Actually I still view Europe as 'forming' personally. We dont have a common economy quite yet, several nations for instance do not use the Euro still. It also has lack of all credibility both in it's law making process and the fact that it is an unelected self appointed supreme ruler make it an institution of distrust amongst the people of Europe.
Personally I like some things to have come out of Europe, and am dissapointed at others.
The member nations still have a great deal of autonomy but this, over time, is fading. They're trying to get that treaty passed that the Irish kicked out - I don't know much about it because i'm British and it's considered "too complicated" for my simple mind by my govenment who wish to protect me from it's potentially confusing contents.
Oh well, the sooner it passes into law the sooner the Yanks invade us for not having a democracy.