How to Make European Union Better

I recently got this interesting idea on how to improve European Union. They should split bigger countries into several smaller ones. Or at the very least split their voting power into smaller units.

Currently European politics are often controlled by the interests of the bigger members of the EU, particularly Germany and France, to the lesser extend also Italy, Spain and Poland. Thus makes EU decision making unduly controlled by the interests of the big 5. 

Smaller states often feel like their opinions do not matter too much and take more passive role in the union, voting on issues but not offering any initiatives.

Because of that EU government in Brussels function not as a truly federal government like that of the US for example, but more like a mediator between Germany, France and other powerful actors who together have near veto power over EU decisions.

All that prevents EU from evolving into a real federal union.

One possible solution will be to split bigger EU countries into smaller ones. 

There are already independent movements in places like Catalonia in Spain. An independent Catalonia would make a near perfect member of the EU, it will look after its local interests at home, while generally will be very supportive of increased EU power and competence.

From Spain Catalonia can be joined by Valencia, Balearic Islands, Andalusia and Leon-Galicia.

However more countries like that can be established from bigger nations of the EU. For example, Bavaria can become an independent EU nation, making Germany smaller but at the same time creating alternative German nation in the EU.

Of course, when it comes to Germany, we should avoid divisions that mirror former east west divide, as that will only rekindle scars left by cold war. 

However, there are many better ways to divide Germany into several viable countries. Linguistically.  culturally and historically Germany is divided into north lower costal flat lands, mountainous south and intermediate middle part. 

For example, North coastal areas can become Greater Saxony, that will include all lander with Saxony in its name as well as all lander north of them: Schleswig-Holstein, Brandeburg, Mecklenburg as well as free cities of Hamburg, Bremen and Berlin. Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg can unite into one south German State, they can however continue as two independent states. The reminder can be called Rheinland-Germany. 

Theoretically another state can be created in the valley of Main River if we take Franconia away from Bavaria and merge it with parts of Hesse and parts of Thuringia. Rheinland-Palatinate and Saar can be split between this Greater Franconia and Rhineland-Germany. We can also demerge Baden from Wurttemberg and add it to Greater Franconia. Then Wurttemberg can merge with Bavaria into Bavaria-Wurttemberg.

Also, Greater Saxony, mentioned above, can be divide by Elbe River into northern and southern parts. Alternatively, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern together can form a Baltic-Germany. 

France too can have its southern regions split into two new nations. South-West from Brittany to Spanish border can become Aquitaine with capital in Bordeaux. This region of France is underdeveloped and deserve more attention only its own country could give. Southeast from Toulouse to Nice will be Occitanie. It can go north as far as Lyon. This area is its own big agglomeration. Brittanny and Corsica too can be made independent.

Italy can be divided into Lombardy in the north of the mountains in the Po valley, all areas north and including Emilia-Romagna should be part of this state. Middle Part can become Rome-Tuscany. South can become Merridione, term they themselves use. Merridione will include Napples and all that is south of it. Sicily and Sardinia can become independent as well.

Silesia and Pomerania can become independent from Poland. They make for natural geographic regions and have long history as well as separate local identity. Silesia was part of Bohemian Crown for a very long time.

Finally, Transylvania can become independent from Romania. It has strong Hungarian minority and geographically isolated from the rest of Romania.

There could be further refinement for this plan.

Continue Later.