The difference between the USA and Australia and the EU though is that they are relatively young countries which have developed largely with English speaking migrants taking over the countries in the first place.

The EU is a collection of ancient and very separate countries that have had their very separate identities and customs for far longer and are not joined by a common language or even a common approach.

I don't think we can get the EU to reform because the unelected ministers and those who are effectively ruling the roost will not want it.  There are just too many different countries, some forming their own buddy-blocks already who have a vested interest in keeping things the way they are.

The UK simple no longer has a loud enough voice and we certainly no longer command the respect we once had.  We have become too useful and are expected to toe the line.

And right now, quite frankly we simply do not have a politician with enough clout and cajones to really get the reform going.

Then again, there is the issue of Turkey which Germany seems to be negotiating with as if they are running the whole show - well, perhaps they are, but there's nothing democratic about it at all.