Originally Posted by The Bear

It is in all but name and it very soon will be in fact.

It is inevitable.

It may come about with a situation much like the emergence of the USA of a core of states welded into a United States of Europe, with the equivalent of the Territories that over a period of time become full member states of the USE, but happen it will.

The question then arises when it join the USE as a full member state. In the beginning, after some time, or not at all and end up as a North Atlantic equivalent of Puerto Rico.

Or by turning our back on what is happening, a North Atlantic equivalent of The Dominican Republic.

Without the bananas.