>I am still following along here, not to debate but just for my own edification. These things member parliaments will have to agree to -- I take it they will include non-economic matters?

There are EU elections so the EU parliament is an elected body. Laws past there are binding for the member states, no ifs or maybe's

"The European Parliament, which derives its legitimacy from direct universal suffrage and is elected every five years, has steadily acquired greater influence and power through a series of treaties. These treaties, particularly the 1992 Maastricht Treaty and the 1997 Amsterdam Treaty, have transformed the European Parliament from a purely consultative assembly into a legislative parliament, exercising powers similar to those of the national parliaments. Today the European Parliament, as an equal partner with the Council of Ministers, passes the majority of European laws - laws that affect the lives of Europe's citizens."

http://www.strasbourg.info/europarl/