The Week in Bloggingportal: We are all Aussies and Greek!

A whole blogging continent tumbled in shock this week when the Irish referendum on the new EU fiscal rules received a YES in the first round – and not just a reluctant one. From past experience we know that Ireland always has two referenda and that the second referendum always brings different results to the first one. Hence, this YES was effectively a NO.

As a result of this shock, EU battlegroups’ capacity is reduced to a minimum. EU democracy is called into question. Italy and Spain start to decouple. The European patent court seat remains unclear. ACTA fails in a test vote in the European Parliament. France becomes a weak link in the Eurozone. An EU-wide bank deposit scheme appears more unlikely. In short: Europe is revolting.

Yet, amidst this shock, some sunlight. The EU and Asia can learn so much from each other. Guimarães (Portugal) and Maribor (Slovenia) are beautiful capitals of culture. Telephoning and mobile data will become cheaper in the EU. There is a long-term vision for the Union’s energy situation. The EU Court cares for our human rights. We are all Greeks, and Richard Koo has a prescription for Greece – thus for all of us.

And there, on this shocked continent full of Greeks and without proper battlegroups, Matilda is waltzing at the billabong and sings about the wind of change while Mathew sits by the fire side, looks back and decides to end his blogging life (for now).

I suppose, we are all Aussies and Greek this week, then…!