the suffering EU...

In reflecting upon the EU as a political/social entity as well as their € unified (partially) currency experiment, it comes to mind the failure of function on both of these fronts stems from the persistence of each nation/state to function more-or-less in a vacuum with no world view of the group as a unit whether for trade, political, or security relations. Note the failure of monetary policy in the EU in finding any viable solution to their debt/deficit situation with ongoing hemorrhaging of funds as a consequence. Further, no power structure has come to grips with a massive exodus of the down-trodden into the northern well-to-do socialist realms where they are welcomed into a morass of freebies resulting in a ballooning welfare class. As for security, the military organizations each stagnate with aging infrastructure and out-dated management while the foreign service persists in allegiance to each individual EU member with no central power position. It's a set-up for decline, and fast, IMHO...