If governments let themselves be fully bound by the decisions of their parliaments without protecting their own freedom to act, a breakup of Europe would be a more probable outcome than deeper integration.

I have the most profound respect for the Department of Justice and the FTC. We in Europe are a younger and I would say junior institution to the historical antitrust experience of the US.

As 'moral suasion' or veiled threats become less effective, it is not surprising that governments feel more tempted to use outright opposition.

As to the question of elected or not elected, each member of the European Commission has been appointed jointly by the governments of the 15 member states, and undergone individual scrutiny and a vote of confidence from the European Parliament.

In the area of macroeconomic policies, I think we'll see more centralization, like in the budgetary sphere.

Those who believe that pressure for deeper integration in Europe has somehow gone away are wrong,