threat to leave the Eurozone, which could create another major recession, has made some

它也揚言脫離歐元區，可能再次造成金融大衰退

question whether the interconnectedness of the European Union is ultimately beneficial

究竟「團結一體」的歐盟，對會員國真的有好處嗎？

to it’s members. So, is it worth it to be in the EU?

待在歐盟真的好處多多嗎？

Well, the EU is an international group composed of 28 European member states. It originated

國際組織歐盟由28個會員國組成

as an economic cooperative in the 1950s, between 6 nations: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg,

前身是1950年代的經濟共同體，成員包括：比、法、義、盧、荷與德

the Netherlands, and Germany. Back then, in the post-world-war-2 era, Europe saw a need

二戰後，歐洲需要建立聯盟

for a federation to promote peace and unity. They also wanted to present a collective front

藉此促進和平與團結，並一同對抗冷戰時期共產勢力

against the threat of communism during the Cold War. In 1993, the European Union as we

1993年，今日大家所熟悉的「歐盟」成立

now know it, emerged, and offered all EU citizens a common visa, a common legislative and judicial

會員國間居民護照通用，受同一套立法與司法系統管轄

body, and common voting rights. Later in the 90s, a common currency, the Euro, was also

所有人都享有投票權，90年代，通用貨幣歐元誕生

established between many of the European Union Members.

在許多會員國間都能流通使用

Between 1989 and 2014, the European Union flourished. So much so that their combined

1989至2014年間，歐盟蓬勃發展

population ranks them 3rd in the world after China and India. The EU is currently one of

會員國人口總和達全球第三，僅次於中國與印度

the top world economies, with almost $16 Trillion Dollars in GDP. And in 2012, the EU won the

如今躍身世界最大經濟體之一，GDP接近16兆美元，2012年歐盟贏得諾貝爾和平獎

Nobel Peace Prize for its transformation of Europe “from a continent of war to a continent

理由是成功改造歐洲，將歐洲從「從戰爭大陸轉變為和平大陸」

of peace.”

But the 2008 recession put a huge damper on the EU’s success. For the last decade or

不過，2008年經濟衰退嚴重打擊歐盟

so, Greece, Italy, Spain, Ireland and Portugal have faced unprecedented levels of unemployment

過去10多年來，希臘、義大利、西班牙、愛爾蘭與葡萄牙等國，失業率創下新高

and public debt. Many of these nations are also in the midst of a “migrant crisis”

政府債台高築，其中許多國家目前深陷「難民危機」

as record numbers of people cross the Mediterranean to enter Europe. The EU has been criticized

因為無數難民橫渡地中海進入歐洲

for not issuing enough aid to these periphery countries.

外界批評歐盟對這些邊陲國家馳援不足

Also, Many feel that EU leaders concentrate policy-making efforts only on thriving economies,

也有許多人認為，歐盟領袖制定政策時偏袒德、法等強國

like those of Germany and France. Indiscriminate austerity measures tend to harm those countries

但一致性的撙節措施卻可能傷及弱國

with weaker economies. Plus, after most members adopted the Euro to replace their own currency,

此外，多數會員國使用歐元取代本國貨幣後

nations are no longer able to temporarily inflate their worth through currency-manipulation.

各國想短暫操縱匯率、抬升貨幣價值已不再可行

On the other hand, stronger economies are expected to subsidize the welfare of weaker

另一方面，經濟強國未能補貼弱國社會福利

countries, leading to resentments between member states. Several analysts have already

引發會員國間不滿

published articles lamenting the failure of the, quote, “European Union Experiment”.

有些分析師寫文章哀嘆「歐盟實驗」失敗收場

So is the EU worth it?

歐盟的存在是否真有其價值？

Pew polls in Europe have revealed mixed feelings from the public towards the EU. On the one

皮尤公司的歐洲民調顯示，民眾對歐盟又愛又恨

hand, many people feel that the EU is inefficient and intrusive. But on the other hand, most

許多人認為歐盟效率差、管太多

want to keep using the Euro, and believe that the EU does, in general, promote peace. Despite

但多數人又想續用歐元，並相信歐盟確實能促進和平

setbacks from the 2008 recession, the European Union remains an influential presence in the

僅管2008年遭遇經濟衰退，歐盟全球影響力仍不可小覷

world. And experts note that, with the trend of globalization, international unions of

專家也指出，隨著全球化發展

this nature are both necessary and inevitable for the world’s future.

國際聯盟必定是未來世界趨勢

Although ties with the EU have been increasing since the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine

自從蘇聯倒台後，烏克蘭雖與歐盟關係升溫卻仍未加入歐盟

is not a member state. To learn about the violent riots that broke out in Kiev after

想知道烏克蘭加入歐盟失敗後，首都基輔為何爆發暴力抗爭嗎？

a deal fell through take a look at this amazing story on This Happened Here. Thanks for watching

請看這部影片，感謝觀看TestTube

TestTube! Don’t forget to subscribe!

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