A closer union to what exactly?

Two articles. A basic concept. One over-riding question, Why?

From the WSJ:

The financial crisis may have a silver lining for backers of European integration: It is spurring the Irish to support a European Union treaty that they vetoed only last year.

A reason for the shift, analysts say, is that Ireland's voters can see what happened to another island nation, Iceland, which suffered a currency collapse and effective bankruptcy as a result of the financial crisis.

Spiegel shows (in an excellent article) what exactly the Irish voters are queing up for more of:

It wasn't until December that EU heads of state and government had promised the industry "regulatory incentives" for broadband expansion. The companies now accuse the European Commission of thwarting such efforts. René Obermann, CEO of Deutsche Telekom, said heatedly: "It cannot be that the German government is setting up a major program for telecommunications infrastructure while Brussels thwarts it at the same time."

Unfortunately, though, it can. In fact, much of what is currently coming from the EU leadership is contradictory. Some things make sense and some are counterproductive, but inconsistency is everywhere. Breathlessness has become a stand-in for leadership.

So, what exactly is it you the Irish voter are seeking? What exactly will a "Yes" vote offer in terms of "solutions"? As the artiste formerly known as Elaib would no doubt ask, "What is the point of joining a sinking ship?"