Shortly before the start of negotiations on Swedish membership in the European Union, then vice prime minister Odd Engström gathered a group of Swedes and EU-representatives to discuss European democracy. The three-day conference took place at Häringe castle outside Stockholm. In his contribution, Hans Bergström made the point that EU is establishing itself as a political counterforce to global challenges, but may run into the paradox that it actually contributes to reduced trust in the political system. EU should limit its agenda, accept that many issues are still best handled at the national level and understand that Europe also thrives from interesting dynamic differences.