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  With regard to the EU President we already have one (the Swedish Prime Minister), the difference that the Lisbon Treaty makes is that it changes the terms of the presidency from a rotating 6 month appointment to a longer term appointment. Now the right/left eurosceptics will argue that this is a stepping stone on the road to a federal super state, the europhiles will say that this gives stability and direction rather than the current chopping and changing.
  
  The Lisbon Treaty is indeed very similar to the constitution proposed by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing amongst others, though it has been watered down to accommodate concerns from the non federalists. Yes the EU can set laws that override domestic law making, oh but hey they can do that now on a whole range of subjects covered by qualified majority voting. There is already significant co-operation between justice systems across the EU (police share intelligence, assist each other on cross border warrants, EU arrest warrants already exist etc.) and our armed forces participate in the EU rapid reaction force and other pan-european initiatives. The Lisbon Treaty does nothing to alter this.
  
  I am an avowed europhile, though I am opposed to any further moves towards a federal states of europe. I believe that our future is inexorably entwined with our sister countries in the EU and that we absolutely must take out place in this euro club and make it in our image rather than that of the French or Germans which is the road we are currently on. To take ourselves out of this club will lead to marginalisation and us becoming an insignificant small country player on the world stage.

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