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The EU is not a single democracy. The parties are shaping up for a big scrap in June, but the issues will be domestic

The other day I heard a pro-European British politician say the most extraordinary thing. His party, he confided, proposes to make its European election campaign about Europe. Hollow laughter shimmied round the table. A European election actually being about Europe? How original. How ridiculous.

And that's not just in insular, Eurosceptic Britain. Across the European Union, direct elections to the European parliament, which take place in 27 countries between 4-7 June, will largely be decided on national and local issues. In most of them the dwindling cohorts who bother to turn out will take the chance to express...