Several European states will struggle to pass the new pact agreed last week, showing that even without Britain the European Union is still too big to move quickly. Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic and Ireland will all struggle to pass a new treaty.

Some of these nations have not completely made up their minds on the treaty and could still opt out. With the final details of the treaty still to come, much is murky and the future is full of potential roadblocks. The prime minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Necas, summed up the problem faced by many countries: “It wasn’t possible to sign up to this international agreement for a number of reasons. But the main reason was this—nobody knows what’s in it.”

Even eurozone nations could cause problems. Ireland may have to hold a referendum, by law—but it won’t be sure until it sees the final text.

For Finland, the problem is the changes to the voting process for the European Stability Mechanism. Under the new pact, decisions will be approved by qualified majority voting. The Finnish Parliament’s Grand Committee ruled that two thirds of Finland’s parliament must agree for it to give up its veto. The opposition parties have already said they won’t do this.

Under Poland’s constitution, the changes must be approved by two thirds of parliament. If not, it must have a referendum. Ratification may require a referendum in Denmark, though that is not yet clear. The Swedish Parliament might not approve it—not even the prime minister is sure what to think about it.

Even with Britain excluded, the EU still cannot make decisions quickly. Twenty-six is still too big. Even 17—the number of countries in the eurozone—is too big. Expect a core group of 10 nations to emerge from Europe.

And even in these 10, democracy would still make them slow to respond and struggle to reach agreements. As the EU shrinks, in order to respond to economic and military threats, expect it to become more totalitarian.

Bible prophecy reveals the outcome will be a 10-nation superstate, led by one man.