20160711 – Rothenberg, Brussels, EU Parliament And Home

 
Well that’s the end of our Grand European Tour, with Edwards Into Europe. What do we think? Well although we haven’t visited all the countries below on this trip I’ll give you my jaundiced view on Europe, starting at the bottom and working our way up:

Greece – certainly the basket case of Europe. Screwed over by the wealthy North. Used EU funds to bribe off the Unions. Should never have joined the Euro and are now in dire straits. At least if they were out of the Euro they could devalue and stand some chance of rebuilding their economy.

Spain – it’s just unfinished and as Wendy wil. Everywhere we went nothing was finished off. Again in serious financial straights and high unemployment.

Italy – most of the old cities are past there demolish by date, they’re lovely but a tad seedy. We’re suffering from an overdose of culture, but we really enjoyed it. Apart, that is, from the roads. They’re lunatics and I wouldn’t trust any of them to drive a fair ground dodgem. All a load of exhaust bandits with a death wish that compels them to try and drive up my exhaust pipe. The rear view mirror is your best friend. Wendy was a bag of nerves and she never even drove. Another pending basket case with massive bad debts, economic problems and massive youth unemployment. Screwed over by the wealthy North of Europe. Watch this space for another Greece re-run. On the plus side not too many mossies. I’d like to explore Southern Italy but I think I’ll either have to drug Wendy or blindfold her to get her there.

Belgium – sad and grey. At the heart of the Evil Union. Wonder how they’ll survive when the EU finally collapses? Won’t be sad if we never go there again. Mind you their chocolates are awesome, but their beers are badly over rated.

France – well best summed up by the simple statement a lovely country spoilt by the French. Dominated by the unions, forever on strike over something or other and I’m convinced they’re living well beyond their means and only a matter of time before economic reality catches up with them. Badly need a strong dose of Thatcherism to tame the unions. Sadly the terroist attacks are a grave danger. It has too big a muslim population – perhaps a wake up call to the rest of Europe as to the dangers – and at this rate will swing to the extreme right and even have their own FREXIT.

Austria – beautiful wealthy country with all the Teutonic efficiency of Germany. Awesome scenery and mountains. Good skiing. All very civilised. Be interesting to see whether a re-run of their election this Autumn results in a strong right wing government. Seems very much on the cards. We’d love to go back their in summer but don’t think we’d forsake the awesome American skiing in winter.

Germany – efficient, prosperous, organised, awesome beer and great food. Certainly a country we’d go back to. I don’t think the Germans can really understand why BREXIT, but they’re living off the fat of the EU.

I never understood the structural economic issues until I started to look around eat all the prosperity and question it all, especially in contrast with Italy and Spain. Ironically Spain and Portugal are to be sanctioned for breaching EU fiscal rules, in a move set to inflame political tensions over how dogmatic Brussels should be in policing national budgets.

The European Commission concluded that the two countries had failed to take “effective action” to meet EU deficit rules, they are now on a path to penalties that could include fines or a partial suspension of EU regional funds.

Germany, Finland, the Netherlands and the European Central Bank insist that firm application of the budget rules is essential to maintain confidence in the euro. Yet Germany’s record trade surplus is a bigger threat to euro than Greece. If EU law were properly enforced, Germany would face fines for endangering eurozone stability and breaching the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure for the fifth year in a row.

Whilst Germany carps on about Greek bailouts etc., they need to remember that the Southern Mediterranean countries are helping keep the Euro lower. If they were still trading on the Deutschmark it would be so strong as to cost them so much more than the bailouts. Arguments that it would be a good thing if Greece left the Euro miss the point. For the southern Mediterranean countries it would be better if Germany left the Euro.

Having said all that we’d rather be in Germany and will be exploring further.

As for BREXIT. Well yes we’ll suffer in the short term but we remain convinced it will be so much better for the long term.