Reply #2: 1. not EU's job to save bad business; 2. EU's weakness has political reasons

[DetlefK]

For one, the EU is a real federation of countries: Every country has its own nationalist tendencies, every country wants to get the best cut for itself. For now, the EU is just a tool to guarantee these personal advantages.

The problem is, that even in the "Old Europe"-countries people don't really feel united as europeans. Much less in the eastern europe countries, which are new to the EU.

If the European Parliament had real legislative powers, if there were a (kind of) pan-european government, recognizable figureheads, then people would start identifying themselves with the idea of a true united europe.

BUT, a powerful europe will only happen, if its member-nations are willing to cede political authority. And that won't happen unless the people themselves are confident with a powerful legislative EU. (Now that's vicious circle.)




And lest not forget there is an urgent need for an overhauled european membership-treaty (sort of constitution). As long as its not passed, the EU is not functioning properly.