EU tries to secure democracy and human rights by demanding this from new members. However Germany is a founding member and lacks e. g. the following which new members must have: a.. Independence of judges, i. e. separation of powers is not done, violation of Art. 6 of Convention [see http://aitel.hist.no/~walterk/wkeim/files/separation_of_powers.htm] b.. Human right of access to public do***ents (freedom of information) is still lacking in 8 of 16 states (länder) [see http://aitel.hist.no/~walterk/wkeim/files/ifg-result.htm], which is found all over Europe and the the civilized word. c.. Decriminalisation of punishment of defamation (insult, libel) (see http://merlin.obs.coe.int/iris/2006/10/article1 and http://aitel.hist.no/~walterk/wkeim/files/defamation.htm) is not done. Up to now 180 000 accused i. e. 20 % of criminal prosecution cases are insult (http://www.eucars.de/images/stories/insult_eng.pdf). In addition violation of of the Convention occurs. If Germany would seek member****p today this would not be accepted. However Germany was a founding member and was never asked to comply with modern democracy and giving a guarantee of protecting human rights. Germany could veto if EU would pressure for strengthening human rights acceptance. -- Walter Keim ECHR Appl. No. 31583/07: http://aitel.hist.no/~walterk/wkeim/files/egmr-klage-en.htm Keim v. Germany: ECHR Appl. No. 41126/05: http://aitel.hist.no/~walterk/wkeim/files/echr-061101.htm 8 German states violate the human right og freedom of information: http://aitel.hist.no/~walterk/wkeim/files/ifg-result.htm