In his speech on the state of the European Union last week, President Juncker did the institution he serves a massive favour (see EUROPE 11861). He could not have done more to illustrate the absolutely indispensable nature of the Commission as guarantor of the treaties and of the common interests of a group of countries that have agreed to live under a community regime that can be boiled down to the acquis. The proof of this is that his speech had as many detractors as it did fans, and...