[WilliamofCarmichael]

I have read (and even copied here :), "[The European Monetary Union] suddenly emerged as a very real possibility in the aftermath of the Soviet Union collapse. France was concerned that Germany would divert its attention to the East and Germany formally needed the Allies, including France, to agree to its re-unification with East Germany. President Mitterrand linked his support to the establishment of a common currency and Chancellor Kohl accepted the deal.

"With little experience to rely upon and limited theoretical backing, economists and policy-makers had to invent practically everything in little time. Policy-makers rushed to negotiate a detailed agreement, having no time for detailed economic analysis. . . ."

I do remember story after story over the years of the 1950's and beyond that France longed for a way to supplant the dollar -- or at least reduce its influence. The Euro was it. I bet. Nice try -- but we can do that all by ourselves, thank you.

[Frantzie]

I do not engage in “stupid and spineless” European threads as they have not elected Muslims to run (destroy) their country.

After what happened in Nov 2008 - my guess is Europe may outlast another country.