Come on, Myrddin, what European countries have right leaning governments? Well, what major European powers have such governments?

Yeah, there's a good portion of Brits who hate the fact that they have immigrants coming into their country, same thing with the French. But as an official stance these nations welcome them with open arms.

I'm hardly a nationalistic person but aside from the UK, I've seen little, if any, positive input from the EU when it comes to world politics.

The way I see it, it's the US, Great Britain, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran who are most concerned with and involved in world politics. In that order. They are certainly the most influential.

Having just return from Europe, I am relunctant to dismiss the EU. It seems very strong . Germany, France and several other European contries are now out of recession. Unlike Britain who latest figures show the economy has shrank 0.4 per cent in the last quarter.

In Environment measures the EU is well ahaed of the rest of the world. Most of its government may be left wing by American standards but do have the support of business groups.There are certainly problems over racial relations but they are not as extreme as in many other countries. All governments even here in Australia will attack imigration if it wins votes. Unlike Australia the EU has few natural barriers to imigration. I was amazed to see so many imigrants in influential positions both African and Asian.

I notice even Asean is talking about a form of intergration like Europe. In breaking down economic barriers the EU is leading the world.

This doesn't look like they are good shape to me...

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&language=en&pcode=teilm020&tableSelection=1&plugin=1

The unemployment rate is as appalling as it is in the US. Admittedly Oct numbers aren't in but I don't see what has changed in the world at all to indicate an upswing. If anything, gains are being undermined once again.

Red, The latest figures in the USA also show a growth in GNP in the last quarter. Of cause Unemployment will remain high for some time as there is a long lag time before this recovers.
There has been growth in GNP in many countries the recession might had ended. However only time will tell. The Great Depression also had recoveries before it got worst. This thime it is hope countries will still continue with Keynsian polcies of Stimulus otherwise the recovery could be short lived.