Europe has been shaped and built by several steps, and, nowdays, we surely understand that the crisis that we are experiencing requires further brave steps towards 1) a deep transformation of the democratic system 2) a deep tranformation of the geographical borders.
Democracy is, nowadays, incomplete. Unanimity is not democracy and national parliaments count still too much.
More, formal democracy is not enough, decision making should be shared by shareholders, workers and state/regional representatives.
Geography is also incomplete, because, as the Easten European countries joined Europe, the same is to be expected from Russia.
Especially now, and as a consequence, of the improved relationship between Us and Russia. (Even considering the Siria issue).
Russia is a natural partner of Europe and of the Atlantic pact, in a horizontal link which from US goes through Bruxelles till Moscow.
We could use the axis Paris Berlin Moscow, as it was used several years ago, or just the Berlin Moscow, but we would risk to be misunderstood.
The point is to link Russian to the West, US and Europe via the new comers, the 27 countries more the emerging markaet Russia, linked by history, tradition, religion and macroeconomic advantages.
A bridge to reach the asian continent, a partner to compete with Asia and a useful exchanges of skill and knowledge, also on the path of a fully and shared understanding of the democratic system.
The Berlin Wall fell few years ago, many steps forward have been done by Germany by the Easten European countries and by Russia.
A closer union is the next challenge for all. At stake is the growth and same democratic system for the whole Old Continent.
LS