1. Klkl

2. Is the European Union an empire? >The EU is an empire enlarged by negotiation and consent >The EU is an empire without an emperor >The EU is an empire governed by indirect rule

3. What did European integration bring? >Cooperation instead of conflict; Europe a global player. >Prosperity through free markets and free trade >Free space to travel at affordable prices >Monetary stability through the Euro

4. What does the EU lack? >Connection to the people. Public view is hostile or distant: >EU: Brussels is a monster, a behemoth >Top EU leaders are unelected; Mandarins call the shots >EU is felt as a bureaucratic occupation force

5. Constitution did the wrong thing >to put the EU on a federal footing > Political elite far ahead; public did not follow >Constitution strengthened perception of ‘imperialist empire’ > Constitution turned EU into threat to national identity

6. New Treaty, does it improve? > Does the text re-connect European integration to the people? (not a constitution, but unreadable and elusive) >Does the Treaty streamline the institutional framework? (size of Commission, European Parliament, duplicity, agencies) >Is mission of EU concentrated on limited policy-areas? (CAP, Regional Policy, Energy Policy, Immigration Policy)

7. Conclusion >Bureaucratic machinery: streamlining too slow; mission unfocused > Enlargement: enlarge economic concept EU, not EU itself. > Estrangement from people: some leading positions should be elected, like EU President, Commission President and Commissioners.

8. Thank you!