Without reference to Kosovo, which may have a specific rationale, the notion of independence is variable and always needs qualifying. Thus the various technological, agricultural, transport, economic, etc., changes that have occurred since Senator Thurmond was born have made a huge difference to many aspects of dependency. The typewriter made a huge difference, the computer vastly more, to the business of administration. The rise of multinationalism has, I submit, had it s effect on the relevance of division, eg the Irish experience. I don t think this is undermining the European concept so much as justifying it; increasing its importance, but inevitably changing the original conception.

Henry Percy, London, UK

What a fantastic achievement for Kosova after years of oppresion and barbarism the serbians didn't even allow them to speak their own language. They are right to celebrate their path to new Europe now.

Rose, manchester, UK

Kosovo deserved the independence centuries ago, we are the decendats of Illyrians the oldest community in Europe, the Serbs came here from Russia, they have same religion and similar language, with one word they are Small Russia, thats why Russia supports them so much.
U cant force ur husband or woman, if he/she wants to divorce from u, this is the case of Kosova we dont want to be part of Serbia, because they killed more then 200.000 in Sllovenia, Croatia, Bosna and Kosova, but thnx to GOD, USA, EUROPE, NATO, now we are free and for to days now we declared our INDEPENDENCE, which was recognized by USA, GERMANY, UK, ITALY, TURKEY, FRANCE, AFGHANISTAN and ALBANIA, till the end of the week its exepted that more then 100 states will recognize our Independence...
Well in fact Kosovo is independent since 1999, and those here from Spain who complain about independence are afraid for themselfvs and Basks, but the whole world knows that this was SPECIAL CASE.

Metti , Mitrovica, Republic of Kosova

The model is not the Hanseatic League. Paradoxically, we should turn toward India and China to understand what Europe could be: a mosaic of people, languages, customs, and yes religions in a huge open space where everybody would feel 'European'. India and China have these mosaics of people, languages, religions, yet everybody seems to own up to a sense of Indian or Chinese identity (Yeah, I know, the Tibetans won't buy this argument)...But who knows, maybe this model is outdated for Europe already and why not imagine a myriad of small etats-nations like a huge tapestry covering Europe...As all these small-ish states claim their independence, we should expect an effect throughout Europe to emulate the shake-the-shackles thing...

eve shebang, new york city, USA

What about the Kurds? If Kosovo Albanians deserve independence, so do the Kurds. There are 25 million Kurds who have suffered enormously under the oppressive governments of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Perhaps the EU, UN, NATO, and others should force those 4 states to cede their Kurdish territories in order to create the new Kurdistan. It may be a bloody process, but the Kurds deserve their freedom just as much or even more.

Dr. Bob, Chicago, USA

I had the chance to work as a senior peacekeaper in Kosovo after the 1999 war. Before the mission, I had the idea of Kosovars being the "good guys" and Serbs tha "bad guys", mainly because of the Bosnian-Croatian war. To my surprise I learnt that the minority, the Serbs, were often massacred by the kosovar guerrilla and the Belgrade government used rough ways to settle down issues. If you think about it, is a very straight forward way to get independence: first you create a natural or artificial ethnic difference (in this case we would have to start in the early 20th century, not before). Then you start civil unrest between the ethnic group and the sovereign government, push a little bit and you have a war..And as peace is such a valued prize, you can make anything happen.
After serving in Kosovo and knowing first hand the situation, I really think that this independence is a political fiasco and a dangerous precedent that goes against International Law.

Juan, Madrid, Spain

I think this is a big mistake. International right seems not to assist kosovars, sorry, the same EU recognizes is an "exception". Regarding the ones whose reasoning is "you deserve it, Serbia", well, there is something called proportionality, this really, is an insult for Serbia, one thing is Croatia and Macedonia, but this may radicalize serbian people, remember what was imposed to Germany after WWI and what happened 20 years later.

I also find real funny that some "brits" (my opinion is they are not brits), anyway, they seem to know more about Serbian history than the same serbians, and they seem very worried about other parts in Europe and seem to have also a big knowledge about their history from a micro-nationalistic point of view. No Scotland or Northern Ireland in these comments, well, just found it funny.

Well, let's see, I don't think this is the end of the problem but the beginning of a new and bigger one.

Tony, Toronto, Canada

Sorry wilson, all of the latest historical research shows that WW1 broke out because Germany pushed a decrepit A-H into making ridiculously onerous demands on Serbia, forcing A-H to declare a war it didn't want and couldn't wage when Serbia could not meet those demands. Germany, in the thrall of an ultra-nationalist Protestant clique, had been planning this war for a decade.

Toby, Sydney,

Kosovo is going to be a big american military base paid by the EU.

Tony, Toronto, Canada

It is a well known fact that Kosovo once used to be part of a bigger albania..therefore Tom's comment is not exactly right since it is not the fact that ethnic Albanians have immigrated in that part of Serbia and now proclaim it as theirs, but they have always lived there.
Also, I appreciate the fact that the Serbian civilians have suffered during the 1998-9 war but their sufference is not comperable to that of the Kosovans. Just imagine being forced out of your home, your brothers and fathers being murdered in front of you, your sisters and mothers being raped just because you are who you are (in Kosovo's case: just because they were Albanians). The whole war was an absurdity...beyond any democratic conception.
Again I would like to highlight the fact that it is not the fault of Serbia's population as a whole but as Germany once had to pay for the mistakes of the Third Reich, now Serbia has to pay the price for Milosevic's regime!
All the best for Kosovo's future...

Albana, Wales, UK

In the end it seems to be a movement getting larger. Think of Spain, France, Belgium or UK (Scotland). And these are all "western" countries. So I'm not quiet sure about the "eastern" europe thesis.

Alen Vukelic, Portoroz, Slovenia

The probe that Kosovo is a poor country that has suffred ocupation by Evil Serbs (TM) is that it does not even has a flag...

If Kosovo was a real country, it would have a flag.

Oliver Fernandez, Barcelona, Spain

to Keith Bentham, to give the Basque country country would open up a whole can of worms. Unlike Catalonia or the Balearics, where there is a more clearly delineated border (there are historically Catalan areas of France for example, while the Balearics are islands and thus have quite clear borders), the basque country is itself a number of areas with separate dialects which crosses over an international border into France, which also includes an area that was staunchly loyalist during the civil war (Navarre), whilst the rest was Republican. To give "independence" to the basques raises questions of which areas could belong to the new country within Spain, whether the parts in France would want to secede whilst also highlighting the more marked regional differences that exist elsewhere in Spain. That is the danger of a micro-Europe without the intermediary levels as a direct relationship with Brussels would weaken influence. solidarity should follow mutual interest, not conquest.

John, Knutsford, UK

Sorry, I have to call Jim in Leicester on his statements concerning Alaska and Hawaii. What?! It's true that we don't let states leave the union but having lived in Alaska for awhile I can tell you there isn't any support for seceding from the United States there. None. What would be the point? I suppose I could understand Hawaiian secession since it was an independent country at one point but there isn't really any political support for it apart from a few nutjobs and racial pride people. Independence isn't its own reward, there must needs be a reason for it; something that the people will gain by severing ties. In Kosovo's case it's separation from a government that murdered and evicted them in droves ten years ago. That's why places like Kosovo will gain independence but Scotland and Catalonia won't. Cultural and ethnic background (which are usually fictitious anyway) might make for a country but they don't make for a state.

Matt, Chicago, Illinois

I did not mind the separation of Slovenia, Croatia and other countries from the former Yugoslavia. But Kosovo is another issue...It was always part of Serbia and did not have the right to do what they did...I agree that the Albanians in Kosovo lived poorly and in fear under the regime of Milosevic but does this mean we still now have to pay for his crazy politics?
I am very disappointed with the Western media in the sense that no one has ever written articles of how Serbs were treated in Kosovo before Milosevic came on power (which doesn't mean I support what he did). I was only 15 years old (1988) when I went to Kosovo with my school from Belgrade to make "friendly" liasons with Kosovars. Our trip ended with police protection because 3 days before we arrived 3 Serbian girls were raped and killed by the already formed KLA (whose leaders declared independence yesterday). And now they are called guerillas and rebels while until 1999 they were recognised even by the US as a terrorists.

Tijana, Belgrade,

Kosovo has been ocupied by serbia and has never been under serbia by its own will.Through years thair basic humman rights have been violated,and every chance of progres has been distroyed by serbijans in the most primitive maner!!Kosovars deserved thair freedom!Itruly hope that every population who is suffering by the primitive frustrations of a biger population gains thair freedom...

Lume Hyseini, Tetove, Macedonia

Of course, the ultimate downside of all of the "new" countries in Europe, means that no Western-European country stands much of a chance of ever winning another Eurovision song contest.

Hee hee.

E J Murray, Kerry, Ireland

Why hasn't Kosovo koined the EU yet? Or have they and I haven't noticed?

Victor M., Chelmsford, Essex.,

Kosovo Albanians wanted independence because of the way they were treated by the Serbs who held power there. Over and over again, empires big and little have been incapable of treating their minorities decently, and campaigns for independence have been the natural result. Sometimes, as in East Timor and now in Kosovo, the intransigence of the power group (not always a majority) means that independence is the only option. Sometimes the power group sees sense, as in Catalonia which now has a reasonable autonomy within Spain after being dominated by Castile for so long. Similarly in the Netherlands, the identity of the Friesians is now respected and there are no more calls for independence for Friesland. It all depends on whether the ruling group is mature enough to treat its people properly.

John Stanning, Winchester, UK

Kosovo and Serbia will be re-united in a few years time when they both join the EU. What has happened in Europe since the early 90s is a re-adjustment of tribal allegiances not allowed under socialism. There are still some adaptions to be made (Kurdistan needs to be formed for example) only for all of them to be jump back into the big socialist melting pot that is the EU.

andrew hammerschmiedt, coventry,

Why won't the EU recognise an independent Basque country?
Wars have been fought for "the self determination of nations,"
"autonomy," "sovereignty" and "liberty."
The European union has the seeds of evil already within it. Already it acts more as an Empire than a Federation. it wants people in but won't let them out.
The countries jumping into the EU experiment with bribes of aid may well regret it.

keith Bentham, wigan, UK

The EU seems to be sort of cancer feeding on its clients and destroying at the same time. It has evacuated politicians of their basic democratic instincts and morals. A sense of real banality and political indifference now rules our nation. From the BBC downwards, little is done to shine any rays of light into the murk.
I agree with the contributor dismissing the absurd analogy with the Hanseatic League and substituting holy roman empire, controlled from the centre, taxing and ruling nations by its ideology and priesthood.
As to Kosovo, this is a far longer story than Milosevic. One bishop has likened its secession to an English county seceeding after being repopulated by migrants - what if Kent seceeded after a vote by ethnic migrants taking over?
And as for protecting Serb minorities, the blowing up of their cathedrals and churches is happening all the time - unreported by any UK media outlets.

Tom, Witney, UK

I think the article was very good except in its conclusion. It is the very fact that the EU institutions are there that allows smaller countries to come into existence. The new states know that the umbrella of Europe is there for the broader issues. Thus it is quite possible and even a recommendation that the macro institutions should co-exist with the micro states.

Michael Moss, Leeds, England

The parallel is less the Hanseatic League, and more a latter-day Holy Roman Empire, based in Brussels rather than Vienna. The nation states are becoming weaker, but the centre is not strong either, appearing increasingly remote and elitist; already its edicts are often ignored or are ineffectual at the periphery. The issue with Kosovo, and potential future statelets that will form this patchwork is how solvent they are and crucially, what impact failing micro-states will have on the rest of the body.

Richard, Bexhil on Sea, UK

Toby has little historical grasp. World War 1 broke out because the Austro-Hungarian Empire, by treating its Slav minorities as second-class citizens, encouraged pan-Slavism and the conflict was triggered off in Sarejevo. To have left the A-H Empire intact would have caused further grief.

wilson, London, UK

So what's the point? Very few Europeans may be aware that if there was a vote tomorrow in Alaska and Hawaii, they would likely both leave the Union but the US unlike the EU doesn't allow states to leave with out a civil war. The US had areas as small as D,C., Rhode Island, and Deleware and ones as hugh as California, Texas and Alaska which alone is over 2 1/2 times the size of Texas.

Jim, Leicester, UK

Another way of saying this is that the modern EU resembles Austria-Hungary (a better comparison than the Hanse).

It was Europe's great tragedy that the foolish Allies (and Wilson) did not break up the historical abomination that is a unified Germany in 1919, while leaving Austria-Hungary intact. Instead, 65 million deaths later, the EU is becoming Austria-Hungary on a wider scale.

Toby, Sydney,