I don't think it's fair to say that the French rejected this treaty. They rejected an EU constitution which was actually quite a readable document. Unlike the Lisbon Treaty the Constitution was a self-contained document. Lisbon is more of a list of amendments to existing treaties which makes it FAR harder to read.

he EU states are already glued together under the Treaty of Rome, the Treaty of Maastricht, and the Treaty of Nice (and probably more). Lisbon was just the next treaty in a long list of treaties.

I find it strange that everyone sees Europe as "them". It isn't, it's us! The EU is driven by the council of ministers which is all our national leaders. The EU is us. The problem is that in many countries the people feel that their government which they elected doesn't represent them. When that happens then they also don't feel the EU represents them because it's the same governments! The way I see it the EU's problem is a local one, and it's the same problem that makes governments afraid of referenda, they know the people don't trust them!

Bart.