"You are indulging in the received, mythological wisdom that sez the EU wants to become one big, happy country."

Ah so they do not need two parliament buildings then Shaw. So why are they paying for them?

There is no need whatsoever for a European Parliament at all if the member nation states are sacrosanct - what can a European Parliament do that individual national parliaments and the Council of Ministers cannot?

No need at all for the European Commission - Everything can be done by the individual states through discussion and agreement in the Council of Ministers.

No need for a European Defence Force. But they are working damn hard to force that through. To what end? What can it do that cannot already be done through NATO?

Haven't you read the EU's Aims as stipulated in the Treaty of Lisbon Shaw?