>For startups, Europe’s main problem is fragmentation.
No, the problem are administrative burdens dictated from a far away place (Brussels).
>Europe acts like a network of small countries instead of one unified market.
Yes, exactly. One still has to fill out customs declaration for packets inside the EU for example. The EU is just another burden on top national administrations, we can go back to EEA and would not feel any differences (but safe a lot of money)
And last but not least, the EU is not democratic:
>>Since 1979, the Parliament has been directly elected every five years by the citizens of the European Union through universal suffrage.
BUT
>>However, it does not formally possess the right of initiative (i.e. the right to formally initiate the legislative procedure) in the way that most national parliaments of the member states do, as the right of initiative is a prerogative of the European Commission. Nonetheless, the Parliament and the Council each have the right to request the Commission to initiate the legislative procedure and put forward a proposal.
> One still has to fill out customs declaration for packets inside the EU for example.
This is false. Inside the customs union there is zero paperwork involved to send goods. Put it in a box, slap an address label on it, bring it to your favorite parcel carrier, done.
No, the problem are administrative burdens dictated from a far away place (Brussels).
>Europe acts like a network of small countries instead of one unified market.
Yes, exactly. One still has to fill out customs declaration for packets inside the EU for example. The EU is just another burden on top national administrations, we can go back to EEA and would not feel any differences (but safe a lot of money)
And last but not least, the EU is not democratic:
>>Since 1979, the Parliament has been directly elected every five years by the citizens of the European Union through universal suffrage.
BUT
>>However, it does not formally possess the right of initiative (i.e. the right to formally initiate the legislative procedure) in the way that most national parliaments of the member states do, as the right of initiative is a prerogative of the European Commission. Nonetheless, the Parliament and the Council each have the right to request the Commission to initiate the legislative procedure and put forward a proposal.