[Rockingham]

I suspect that the EU is like a house with a rotten structure and foundations, appearing strong to most of its inhabitants but with hidden weaknesses such that a few hard blows can collapse the entire edifice.

The EU's bureaucrats and their French and German political masters seem to realize that the EU has such weaknesses, thus accounting for their hard line against any British effort to limit immigration and against relief for the Irish of the draconian repayment terms of their EU rescue lending.

In addition, the German public cannot but eventually tire of endless rounds of bailouts for the EU's faltering southern tier. Once a recession sets in, I suspect that any German election will see the emergence of such sentiment with a vengeance.

[1010RD]

They hate the Irish whose tax policies served to embarrass them.