If Europe had to have a capitol,where should it be?

Question

If Europe had to have a capitol,where should it be?

Answer 1

In one of the neutral countries that helped the Jews in WW2

Answer 2

Apart from the obvious Brussels.

I, being a proud Brit would not want a true European Capitol anywhere.

The only good things to come out of Brussels is mayonnaise on chips and the statue of the little boy peeing.

Answer 3

Paris - if we must have a capital city for the EU, let's at least have one with some life and colour in it.

I've just spent four days in Paris - city of my dreams.  It's just brilliant.  The restaurants are open until 1am - you can get a coffee pretty well any time of day or night.

The Paris Metro is the best underground railway I've ever been on - it certainly beats my home-town London 'choob' by many miles for speed and efficiency - plus all the trains have rubber wheels - so, none of that wheel shrieking we get here in grey old London.

Paris also has the Eiffel Tower - 8th wonder of the world.

Paris - city of contrasts. . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqbFa2CJH...

Paris - full of interesting people. . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fCDJQHwC...

Bill Bailey doing a French ambulance siren

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRyvsRAo8...

Answer 4

hmm, some good points raised by everyone!

personally, i think brussels too.  although i am very open to the idea of strasbourg or somewhere in czech republic.  

in part, bcs brussels and strasbourg already have some EU functions, are located on good transport lines within 1-3 hrs of all the major cities of EU, are smaller cities, and already more multilingual than others due to culture/geography/history (brussels french/dutch, and strasbourg french/german).  

although czech republic is probably more central, as the EU grows eastward, the main powers of EU are still in the west, and any czech capitol would have to develop its transport links better.  but that is doable.

perhaps, culturally, paris or berlin does have more to offer, and more citizens.  however, there are also more distractions, more expenses and expensive living, and the existing nationalistic structures to deal with, that could impede EU progress or at the very least make it more expensive and problematic.

i personally would prefer to keep berlin and paris and london as national/state capitols, while brussels, or brussels/strasbourg combo, would be the EU capitol.

i think that brussels is ideally located, has less political baggage and more linguistic diversity, and thus would be better for all the EU.

Answer 5

It would have a capital, but not likely given that the various European countries (EU and otherwise) like having their autonomy.

Answer 6

:0)  As proved by the answers, I think it would be very difficult to find a consensus as especially amongst the heads of state and politicians there are many egos to contend with, that would not allow a fellow neighbour to "win" this accolade (let alone if they put it to a public referendum in each country!)

Personally I don't think there is likely to be a capital of Europe in my lifetime, unless it is a revolving one (like the Presidency of the EU) but this is not practical; or multiple capitals each sharing part of the pie - but then there is little point calling it a capital in which case

Answer 7

Geneva/Zurich, I know it's not the EU, but it's neutrality would be a benefit in battling all the ego's, not to mention it's location..... nice scenery too...... yodelaiiiiiiideeeeeee!

Answer 8

Paris, central enough and much more cultural than Brussels....

Answer 9

probably somewhere centrally located like Prague Munich or Berlin u do not want to go to far east and u really don't want it to be on an island or on a peninsula like London or Rome.

Answer 10

Somewhere like Madrid, or possibly ~Barcelona!! Certainly not Brussells!!! Can you imagine what life would be like if Brussells  was given the title of Capitol of Europe? Its bad enough now!!!

Answer 11

Brussels, maybe Strasbourg, as they are the towns that have the European Union Parliament.

There are buildings like the Capitol, same function, different looks, in either of those towns.

Answer 12

Europe is not a country, it's a continent.

European Union is an organization (a team) of 27 independent countries, each one with her capital city.

There is no reason to have a new capital for all the European Union.

Answer 13

Geneva.  Either that, or Chernobyl.

Answer 14

It already has a capital...at least for EU and capital for that is  Brussels ...

Answer 15

Brussels ?

Answer 16

ummm not from Europe but, back then Britian was in rule so I think somewhere on the line Britian should be the capital because of the power it held, or If a place that people would reconigize Europe in this one place. like it tells you everything you wanna know about Europe in a way. =)

Answer 17

much as i would love to say london i think it probably would be brussels or prague. somewhere central.

Answer 18

Czech republic. It is called the heart of Europe thanks to its position and the city of Brno is the real geographical center of Europe. The country is small, so the citizens don't suffer from any kind of silly patriotism and they mostly apolitical -so nearly one wonderful neutral land. Wouldn't that be the best place? Around 500.000 people in Brno is also ideal. Most of great countries do have small capitols. Australia-Canberra, Canada-Ottawa, USA-Washington, Brazil- Brasilia etc.etc...