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Attitudes changed changed after FATCA, which was imposed upon Yanks earning more than 100K euros (close to the national wage in the US for a working family of two parents). We now pay taxes both in Europe and the US.
What is amazing is that there is no reciprocity whatsoever. Though the US promised to do so, in fact, the US does not report to home-country tax-officials EU-member incomes from investment accounts whether they live in the US or not ... ! (There is no mechanism to do so. There is nothing equivalent to FATCA that requires EU-residents in the US to declare their income to their national governments.)
There are three political "entities" in the EU - the National Governments, an elected legislative EU Parliament in Strasbourg, and the European Commission in Brussels (which is unelected and nominative).
EU citizens who are not French citizens are allowed to vote in French elections, if they subscribe to do so. They simply make a petition to do so at their local City Hall (which verifies that they are actually residents).
All national citizens elect two Parliaments by simple majority vote, one that of their home country/state, and the other that of the EU. Which is perfectly identical to the US. Except that in the US, your Executive is elected not by the popular-vote but by that of an Electoral College. Such does not exist in the EU.
The only real difference between the EU and the US is that the US has anelected Executive governance (the PotUS), whereas Europe has what is called a European Commission (EC). This commission is nominative and not elected. And it has great influence in proposing EU-law that is implemented by the national governments.
All heads of EU-governments are members of this Commission and have their say on matters that affect their country. But the European Commission cannot implement any law without having the agreement of all EU member heads of state. (Moreover, the heads nominated to various EC-departments are typically from all over the EU and most ex-elected officials in those states).
Back to FATCA: It was allowed by the European Commission to pass through to national member-states for implementation. Matters of taxation are typically not voted by the EU Parliament (Europe's "Congress") in Strasbourg. National taxation is thus strictly a matter of national application. Taxation is thus the privilege of national administrations, and the EU administration is funded every year by a "contribution" from all the EU nations to support its functioning.
(Meaning for instance, there is no Department of Defense in the European Commission. There are national Departments of Defense.)
What you have described to be in effect in Europe to elect people within the various states seems to be fairly parallel within the various states to the US.
Within the various states on both continents, the election results are based on popular vote. Offices that exist outside the various states seem to depart from the popular vote on both continents.
The selection of the Continental level office holders in Europe seems to be less associated to popular vote than in the US. Did I read what you wrote correctly?
Is there any office holder like a prime minister of the EU that speaks for the members of the union when that is needed? If yes, how is that office filled?