A paragraph from " wikipedia "........I see a lot of similarities, instead of control being exercised from Rome; substitute Brussels. When Rome expanded their "Empire", countries ( although initially conquered ) were " absorbed " into the Empire and became an extension of Rome; their peoples governed under the same laws as all Roman citizens.

The Roman Empire was among the most powerful economic, cultural, political and military forces in the world of its time. It was the largest empire of the classical antiquity period, and one of the largest empires in world history. At its height under Trajan, it covered 5 million square kilometers[2][4] and held sway over some 70 million people, at that time 21% of the world's entire population. The longevity and vast extent of the empire ensured the lasting influence of Latin and Greek language, culture, religion, inventions, architecture, philosophy, law and forms of government on the empire's descendants. Throughout the European medieval period, attempts were even made to establish successors to the Roman Empire, including the Crusader state, the Empire of Romania and the Holy Roman Empire. By means of European expansionism through the Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Italian, Russian, German, British and Belgian empires, Greco-Roman culture was spread on a worldwide scale, playing a significant role in the development of the modern world.