soft power evaporates

It would appear that the EU has cooled to the idea of expansion and has decided to call a halt after Romania and Bulgaria join. But what of the EU's 'soft power' that comes from the tempting carrot of getting on board the EU gravy train? Loosing that shouldn't really be a problem, since it never existed in the first place as far as external influance is concerned. Internally however it without 'soft power' a new excuse for the EU's existence is going to have to be dreamed up. Telling people that they need the EU as a place to send failed politicians to get their snouts in the trough does not exactly give a good impression no matter how accurate it is.