Actually, no. The decentralization of power means that it takes a lot more effort to subvert each country individually, rather than propping up a few candidates for the entire region like they do in the US.
replyThey only need one country for veto rights.
replyThe EU is perfectly capable of collaborating even when it can't reach full consensus or when it wants to include peripheral states without them becoming full members. See for example the Schengen area, Eurozone, European Economic Area, and more recently (and specifically to circumvent member state vetos) when the enhanced cooperation procedures were invoked to lend money to Ukraine.
replyExactly, see what is happening in Hungary.
replyControlling Hungary is enough to veto some support for Ukraine.
No because any attempt at interference would in that case trigger article 5 of NATO.
replyThat’s true but that fragmentation is also what limits the propagation of fractures. You can see it like sandboxing.
replyA deal with foreign intelligence is a dead with the devil that comes with a lifetime of subservience. And subservience to foreign powers is a greater evil than yo usual internal corruption. At least the locally corrupt in a democracy have some interest in things going somewhat well in their country. The foreign actors only care about theirs.