Anyway, no agreements have been reached but there are clearly some thoughts among French diplomats and political analysts that Belgium as one country may not survive for long. Of course, the European Union, in theory, does not care whether its member states survive as they are now or whether they break up into contingent parts or regions. That is the theory. But a real break-up, rearrangement, possibly the creation of an even "greater" France will not cheer the colleagues much as nothing is so unpredictable as any change in the accepted internal borders. Who knows where such a change might lead to.
America 3.0: “Future’s so bright we have to wear shades”
54 minutes ago
Yes, it's beginning to look a real possibility. Especially as the politicos of Belgium have refused to unify their country by centralizing its parliamentary system because that would have made most of their politicians surplus, & therefore redundant.
ReplyDeleteSo what may happen? Wallonia & Flanders both becoming independent states, or one or both joining up with their larger neighbours - Wallonia to France, & Flanders to the Netherlands? And if so, how soon?
Helen,
ReplyDeletedid you deliberately mis-spell Palmerston's name?
Nick
No, it was not deliberate, Nick. A mistake. I shall now correct it. Thank you for calling my attention to it. Actually, I do quite admire the man. Even the creation of Belgium made sense at the time from the point of view of British interests.
ReplyDeleteAgree with above
ReplyDeleteNick