The over-generous Italian welfare state means that for all the belt-tightening, most people in the country still enjoy la dolce vita

'The 166 countries outside the EU are at peace even though they do not belong to the EU or enjoy the benefits of the single currency'

The euro's life began in doubt and has ended in crisis; thank god we never threw our pound into the pot

'No matter how grim the outlook or how politicians squabble over what to do, Germans stick to their idealistic concept of Europe'