Chancellor Kohl's European dream 'still incomplete' 

The prominent Brussels journalist adds that the situation will still remain unchanged, despite the expected entry into force of the European Union's Lisbon Treaty in the near future. 

Although German unification led to the creation of an economic and monetary union (EMU), "resistance by eurosceptical Britain and reluctance by France to share more sovereignty prevented the EU moving any further toward Kohl's dream," the author notes. 

"Kohl wanted to bind the new Germany into a united Europe and NATO to prevent any resurgence of nationalism. He argued that an economic and monetary union would be unbalanced and a patchwork unless Europe achieved a political union at the same time," Taylor recalls. 

The author notes how Kohl stands alone as the true European federalist of our time - with the notable exception of former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt - and claims that both Gerhard Schroeder and Angela Merkel have been more adamant in putting forth national rather than European interests. 

The recent opening of archives shows that "British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and French President Francois Mitterrand were more concerned to slow the pace of German unification than to jump on the train and ride it to European unity," the author writes. 

"Thatcher, who feared the return of an aggressive Germany, was locked in a domestic struggle over her hostility to European integration that culminated in her forced resignation in December 1990," Taylor notes. 

"After initial diplomatic missteps, Mitterrand concluded that his best course was to embrace German unity and use the historic opportunity to escape the dominance of the deutschemark by advancing plans for a common currency," but he never really bought into the idea of a common EU foreign policy, or majority voting in the Council, or greater powers for the European Parliament, Taylor stresses. 

The author notes how the Lisbon Treaty will offer tangible new powers to the Union, like co-decision powers for the European Parliament in almost all areas, a genuine presidency for the European Council and a decision-making system that gives greater weight to population size. The Lisbon Treaty also includes "steps toward closer political union such as the creation of a powerful foreign policy chief with an EU diplomatic service," the author remarks. 

Nevertheless "member states will keep their veto over decisions on foreign and defence policy as well as taxation and the EU budget" and "the EU remains a long way from Kohl's federal vision," Taylor concludes. 

(EurActiv with Reuters.)