Here we go again. The best and brightest, or, as the official description is the “heads of state and government” of the EU are all gathering together again in Brussels. To waffle, to take stands, to play to their galleries (especially the ones with elections ahead). To make vacuous statements about the need for growth. To pretend rising youth unemployment should be dealt with…

And a whole lot of other empty talk and posturing leading to nothing. Van Rompuy (who? Mr “who are you”) reminded that a decision had been taken to promote growth last summer. Indeed in had in words. What about some action? Action? The EU does not go in for such antics. Such as concerted action.

For all efforts, hopes, idealism or whatever else, the EU remains a collection of different nation states, each one only caring about how to promote its own interests against the union, with growing hostility between them and governed by narrow short sighted self interest. And Germany, now, feels free to throw her weight about and preen herself as top dog because, she feels, WWII is long past by now, isn’t it?