Is the European Union comparable to the former Soviet Union?

To compare the European Union, with elected bodies and accountable institutions to the former Soviet Union is simply nonsense. To put it into context, in the EU smaller countries are allowed to express fears, openly and without risk of intervention. read more

The comparison is not meant as criticism. It's just a statement. It helps to understand the complexity of the undertaking. The name of the baby is not the United States of Europe, it's the European Union. Union like Soviet Union. It's not been built on a tabula rasa like the USA. read more

The Soviet Union was more centralized, and Russia was much more dominating (language, settlers, laws, army/conscription). EU's influence is much more limited and legally there are many policy areas that are exceptionally under the responsibility of the member state. read more