The problems of the modern European Union are not limited to the growth of separatism in practically half of EU countries, the refusal of European Muslims to integrate into the society in which they live, and the influx of migrants from Asian and African countries. The leading Western media began to write about the fact that the new, greatly expanded European Union will face big problems almost as soon as the expansion took place. Impressive economic figures do not mean that Greater Europe can expect a great future. In fact, united Europe is encountering a large number of serious systemic problems in the most varied spheres of life… 

First, the process of integration of EU member states in the political sphere is significantly lagging behind similar processes in the economy. The European Union does not possess full subjectness; it is difficult for it to «speak with one voice». 

Second, the U.S. is actively scheming against the united Europe; it has an entire herd of «Trojan horses» in the EU's camp among the «young Eastern European democracies». The acceptance of new members into the European Union is being skillfully used by Washington to stir up conflicts between the «locomotives» of the organization – Germany and France – on the one hand, and the other European Union members on the other. That is why the European Commission once called Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia «potential sources of problems for the European Union». 

Third, the issue of adopting a common European constitution has come to the foreground. And this happened long before the failure of referendums on its adoption, as the draft constitution proposed by Berlin and Paris puts the countries with the largest populations in a privileged position; those countries are Germany and France, which have an interest in creating a federative European state under their control. This variant from the strongest continental powers of Europe does not in the least suit Great Britain, which is focused on an Anglo-Saxon tandem and coordinates it actions with the United States. 

Fourth, the member countries of the European Union are unable to reach unity of sentiment on issues related to the collective security of Europe, including collaboration in the fields of justice and combatting terrorism. In connection with the serious lag in the process of EU integration in the areas of policy, diplomacy and security, EU member countries are exercising extra caution in exchanging information on these issues (the Snowden affair, having shown that such caution is not at all in vain, clearly will not help in resolving this problem). 

Fifth, Western European experts note that the economies of their countries have come up against the problem of state financing of the social sphere. An alarming demographic situation is taking shape; first of all low birth rate paired with high life expectancy. For the economy, this means that less and less money from contributions withheld from paychecks is coming in for paying out pensions, unemployment benefits and social relief. At the same time, there are increasingly fewer workers to finance the social security system. 

Sixth, the agricultural policy of the European Union is alarming. Despite the fact that its countries are oriented toward observing the principles of a market economy, the agricultural policy of the EU is diametrically opposed to these principles. With the acceptance of new states, the problem has only become more complex. Countries with a developed agricultural sector, like Poland and Hungary, make the problem of overproduction and distribution of agricultural products several times worse. 

Seventh, the economic gap between the new and old members of the EU is becoming increasingly obvious. The GDP per capita of the «young» members of the European Union has not even reached half of the average figure for the organization with its previous makeup; in some of the «young» member countries this ratio is 1:4. It is unlikely that this gap can be eliminated, and such an imbalance creates additional problems for the development of the European Union as a whole. 

Eighth, the admission of new countries to the European Union is leading to conflict connected with redistribution of funds. On the one hand, developed countries resist additional contributions to common funds. On the other hand, the countries which were granted assistance (Spain, Ireland and Portugal) want to continue receiving money from these funds. 

Ninth, needed reforms in the decision making system in the EU are fraught with great difficulties. Small member countries are concerned with the larger members' control over the affairs of the European Union and their own marginalization, while large countries advocate a combination of rights and obligations, hoping to retain leadership in the affairs of the EU by making a crucial financial contribution to the common budget. Furthermore, after the expansion of the EU the difference between the new and old members in terms of their forms of government and their justice systems has become noticeable. The process of adaptation of the laws and rules of the European Union by the new members is long and thorny. 

Tenth, the future of the euro is unclear. EU internal market commissioner Frits Bolkestein spoke of this as early as the mid-2000s in an article published in The Financial Times: «The euro has a difficult trial ahead. In 10 years Europe will encounter enormous problems when it needs to pay pensions to a rapidly aging population… in my view the long-term chances of survival of the euro should be questioned».