The conflict between small and large countries of the European Union is largely unjustified and illusory - it is more a construction of the mind than a real conflict of interests. But it is the main reason behind the risk that the Convention may not manage to define a consensual reform of the institutions of the EU (see this column of 30 April). In fact, the experience of half a century of existence of the Community institutions has proved that divergence between he views of Member States...