This week, for instance, the EU extended its reach by establishing Europe-wide bodies to regulate banks and other financial institutions.
For instance, the Dublin II directive says that asylum seekers must file a claim in the first EU country they reach.
While this development may not directly help solar and wind firms across Southern Europe, it will likely give ammunition to local companies willing to fill that energy gap and help France reach EU-backed sustainability goals of 20 percent by 2020.
On Wednesday, President Hollande is meeting the European Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, and other commissioners in Brussels for talks on boosting eurozone growth, as well as to talk about France's efforts to reach the EU's deficit target.
As Italy's own deadline to reach accord on the EU constitutional talks came closer Mr Berlusconi himself went missing.
Mrs Merkel said the EU budget would "loom large" in the pair's discussions as Britain and Germany had shared interests as net contributors to the EU - and both had to reach a deal with other countries that "will stand up in the court of public opinion back home".
BBC: Cameron and Merkel hold 'warm and friendly' EU budget talks
This means even deeper cuts to non-EU net-migration are necessary to reach the target of the tens of thousands.
Cypriot leaders must first reach agreement with their fellow members of the EU, he added.
The EU is like one of those benign but stern creators that reach out of the clouds in Renaissance masterpieces.
Last September the EU adopted a new Energy Efficiency Directive, in a drive to reach the 20% savings goal.
Senior EU officials are warning that it is proving harder than ever to reach an agreement on the European Union's next multi-annual budget.
At first reading stage MEPs failed to reach agreement with the Council of Ministers - which represents EU member states - over the implementation of the proposals.
Danish minister for EU affairs Nicolai Wammen urged Sudan and South Sudan to come together to reach a settlement.
The new package of measures is still under discussion to reach a target of 5.8bn euros demanded by the EU and IMF, and may include a revised bank levy.
Failure to reach agreement on the seven-year budget would mean the EU rolling over annual budgets - a method that would be more expensive and would complicate long-term projects.
The backlash against the EU in the parliamentary elections may make it harder for the 25 leaders to reach an accord.
The relaxation of strict EU rules has applied only to farms in certain areas where collectors of fallen stock cannot reach them.
The foreign secretary said he believed the Occupied Palestinian Territories had largely met the criteria for UN membership but the government wanted the Quartet - the United Nations, EU, Russia and the United States - to help the Israelis and Palestinians resume "meaningful negotiations" and reach a two-state deal.
Other Latin American countries are also hoping to reach an association deal with the Europeans, if not generous financial aid packages, but observers say the EU is not ready to commit itself to further close partnerships.
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