This house believes that the euro project is fundamentally misconceived - Rebuttal speeches

Second Proposing Speech

My speech is going to consist of two parts. 1^st: showing a complete miscomprehension of the current situation by the 1^stopp, and 2^nd: providing you some true facts and explanations of economics inside, so clear, that even I’ve understood. I will no more touch cultural questions and recent financial difficulties faced by certain members of EU, already clearly explained by 1^stprop […]

Second Opposing Speech

As my fellow member of the opposition stated, the euro is a currency that makes us makes us stronger and thus helps us in to be more competitive in the current world where globalization is a threat for Western countries, especially Europe. But first of all, some elements in the prime minister’s speech raised some questions. To him, nothing happened since the Euro. The European Union grew with more than twelve new members in 2004. You cannot ignore that Europe is moving forward. Moreover, the fact that we don’t share the same culture truly represents a chance and not a burden. The rigour of Germans and the vivacity of French people. Difference can prevent us from making mistakes and is an advantage. If American people didn’t all have this culture of relying too much on banks credits then this crisis wouldn’t have been so strong.  He also stated that once a member falls, everyone falls. It’s true, yes. If everyone let it fall, that is. What this crisis demonstrated is that even through hard times, the Euro won’t break because all members can react and have the power to do so [...]

Second Proposing Speech

My speech is going to consist of two parts. 1^st: showing a complete miscomprehension of the current situation by the 1^stopp, and 2^nd: providing you some true facts and explanations of economics inside, so clear, that even I’ve understood. I will no more touch cultural questions and recent financial difficulties faced by certain members of EU, already clearly explained by 1^stprop.

To begin with, you know that the first paragraph should be the sum up of the entire speech, and as you’ve probably noticed it is downright truth for the speech of 1^stopp. First it has provided you first-class useless information about Estonia and economical troubles of Euro zone that have no relation with a topic discussed. Second, in the final sentence of this paragraph it was well said that they believe in positive consequences of Euro, because the faith is the only thing on which they can base their opinion. It is so obvious now (not eight years ago) that the project of the monetary unification completely failed.

As I am the only Russian participating in this online debate (excuse me for breaking anonymity, but as the topic touched the questions I really know, it’s hard to resist). Attempts of Estonia and Latvia to join EU can be considered not as a partnership, but as a way of parasitizing on a wealth of the old world. These countries have really nothing to propose you. As all the countries of post – Soviet Union space (including Russia) suffer from the same problems: corruption, absence of any industry, more or less profitable, inefficiency of administration. The minds of people won’t change for generations, providing all these problems in future. We changed our policy towards capitalism. Russia has stopped pouring of money into these countries, because they were not perspective for the partnership, on the other hand, we still invest in Belorussia and Ukraine, much less than under communism but still. In two words: a legal robbery. They don’t know how to find any other source of income except of financial aid of EU, just as 1^st opp cannot imagine that there is no “Russian influence” (I think he imagines communism, and revolution-spreading ideas).

Now I’ll try to explain that there is no profit for corporations. Imagine a third world country requesting France a credit of 50 million dollar. The currency is Franc. That means that it is flexible. At the time of the deal you have exchange ratio of Dollar/Franc of 0.9664 and at the time of returning it is 0.9864. This example means that you’re country has earned 1 million dollar cash to pay for your Double Diploma in US, and I don’t include percents of interest. Of course it’s trivial, but the principal is correct. Believe me, banks, have certain methods to vary this ratio. They always do these capitalists. In case of Euro, currency is not flexible enough because it is widely spread everywhere on the planet. It has too much of inertia, if you understand what I mean. Small example: USA has announced injection of dollars of internal circulation because the Ministry of Finance didn’t control the situation. The biggest amount of dollars was the property of Chinese people. So it was Chinese who controlled the economy of USA. And what if the same will happen to Euro?

To conclude, I would say that I’d be glad to argue every single word of my opponents speech (long-term business (doesn’t exists), oil-peak absorption (Russians sell oil, so not amateurs), UK decisions (they never change traditions, but good diplomats)). Unfortunately, lack of time, you know as always.

Don’t let the number speculations of opposition fool you. Percentage given is senseless. At least think about writing euro in miniscule instead of majuscule.

You know what to do.

by AMi

Second Opposing Speech

As my fellow member of the opposition stated, the euro is a currency that makes us makes us stronger and thus helps us in to be more competitive in the current world where globalization is a threat for Western countries, especially Europe. But first of all, some elements in the prime minister’s speech raised some questions. To him, nothing happened since the Euro. The European Union grew with more than twelve new members in 2004. You cannot ignore that Europe is moving forward. Moreover, the fact that we don’t share the same culture truly represents a chance and not a burden. The rigour of Germans and the vivacity of French people. Difference can prevent us from making mistakes and is an advantage. If American people didn’t all have this culture of relying too much on banks credits then this crisis wouldn’t have been so strong.  He also stated that once a member falls, everyone falls. It’s true, yes. If everyone let it fall, that is. What this crisis demonstrated is that even through hard times, the Euro won’t break because all members can react and have the power to do so.

Now, let me show you how the Euro allows us to be real competitors in this new world. On the international scale, only one currency balanced the world before the Euro was created: the Dollar. Nowadays, power has shifted and new actors came into the ring: China and Europe.  With this currency, Europe can be strong again against the United States. Indeed, America likes to get out of a pinch by printing more dollars. It is the same now with China and the Yuan. This used to have great effects on other currency and thus on stock exchange. With a strong currency as the Euro, it doesn’t anymore.  Moreover, speculation is stopped thanks to the Euro and let me remind you one factor of the crisis is speculation.

Inside the Euro Zone, it allowed countries to work together as they never did before. For example, the high speed train between France and Spain could never have existed without our currency. Why is that so ? The answer is quite simple, to sign the contract with the loans with moving currencies would have been quite impossible. With the Euro the process happened smoothly.  Companies that want to develop into several countries can do so without worrying about the currency rates, the cost of exchanging and transferring money from one site to another. France and Germany have reinforced their partnership and companies such as EADS benefit greatly from having a single currency.

That is why you cannot say creating this currency was fundamentally misconceived. Though not perfect, it allowed Europe to take a step further towards unification and competitiveness. Flawless systems don’t exist, what we can do is upgrade it towards a dreamt perfection. It is the same with this young and yet attractive currency. In just a decade, the Euro gave shape to a more unified Europe. One that can challenge the world. How could you ignore such elements that make Europe and in particular the Euro Zone so attractive and competitive? That is why we beg you to oppose this motion.

by WG