I had thought that after economical, the main reason to form the EU was to create a military to rival the US (NOTE: these articles are circa 2003), it also mentions the UK resisting the Euro assimiliation:

Europe Launches Plans for Military to Rival U.S.

Here's another one:

Paris and Berlin prepare alliance to rival Nato

And another with China looking forward to the EU:

EU viewed by China as world power to rival US

Part of me gets anxious about this, as it may start another Arms Race and spark another Cold War, another part says "Go ahead - become a SuperPower - then you can be the "World Police", and maybe take some heat off of us - this way maybe our country will get out-sourced work from the EU and China - because we will become the "cheaper option", and another part says "Who cares - us little people, no matter what country or nation, beyond supposed "bragging rights" will still get squeezed by the powers that be."

Honestly, I expected the EU to already be a SuperPower, I mean most, if not all of the countries have more experience and history and I expect dominance from that. Then again, what the hell do I know?