[rmnunez]

Interesting note on the ancient roots of the notion of a European Union, but I'd have to agree with Adams, the EU certainly isn't heading towards fascism (remember how they reacted to Haider in Austria, their recent anticipatory repudiation of conservative sweeps in both Holland and Belgium, their unease over the Swiss elections).

I do think the EU is headed towards a more consolidated 'national' unity. It is an innovative process that has been progressing for a long time. The EU we have now was the EEC not so long ago and that entity did emerge from a purely economic IGO and had exclusive market-related aims (hence the name "Common Market"). But the EU is much more than a customs union or free-trade area.

Many find just 3 fundamental sovereign atributes; autonomy in foreign policy, military affairs and the economy. The first to succumb has been the economy with a Central European bank, common currency and subordination of fiscal authority. Advancing in the area of military affairs is complicated by the American prevalence in the most analogous NATO and they've made tentative progress towards a unified foreign policy until the French came a long and stuck their oar in.

If the EU develops a common defense force and a collective foreign policy, I do think either France or Birtain would be redundant in the SC.