There are minor differences between other European cultures, not even comparable to differences with Middle Eastern cultures. Over there, religion dictates the law, religion in fact is indistinguishable from law. That's not a think in the West. Then there's wearing a veil in Europe which is clearly unacceptable and even more so, forcing women to cover themselves. One interesting case is Denmark. Denmark's second largest foreign-lineage group are the Polish but you don't hear any problems with Polish in Denmark, it's all Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans, Turks - according to the Muslims, west has to accept their ways in each way ("because you must be tolerant!") but they accept nothing different and refuse to assimilate. People from say Lithuania, Poland, Germany or Estonia have differences but are so minor in comparison that you wouldn't even recognize them unless you inspected each group in fine detail for a long period.
I took a somewhat big short NG position on Thursday, For once with excellent timing. Target is still far.
Countries have aging populations and then young populations, it's always a cycle. This idea that you must import people to "fix" this is a massive lie.
Europe and Russia didn't collaborate on Nord Stream. You clearly know nothing about the subject. Baltics and Poland were against the undersea pipeline, quite strongly. Estonia was on the verge to extend the exclusive economic zone in the Finnish gulf, if Finland did the same, they could cancel the pipeline as per international rules. The only thing that saved it was German political force and likely threats. There's nothing "European" about Nord Stream, it's a German-Russian deal to screw others (and for some Germans like Schröder to make a lot of money).
There's data in UK for UK citizens, EU immigrants and non-EU immigrants. EU immigrants contribute as net per capita by far the most, even more than UK citizens themselves. Non-EU immigrants are a net drain, so removing them completely would be beneficial for the economy. Germany is a "woke" country so never releases data that goes against the "immigrants are angels" storyline. As shown in Sweden and Denmark, the Middle Eastern immigrant crime rates are vastly higher, think multiples, not 5%, lol. This is all documented, use a search engine instead of making up numbers. Sauerkraut is great and eaten in many countries in Europe and North America. Polish sausages are famous and can be found all around the world. If you'd have traveled even a bit (I've lived in 3 countries, different continents), you'd know that Polish sausage IS diversity as is sauerkraut. In countries with rice and beans or rice and pork, a barbecued well-made sausage is very special. You can easily find all the world's food in European countries, so why this debate? Immigrants not needed for this.
And this is the situation in every single country in the world that has Muslim immigrants or a Muslim population. Everywhere they behave exactly the same. And the more tolerant that you are to them, the more that they push on you thinking you are a push-over until they drive you up the wall and leave you no choice but to defend yourself. I mean you are seeing Buddhist monks in Thailand, a group of people who practice one of the most peaceful religions in the world having to take up arms against the Muslims. And then what that happens, they cry and play the victim thinking the whole world is against them. I am not supporting this, but sometimes I really cannot help but think that China's re-education camps for Muslims there is really the best solution, to teach them how to think for and about others.
I have vastly different experiences. Iranian immigrants in Canada, mostly young people are Muslims but not fundamentalist by far (they actually left to escape the fundamentalist Islamic regime), are very friendly, accommodating, highly educated, well trained with years of work experience and are open to mingle with others of different religious backgrounds. My experience with Polish people, by vast majority, is very different. They came to the UK and Germany often times with handyman or other lower level skills, many Poles are constantly complaining and spread negativity, and deeply believe they deserve without delivering. That is my experience and I want to be careful not to extrapolate to an entire culture. Though having travelled through Poland a lot in the past I got the exact same impression. So, here goes, different life experiences, different impressions. I had similar thoughts about middle Easterners but since I settled in Canada and got to know many Persians and Syrians my opinion was changed. Most of them work very hard and even hold 2 full time jobs or a full time and part time job at the same time, most always both spouses work. Never heard or seen a Middle Easterner here in Canada so far who applied for and receives unemployment benefits or other social welfare support. My hunch of the vastly different impressions originates from the fact that Canada has a point and merit based immigration system and Europe and Germany in particular does not. Wearing a veil is unacceptable? In which middle age are you living? Why would it be unacceptable? It makes sense to present the face without head covering for official purposes but in daily life you also get riled up about a turban? You get nervous when you see eyes but not a nose and lips? Hmm... Not sure what to say..
Really? Why don't you look at Japan. The prime example of a nation that refuses to import young people from outside. Japanese are disillusioned and many young people only have the option to participate in the gig economy because companies cut more and more full time jobs. Japan is increasing taxes now wherever it can, its getting to extreme levels. They don't find enough tax funding to pay for their elderly. Japan is a paradise for old people and an absolute hopeless depressing place for young Japanese.
France was in favor as well so was Belgium, France and a number others such as Holland. What is more European : Germany France Belgium and Holland or Estonia and Poland? Lol. You are playing with words now, not sure why you are so riled up. I think we see eye to eye on most issues looking at your past posts. The Nordstream project was and is in Western Europe's interest. Poland always hated Russia, so no surprise they were against. Plus they now lost control over the flow of NG to Europe.