10 Pros of the EU
Strasbourg (democracy) and Brussels (administration) are way more important than just weird cucumber rules and condom jokes
Posted by Thomas Klikauer
Nationalistic and right-wing populists like to hammer the European Union. Often for their own personal advances, political careers, and for ideological purposes.
Worryingly, others are even dreaming of getting their very own Brexit (read: Bregret). Despite far right careerists, whingers, and naysayers, most Europeans enjoy numerous advantages from the European Union (EU).
There are, at least ten EU rules and regulations that show how Brussels (administration) and Strasbourg (democracy) are making the lives of roughly 450 million people better – every day.
From regulation on product safety to privacy rules to online security, the EU has a positive effect on millions of people in the EU and beyond, for example, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, etc.
Most recently, the EU celebrated its 75th birthday – on May 9th, 2025. It was commemorated as Europe Day. Undeservedly, it came without the usual congratulations and fanfare.
On top of the EU not celebrating its many achievements, the EU even avoided observing its successful implementation of democracy in Eastern Europe.
While having secured peace in Europe for over 75 years remains a towering achievement – there weren’t any festivities held. In the 19th and even more so in the 20th century, Europe was defined by devastating wars, senseless bloodshed, mass killings, and the Holocaust.
Despite Europe’s remarkable achievements – from economic integration, to peace, to democracy –the opposite seems to prevail. There is widespread EU bashing particularly from nationalistic and right-wing populist forces.
It has become rather common to issue a seemingly endless stream of complaints about the EU.
Some of these scorns included the EU as being too bureaucratic, out of touch with the world and that its institutions are way too expensive.
Sure, there are legendary (mis)regulations by the EU itself. In one case for example, the EU once regulated how crooked a cucumber should be. It said,
cucumbers must be reasonably well shaped and practically straight (maximum height of the arc: 10mm per 10cm of the length of cucumber).
This particular regulation caused ridicule worldwide. Worse, the former UK premier and preposterous clown imitation – Boris Johnson – has made a living as an ideologically motivated “journalist” by digging up or simply inventing cases such as, for example, the infamous condom rules.
Meanwhile, many people and not only just people inside the EU hardly know that Europeans owe many everyday privileges directly to EU rules.
From cheap mobile phone bills to the freedom to travel, rafts of EU rules have assisted and continue to assist Europeans in their daily lives.
Despite the semi-pathological and, above all, deeply ideological fixation of neo-liberalists on de-regulation, many EU rules benefit Europeans.
There are, at least ten basic advantages that illustrate why Strasbourg and Brussels are way more important than just weird cucumber rules and condom jokes:
1. USB-C Mandatory for Mobile Phones:
No more cable clutter thanks to an EU regulation. Through the elimination of truckloads of different connecting plugs, the EU has positively influenced the everyday life of millions of Europeans.
Since the end of 2024, the EU has been forcing all manufacturers to equip smartphones and tablets with a uniform charging cable. Apple, for example, had to swallow it. But it is better for the environment and consumers are happy.
After intense lobbying by the roughly 25,000 corporate lobbyists, the EU put an end to the cable drawer of horror. Less e–waste and less stress when packing your devices into your travel bag. Put simply, this rule continues to be a real everyday hero from the EU.
2. Roaming Charges Abolished:
Mobile phone surfing in other EU countries finally can be done without the shock of stratospheric costs. Many Europeans still remember the horror bills after the holiday. This, too, is gone.
Since June 2017, this form of monstrous charges, fees and commissions has come to an end. It is thanks to an EU rule called, roam like at home.
For Europeans, this means they can make calls, send texts, and surf the internet while in other EU countries at the same rate as at home.
It not only eliminates frustrations but also saves money. It is good news for European consumers. Simultaneously, it is bad news for the deregulation and free market apostles of neoliberalism.
Sure, the EU’s fair use clause can be a bit annoying, at times. But if one isn’t streaming Netflix series permanently from abroad, one has nothing to worry about.
The perfect holiday can now also be experienced without additional roaming costs as long as it is done inside the EU. This is, after all, an EU regulation.
3. EU Passenger Rights:
Up to €600 ($670) can be reimbursed in the case of a delay during travelling. It came thanks to Brussels. When flights are delayed or cancelled, Europeans can get a refund.
Thanks to an EU Regulation – EC No. 261/2004, or Air Passengers Rights Regulation 2004 – there are up to €600 available in compensation.
While airlines are often trying to talk themselves out of it, those EU consumers who remain persistent, usually get it right and are getting a refund.
This regulation is a real ace – particularly when a European holiday starts chaotic, or a return trip threatens to ruin the entire vacation.
4. Online Shopping Without Risks:
Contrary to the wet dreams of the free marketers and to the annoyance of right-wing anti-EU demagogues, there is a fourteen day right of withdrawal rule.
It came thanks to EU consumer protection. Increasingly, the pool of people who have ever made an online purchase becomes smaller and smaller.
A staggering 75% of all adult Europeans or 300 million people have done this. At the same time, there are plenty of people who have made a bad purchase in an online store.
This is no longer a problem. Within 14 days, Europeans can send back what has been purchased without giving reasons. And, best of all, they will get their money back.
This will really annoy, not just the most zealous deregulationists, but virtually anyone who still believes in the quasi-religious catechism of deregulated neoliberalism.
While being detested by the anti-regulation troupes and other misers, this EU rule makes online shopping safer and less stressful for European consumers.
Even if some retailers may curse it, it is a real shopping blessing and probably even a motivator in some cases to get people to engage in online shopping.
5. Schengen Area:
What Europeans call the Schengen Agreement underwrites unlimited travel without passport control. Europeans owe that to the EU.
In other words, a spontaneous weekend trip to Paris or Amsterdam is no longer a problem and can easily be done, thanks to the Schengen Agreement.
In short, someone from Germany’s Heidelberg can drive to Épernay in the heart of the French champagne region – completely hassle-free.
All this means that roughly 425 million Europeans enjoy the freedom of travel without annoying passport controls.
Still, sometimes there are “temporary” border controls. But all too often these controls are the exception that, as many believe, confirms the rule.
Overall, the successful Schengen Agreement is about the freedom to travel without controls.
6. Erasmus Programme:
The Erasmus programme allows European students to study abroad without tuition fees. The EU makes this possible. More than 12 million students have already benefited from the Erasmus programme.
A study semester in Spain and an internship in Sweden can now be done all without tuition fees and often even with a scholarship.
Although the rather bureaucratic learning agreement can be a bit annoying. But virtually anyone who has experienced Erasmus usually raves for a lifetime.
7. Drinking Water Quality:
This EU directive ensures that Europeans – and not just Europeans! – can drink tap water within the European Union without hesitation and in the knowledge that it is safe to do so.
The EU Drinking Water Directive guarantees that tap water is clean and safe everywhere in the EU. Unfortunately, drinking tap water safely is not a given, globally.
Of course, there are always discussions about the values of all kind of things but drinking a glass of safe tap water without thinking or worrying is a luxury in many countries.
8. Cookie Banner:
One of Europe’s most bothersome export products caused ridicule overseas. “This website uses cookies” is a phrase that drives Europeans into sheer madness – almost every day.
The European Data Protection Regulation rule (GDPR) meant well. Yet, its implementation turned out to be rather bothersome. Many Americans have laughed at this while Asians shake their heads.
But after all, the online data of Europeans are safe – somehow. So, the next time Europeans are frustrated by filling in another EU form, one might like to remember that sometimes bureaucracy is good for something after all.
9. The Euro – Europe’s Currency:
This is one of Europe’s crowning achievements: the regulation that successfully brought in a new currency to many Europeans, the Euro (€).
The Euro (currency code: EUR) is the official currency of 20 of the 27 member states of the European Union. This group of states is officially known as the Euro Area. Much more commonly, it is called the Eurozone.
It allows Europeans to travel to other European countries without having to exchange currencies from one country to another. It assures Europeans to spend money without having to try to figure out the cost of a product in another currency, for example, in Austrian Schillings, Dutch Gilder, German Deutschmark, Greek Drachma, and so on.
In other words, travelling to, for example, just three EU countries no longer mean ending up with three different currencies in your pocket when returning home.
10. Safeguarding Regional Diversity:
Finally, the EU has many regulations in place that underwrite regional diversity – European wide. Currently, EU regulations protect roughly 3,500 regional and local products, from French cheese to Italian wine and Mozzarella di Bufala to Lapland’s Reindeer meat to Greek Feta.
The EU’s terminology for this is, protected designation of origin (PDO). This assures, for example, that champagne is from the champagne region in France. Champagne cannot be some sort of fuzzy sugar drink made by, for example, corporations like Coca Cola or Asahi Soft Drinks.
Examples of protecting regional diversity include:
- Prosciutto from Toscano from Italy,
- bryndza podhalańska and oscypek from Poland,
- Marchfeldspargel from Austria,
- Lübecker Marzipan from Germany,
- Scotch Beef and Lamb from Scotland,
- bryndza and Oštiepok from Slovakia, and Kaszëbskô malëna from Poland.
In the end and despite nationalistic anti-EU demagogues, despite free market missionaries and despite fanatical neoliberal deregulation ideologues, EU regulations have had tremendous benefits for Europeans.
Photo: (source: www2.lunapic.com)
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