Here is a thought that crossed my mind often.
What would make the European union a better more transparent institution.
At least from my point of view.
I used to view the EU as a good thing until we had to vote for the European constitution,
which was undemocratically forced on us through the treaty of Lisbon.
But there is no denying that the EU has been good for the economy for many countries within the EU mainly through free trade. So if the EU is to stay then this change could be considered.
My main problem with the EU is the European commission. The European commission is Europe's legislative body, and its leaders are appointed by the European council and their president elected by the European parliament. In other words, the commission is to function as a European central government which ministers are un-elected by the people. To me that is dangerous.
What is also dangerous to me is that this commission, is able to come up with its own legislation independently.
An example of the dangerous policy they came up with last year is that their leader wants to take away veto power from member states, this would make it easier for them to push through legislation for that one European army they want so much, which would instantly wipe out all of Europe's sovereignty. There is also a lack of transparency when it comes lobbying. Recently I read in an article that more than 50% of ex commission members now work for organisations that are written down in the EU lobby register.
What I think should happen is the democratization of the European commission. Its leader should clearly be chosen by the people of Europe. Either that or the abolition of the commission as a political institution, but rather have it as a purely administrative institution for legislation that is created and pushed through only by the European parliament to be applied to the countries that vote in favor of it. The European commission is mainly a body of force, and forces its laws on the EUs member states the way any government forces law on their provinces, while the EU is supposed to be a institution based on mutual cooperation.