Ode to Joy
Can’t imagine there is much singing and dancing in the hallowed halls of the EU head office in Brussels at the moment. (Beethoven’s Ode to Joy is the theme tune, if that is the right phrase, for the European Union).
The recent elections in France and Greece have thrown the Euro again into a crisis that may cause joy in many UK households as they plan their escape from rainy Britain, but seems to have riled the German nation, and particularly their sour-faced leader Angela Merkel.
The stunning victory of the French Socialists and wipe-out of mainstream parties in Greece has sent shock waves crashing throughout the continent of Europe. The economic doctrine of austerity, to cut the burden of state spending to free up the economy, has ruled supreme with the support of all of the past leaders. But many old and new political leaders were on Sunday night conceding the previous deal may have been shattered beyond repair.
I am not in this blog going to argue the case for or against austerity as a way out of the mess Europe is in. For one, I have always spent a bit more than I receive. Like most baby boomers. I thought I was doing my bit to keep the economy moving.
Nor am I going to get too hung up on the integrity of either party trying to change a deal they clearly agreed to. I am not a fan of people who say one thing and do another. Trust is the most valuable of all things in my view.
However I am interested to watch how this plays out. Often we agree to things (and there is no doubt that both France and Greece did agree to the plan) and then change our mind, or find that the other side change their mind, or that circumstances change, what do we do next?
Conditionality is good news. Ensuring that any proposal you make or adjust is conditional on getting something in return is a key definer in negotiation. Many time