Russia-Ukraine War (Threadbanned in op)

That is true. On your question, I suppose that is for the countries to weigh up the costs and benefits + decide what they want.

Realistically the world is a far more hostile and nasty place than it was for all of the members in the more optimistic period when the last EU treaty changes happened.

There might always be 1 or more countries with corrupt governments that can be bought off or just bullied to veto EU decisions by external powers that are much stronger than even largest EU member states.

The situation won't change if or when the EU takes on even more members in the future, the problem just becomes worse.

So if the members want the EU decision making to remain effective in face of powerful outside influences trying to corrupt it to act in their favour or block decisions, they may have to accept the loss of sovereignty that goes with making more of the Council decisions by mechanisms like qualified majority vote vs allowing a national veto.

I agree with the points of your post.
I struggle to comprehend how the Russian economy is still able to keep going. The Ruble is still around .10 to the dollar. I know the figures released are bullshit, but economy is still functioning day to day for the people albeit with higher inflation. Russia was not a very rich country to begin with. This war is hugely expensive for them. Are they taking secret loans from other friendly countries like India, China? Are they draining their oligarchs dry? Has the west any understanding of how they are doing this, and how long it can last?

stripping off veto and voting rights is already something

and what about freezing /postponing/CANCELLINGgrant or budget contribution payments?

You are asking sensible questions just like people were asking sensible questions before this war started of why would Putin start a war, yet he did.

Look at events today, acts of sabotage on rail network on opening of Olympics in Paris

What would you think would happen if a Russian gang paid by boss back home derails a busy passenger train in UK causing deaths of hundreds? Wars have started over less, only matter of time before Putin commits yet another fatal mistake (first one was starting this war) which can lead to an unpredictable chain of events

The generals in UK are worried, then again it’s their job to worry, and we live in a world where there is a terrorist state waging largest war in Europe already

Hopefully the Hungarians will take matters into their own hands where Orban is concerned.

The guy makes Bertie Ahern look like a choir boy when it comes to corruption and he's utterly despised in urban areas like Budapest. There's been a lot of protests against Orban in the past year, hopefully something will come of them.

Vladimir Arsenyev, president of the Volna Central Research Institute, which develops communication systems for Russian warships, aviation and infantry set himself on fire in Red Square, Moscow today.

I could look this up I am sure but just as a matter of interest which grouping do Orbans party sit with in the European Parliament? And with which Irish party ? Or do I have a memory of them expelled from the group?

Their own country is so sh1te run by a sh1tehawk. That rather than improve it. Putin would rather the rest of the world especially those with freedoms be terrorised and pursued to be made worse than Russia. Master troll and mini me trolls.

According to my script, a big 12.5% increase in Russian economy again!

It must make them absolutely irate that the whole world is busy celebrating sports and peace this evening and their warmongering, cheating and doping comrades are not invited.

Just shows how far Russia has fallen; culturally, politically, sporting, militarily, scientifically, socially and economically

A bunch of barbarians with nothing positive to offer the world anymore

Another way of viewing this is Putin and Lukashenko have been flying in migrants from the middle east and Africa where their own military are active. Flying them in and giving Russian passports and then using these as an army attacking the Polish, Finns, eu border.

Orban tries to play himself as a clever Russian in politics that is talking at both ends of his body. He got himself elected as anti immigration but he's pro Russian who are pushing emigrants into Europe. Now he wants to circumvent the Polish border and allow the emigrants direct access to Hungary.

He's the dopiest politician but thinks he's a clever Russian.

For many athletes it's still viewed as the peak of their career to even participate. Pretty sure it'll still be one of the most viewed events globally, including the opening ceremony. So I don't think it's becoming less relevant.

And for Russia, I imagine the cheating made them feel like the best of men etc. The complaint about it being "camp" feels more like some weird personal grievances.

Who gives a fcuk what Russian media think.

Unless the Olympic committee introduce shooting civilians, hospitals and stealing organs as competitive sports I don't see the point in letting the russians back in anyway.