The Lisbon treaty seems quite good to me and does provide for a shift in power from the commission to the European parliament.   Apart from the fact that the European Union is run through shared sovereignty (which means the treaty was approved by member states) our ultimate soveriegnty lies through election of members of the European parliament.  So, twenty years after it could ahve been,  Europe has shifted towards becoming a democraticaly run nation from the early days of the commission which was set up ot get things going.

Surely the social contract took place when we joined through referendum, during the 1970s and realised that we were in for our own good.  If the British then got less out of that's the fault of conservatives who denied it us.  Stupid mean bastards.

The "sceptics" are all depserate rightwingers trying the usual fascist tactic of stirring up fear and nationalism to achieve power and other objectives.   The Czecs - soon after achieving freedom - have rejected that direction and ratified the treaty.  I take that as an intelligent highly honorable decision overriding local nationalist sentiments.. 

The british Tories have backed down, realsing that they can't go back, trying to salvage being part of it. .  Recently they were accused of cheering labour on the sidelines and that about sums their pathetic party up.  For years they Conservatives have procrastinated and delayed to keep the focus on themselves.  Thatcher supported joining in the first place herself then indulged in theatricality and bad speeches. Issue to think that "no, no, no" was an amy Winehouse lyric.

John Major was a European who's chances of doing anything were ruined by the right wing in his own party.   I guess he could have been a cnadiate for Euopean President.

Anyway, I as you know, am fully in favour of a European state so we can enjoy the same as other a large economies.  I don't see how any negaticvity could be a social contract when it's all been s contrived and retrospective by factions with other motives. 

I hope now we can move forwards with a more proactive aprlainment and a Eurpean perspective on problems and a new vocabulary instaed of anaysing everything as gains and losses for individual states (although that would be a step forwards for UKIP)  which is what been happening.  Willfully acting together for all the individual citizens will be the real social contract.