France and Germany meet under the "Entente" or Elysée Treaty of 1963

Britain in its relations with the Continent must never under-estimate the importance of the links that now bind France to Germany under the Treaty that brings their Leaders together today. Also for the history read here and here. Just as in Britain we should perhaps long reflect upon our own recent history, see my first posting of today, beneath this.

What occurs in the coming days over Greece, Portugal and Ireland, looks to be as potentially momentous for Europe as developments in Syria and Iran are likely to prove for the Middle East.

We are in a fog of self-deception, much of what we have taken for granted appears not be so.