If there is any irony here it is the fact that the Federalist dream of the EUs original inventors was used as cover by De Gaulle and other French leaders for their long-term (since Napoleon of noit earlier) goal of French hegemony in mainland Europe. A goal which was deemed lost when West Germany accomplished an economic miracle and caused the French to admit the UK in the hope of redressing the balance. With the UK gone, France is once again left facing its old enemy in the same old battle, and neither side has a leader capable of taking advantage!