even stronger.

> Russia has been trying to export their nationalistic totalitarianism to the EU

Let's not pretend that nationalism doesn't have deep roots in Europe.

Well of course there is nationalism in Europe. The thing is, it weakens Europe. And nationalists outside of Europe are very happy to help them. Not only Russia: look at Elon Musk and his nazi salute and publicly endorsing neo-nazis in Germany...

The new part is that the nationalists of various countries are now, ironically, banding together in international cooperation.

Also not new, been happening for as long as I can remember. Nordic Resistance Movement for example been around since late 90s, and early 2000s they were already banding together with other organizations in the Nordics, and even collaboration with their German counter-parts and more.

From the top of my head, Franco, Hitler and Mussolini frequently helped each other, two of them even created a somewhat famous alliance together, even though by their own "theories" they should have been fighting against each other instead.

I'm sure there are even more examples further back too.

Do you think that I do? Nationalism existed at the edges of the political spectrum for a long time. I'm saying that outside propaganda tries to actively boost the popularity of those parties.

I think it's easy to blame foreign nations for issues in the local population. Would be great if Europeans take responsibility for once in their life.

You're still attempting to twist my words here. It's not exclusively one or the other. Don't make that claim. Don't pretend that I made it, either.

I don't think it's new: dividing Europe makes Europe weaker, so if you are not Europe, it is generally in your interest to divide it. Be it Russia, China or the US.

That is also why the nationalists inside of Europe want to be friends with those other players: because if you want to make Europe weaker (because you think you are better off on your own as a European country), then your interests align with those other players.

What's new to me is the openness and agressiveness of those attempts. This isn't a quiet power struggle wrapped in diplomatic niceties anymore.

I have no idea how you'd measure it, but I suspect Republican states hate Democrat ones more than most European countries hate each other. Listen to the way they talk about California and New York.

> EU hate each other

What gave you the impression that EU members hate each other? It'd be a weird union if that was the case. Not saying it's not possible, I just haven't seen it myself, although I am a Swede so clearly I do hate the Danes and the Norrbaggar with passion, but it's love-hate, not hate-hate.

Likely OP refers to individual countries and quarreling leaders often favoring national interests to what would be best for the union.

> leaders often favoring national interests to what would be best for the union

If we're talking about leaders for member states, then they're doing their job right :) They're not meant to figure out what's best for the union, we have separate elections for those people who go to EU and represent the country + care about the union. The national "leaders" of the country are quite expected to put national interests above what's best for the union :)

Because of the convoluted way the EU works, those national leaders can have outsized power and even veto some decisions (Hungary, anyone?). The parliament needs to have more power if we want to make the EU more democratic.

We love-hate you and the Norwegian Fjellaber as well, you Swedish drunkard.

A Dane.

As a Brit, I consider it my god given duty to take the piss out of the French; a duty I know is entirely mutual. Please don't however, consider this anything other than a slightly odd friendship.

Ah, as someone who live on the border to France, and every summer experience lost Frenchies asking for directions in French, when we're not in France, I agree :)

Still, love em, let the weirdos eat their snails in peace and may we always be brothers and sisters <3

I don't think it's worse than Midwest vs the coasts or Republican vs Democrat.

In the us these groups have just stopped talking to each other. The only time that happens is over Thanksgiving and that's when it stops for some of those conversations.

At least in Europe the split is usually not within families...

Are you referring to the time when the world Cup is going on? In that case, absolutely. We all turn into monkeys climbing onto our own rock lol

In the same way that the US hates itself, yes. How well do the various US states get along? Surely there is absolutely zero tension between, say, California and Alabama?