Bob, this is really a very European issue, one that has been debated heavily ever since the formation of (the first precursor) of the EU, and even before - I think Migeru's comments reflect that more than opinions he formed all alone. (At least their understanding by me seems to imply so.) The problem is, no single lingua franca will be agreed upon. And not even if no nationalisms are included - have you heard of Esperanto? That was an attempt at a universal language, it is easy to learn, a lot of people speak it (especially in Europe), but it just didn't catch on.

It may be the case that elites (politicians, stars, media, managers) could and have settled for English as lingua franca in practice, but elites are by definition exclusive. But a lot of even those Europeans who do speak foreign languages do not speak English. So the EU has translators for all languages and floor discussions in multiple languages, nd the broader population does the same - Europe itself is a 'mosaic community'. For example, in CEE or on the Balkans, you have more chance being understood in German than in English, and a lot of Hungarians or Serbians will attempt communication in that language even if say in Spain or the Netherlands. (All my older relatives are like that.)

And here, while English is convenient for you and for all current ET readers, it is not for a great many people who could be included, and connected by English-and-other multilinguals.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}