EU parliamentarians want to force national teams to wear EU flag on shirts

[Adar]

English article on the subject
Account written by Swedish EU parliamentarian

This is just another example of why we cannot provide more power to the EU. In this case the Lisbon treaty (the treaty most famed for loosing all public elections) allow EU-politicians to interefere in sport event. And of course they want to use this power to be as annoying and ridiculous as possible create and grow a pan-European mentality. In this case they want to do this by creating a EU sportscapital, EU funded festivals regarding local sports, raising the EU flag at any large sport event and force all national teams to wear the EU flag on their shorts.

So what do you think, should we prioritize this, bail out a failed nation or defend our national sovereignity?

And an article where the parliamentarians get to reply.

[NotYetRegistered]

Two words:

them.

"The EU cannot impose an artificial European identity on us by forcing our athletes to wear its emblem. Can you imagine Wayne Rooney or Jessica Ennis walking out into the arena sporting an EU flag on their kit? It is simply daft and, needless to say, I will be opposing the plan when it is debated in the Parliament."

[Mortality]

Utter . I don't live in Sweden but its utter anywhere.

[General Brittanicus]

I believe the EU already tried to fine the UK for not flying the EU flag enough, but i can't see why they would want our sports team to wear it unless they want to increase anti-eu sentiment in the UK.

[Ardruire Iacób]

I believe the EU already tried to fine the UK for not flying the EU flag enough, but i can't see why they would want our sports team to wear it unless they want to increase anti-eu sentiment in the UK.

That's because the institutions not flying the flag were part-funded by the EU and contractually obliged to do so.

[Andrew87]

From the OP's article

...And among its measures is a proposal to ensure that European national sports teams and the stadia in which they play will, in future, have to display the blue with yellow stars of the EU flag alongside their own national insignia.

I dont exactly see what the big deal is. If they wanted to replace national flags with the EU emblem that's another story.

[Adar]

From the OP's article


I dont exactly see what the big deal is. If they wanted to replace national flags with the EU emblem that's another story.

Are you a fan of a superstate EU?

Because this action is just another way to enforce EU regulation in national matters and that is what I am opposing.

[Tiberios]

the EU.

[Andrew87]

Are you a fan of a superstate EU?

Because this action is just another way to enforce EU regulation in national matters and that is what I am opposing.

As it is now an EU superstate would be a joke, a great idea on paper but crappy execution in reality. No, I'm not a fan of an EU superstate not now nor in the immediate future but, imo, some sort of common foreign policy that won't break down every time Russia threatens to cut off gas supplies or when there's a conflict near EU's borders would be nice. Even better would be a common foreign policy backed by an ability to project force globally,as it is now no single european country has that ability. China's on it's way up and I think smart enough to realize those two elements are essential, Russia will continue to act like they've always did, India will continue to grow and the US will at some point get tired of constantly watching over us. A step back and a look a the bigger picture is a start...

As for this type of proposals, they're trying to "inject" some sense of pan-european patriotism witch is rather dumb. I always find it rather funny how the balkans get the "nationalist central" stamp(and most of the times for good reason) but put a small flag of an organization of which most Western Countries are part of on a jersey and all hell breaks loose.

[Christonikos]

No, it's not necessary. We don't have to go that far. EU has definately helped sports. UEFA and EU, because they work together, have revealed all these fixed games this year, which goverments and associations couldn't, they offer great sums of money etc. I agree that there could be a EU flag at stadiums for which EU paid, but the EU emblem at national teams is a bit too much. And what is EU. It's mostly an economic union. Nothing like USA. Not a country, just an organisation. So, since Greece has taken money from IMF, should there be the IMF emblem on our national team outfit?

[Darsh]

Agree with a little EU flag on each uniform, each national team will have their national flag and their EU flag.

[Mortality]

So I'd have to watch Manchester with the UK flag and the EU Flag?

no.

[Roboute Guilliman]

So I'd have to watch Manchester with the UK flag and the EU Flag?

no.

The talk was about national teams.

Well I oppose this. Politics shouldnt have their say in sports. And besides not many teams are wearing their national flag on their jersey, so I hardly see the point.

[In3x]

So I'd have to watch Manchester with the UK flag and the EU Flag?

no.

Maybe some people feel about the UK flag as you feel about the EU flag.

Anyway, I hardly see that it matters at all, an EU flag on your sports kit, oh god noooooooooooooooooooooooooes!

Maybe it would be nice to show some solidarity with the rest of Europe, I hardly see how it would harm anyone.

[a tw player]

Maybe some people feel about the UK flag as you feel about the EU flag.

Anyway, I hardly see that it matters at all, an EU flag on your sports kit, oh god noooooooooooooooooooooooooes!

Maybe it would be nice to show some solidarity with the rest of Europe, I hardly see how it would harm anyone.

We aren't telling other nations to put our flag on theirs, so what do you mean?

It's not just putting a flag on kit, it's the larger principle of interference from the EU. It's about sovereignty and how people dislike being told what to do by politicians which aren't in people's own countries.

[In3x]

We aren't telling other nations to put our flag on theirs, so what do you mean?

It's not just putting a flag on kit, it's the larger principle of interference from the EU. It's about sovereignty and how people dislike being told what to do by politicians which aren't in people's own countries.

The G8 summit at Gleneagles (I forget what year) the hotel is made to take down the Saltires that adorn it's flagpoles all year round and they are replaced with the Union flag. Not a big deal I know, but this happens a lot in Scotland, especially for official visits from foreign dignitaries and the royal family.

As for your second point Scotland has a long history of disliking being told what to do by politicians which aren't from their own country, a classic example would be Baroness Maggie's Sermon on the Mound. Now, you may argue that Scottish MPs are part of the UK government but I could equally say that UK/English MPs form part of the EU government. Now that English people are the minority within a parliament it is interesting and humourous to see the righteous hullabaloo and talk of sovereignty that is espoused by people like Farrage.

[a tw player]

The G8 summit at Gleneagles (I forget what year) the hotel is made to take down the Saltires that adorn it's flagpoles all year round and they are replaced with the Union flag. Not a big deal I know, but this happens a lot in Scotland, especially for official visits from foreign dignitaries and the royal family.

Well I wasn't aware of that as a specific example, but I think that is quite a different scenario; when appearing at political events, England, Wales and Scotland are not represented individually, but represented as a group (all being part of Parliament in Westminster afterall), thus it would make sense for the Union flag to be used.

As for your second point Scotland has a long history of disliking being told what to do by politicians which aren't from their own country, a classic example would be Baroness Maggie's Sermon on the Mound. Now, you may argue that Scottish MPs are part of the UK government but I could equally say that UK/English MPs form part of the EU government. Now that English people are the minority within a parliament it is interesting and humourous to see the righteous hullabaloo and talk of sovereignty that is espoused by people like Farrage.

Well what Azog said, but I'd also add that there is a much greater sense of relevance to the shared government between Scotland, Wales and England than between the UK and the EU.

It was initially set-up to try and develop a united Europe and to prevent nationalistic advances, as well as for economic benefits. Whether the populations of the member states like that fact is certainly up for debate, but that is the reason it exists.

Frankly I think people are getting so fed up with the EU that it's now at a stage that it is inflaming the situation, and creating increasing nationalism and irritation.

[a tw player]

I wonder what Nigel Farage might say about this

[Tiberios]

Ohh I'd love to hear it

[Azog 150]

Parts of the EU's attempt to turn the London Olympics into an EU event.


It seems a stupid and pointless move and I can't see it happening.