2014: Changing of the guard in the EU

When the EU last trotted into election year, in 2009, things were very different. The scale of the global financial crisis and the eurozone trauma were only just becoming apparent.

At the height of the crisis, there were real fears the single currency would break up. This is no longer the case.

But heading into 2014, it is clear problems are far from over. Unemployment is at a record high. Eurozone is likely to be meagre at best.

Greece might need a third bailout, Portugal...