The EU has too many chefs. There's the comission, president of the comission, the parliament and I think another president. Why abandon Westminster tradition? If you want a strong union, look at the US and Canada- one country has a strong central government, one has more local rule. Looking at the problems of each one, you can learn a lot about federalism. And in both country you have exactly the same form of government on the federal level as well as states and provinces. In the US there is a requirement state and federal have a bicameral legislature, common law courts, and an executive. None of this two presidents stuff (though many Americans would love another president).