Scotland doesn't exist according to Barclaycard!!

adouglasmhor

The_One_Who wrote: »

That's not quite the same thing. The EU is a group of countries that have voluntarily come together. They aren't being ruled by something above them.



The Queen is just a figurehead, she doesn't really have anything to do with the governing of those countries. Westminster (and therefore the UK) still plays a part in the governing of Scotland.

As far as I am aware, Greenland is in a similar situation to Scotland. It has it's own parliament which can govern on devolved issues, but it is not an independent country.

OK then Trinidad and Tobago which has direct governance links with the house of lords?

Olokia

The_One_Who wrote: »

That's not quite the same thing. The EU is a group of countries that have voluntarily come together. They aren't being ruled by something above them.

Yes they do, EU law

eg
Working Time Directive
European Labour Law


European Union law (historically called European Community law) is a body of treaties and legislation, such as Regulations and Directives, which have direct effect or indirect effect on the laws of European Union member states.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_European_Union

bingo_bango

If EU countries are not ruled by something above them, what exactly is the relevance of having Directives then?

Yes, these countries / States whatever they are have agreed to join voluntarily, but in doing so they have also agreed to be governed by the EU Parliament. Directives MUST be implemented by member states. If that isn't being ruled from above I think I will need to start right back at day 1 of primary education.

shaun_from_Africa

The EU is a group of countries that have voluntarily come together. They aren't being ruled by something above them.

And the United Kingdom is also a group of countries that have come together.
Each individual country in the EU most certainly is being partly ruled by something above them. This "thing" is the EU council who can and do make laws and rules which over ride what is decided by the Government of the individual countries.