Rectangle or Square: Mr Vanhanen needs to ask some difficult questions

Midwinter - for which in these globally-warmed days read wind and wet weather - is almost upon us, marked, in the case of the European Union, by the congregation of Heads of State and Government in the annual December Council. This will take place next week amid the usual seasonal bonhomie, though how sincere the fraternal greetings will be, remains to be seen as the schisms in the Union's ranks are becoming more marked by the day.

The United Kingdom, for instance, urges swift movemen...