The difference is that E.U: member states have to present an application to join the Common Market, still the largest in the World. And, in fact, it is the E.U. the one which rejects for decades applications from many states. That didn´t happen to the USSR in which never a country did present an application to join it. On the other side, any member state can leave the E.U. whenever it wants. There is no obligation to belong into the E.U. The problem is that once you are out, member states which did join later can establish hard economic conditions to let you in if you (probably) change your opinion a couple of years later... Without China I would agree that the E.U. would dissapear, but now there is no alternative. E.U. member states are proud and very nationalist countries with a very long History (France, Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Austria, Greece...) but in a World with a number of large states like the U.S., China, India, and even Russia, Brasil or China, the only possibility to be taken into account for the small European nations is being part of a larger Federation, with a common currency. So, as recent events have tought us, by the end the result is deeper integration. Being divided means beiing dominated.

What exactly is the "identity" and "aspiration" of the people? People change, most especially with changes in their circumstances. The Soviets failed politically in large part because they obviated the family by "liberating" women to work on the single wage earner model and consequently putting children in week long nursery which totally failed to nurture children and disrupted the family and family life while putting NOTHING (such as extended family tribalism) in its place. Politically speaking, this issue is the main one which forms the subtext of appeal of the right wing to this day; that and religion.

USA is the only oppressive country in the world today, so better example would be the EU is more like the USA

To compare EU with SOVIET UNION: 1-Family is being disrupted as well in Europe as in the USSR. 2-The USSR had a wrong economic system (communism), but at least it was independent and had a respectable army, while the EU has not its own army and is totally dependent from the US (that maintain many basis on the European territory).

There are several similarities between the European Union and the old Soviet Union. Both have/had elections and parliaments but neither has/had democratic government. Both exist/existed in spite of the will of the constituent peoples. Both are/were over-centralised, over-regulated and corrupt.

Enrique is wrong in his last paragraph. The common currency has been the main reason why Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy are in an economic mess and why, apart from draconian measures, there is little they can do about it. The UK is in a mess because of bad government but by having its own currency is able to make the forthcoming pain much less than it might be. Like the USSR there is, and will not be for a very long time, a common European Demos. Therefore the EU can never be democratic. The European Parliament is about as effective, and self-important, as the Supreme Soviet. If the UK was to leave the EU it would reap billions of £s as well as remain as influential as it is, despite being in the EU. Were the EU to impose drastic trade penalties it would be the loser because of a big trade surplus with the UK; the two wealthiest countries in Europe, Norway and Switzerland, are not members of the EU. Just because everyone tells you membership of a club is a mark of distinction and superiority is no reason to join.