In the hearings held at the European Parliament to question the nominees to the new European Commission, there was keen interest to see how the prospective Commissioners responsible for economy and finance would position themselves vis à vis eurozone rules about budgetary discipline, public debt and economic management.

All nominees needed to keep in mind that there are two contrasting assessments of these rules. From one perspective, it is clear that they have got to be accepted and implemented by all in the same way and with total commitment. This is the strongly held belief of centre-right German politicians and their allies. The other approach emphasizes mostly the argument that there is a need to reverse the politics of austerity which eurozone rules as they have been applied, continue to promote – especially in the way by which such rules affect public investment. The latter view is prevalent among centre left representatives. To be sure, the first perspective is complicated by the claim that the rules apply mainly to public deficits, not to the surpluses which member states may have managed to cumulate.

When replying to the question made to them, Commission nominees had to give satisfaction to both sides. The game was not an easy one.

***

Far away

I could not decide whether he was quietly trying to pull my leg or whether he was being deadly serious. “Europe is doing well, he said, to give importance to outer space. That’s what this new one who’ll be running the European Commission will be doing, right? – she’s going to appoint a Commissioner who’ll be in charge of space?

In part, yes, I replied. If she gets through her hearing, for it’s a woman Commissioner, space will be among her responsibilities.

He went on: We should not leave outer space to the Americans and the Russians, and now as well to the Chinese and the Indians! Europeans must be at the forefront of this issue. The deterioration of the climate that’s been going on will not stop. In a short while, human beings will not be able to survive here. It’s going to become an urgent matter for us to find another world where we could go to live. We won’t have any future here.

I think he was being completely serious.

***

A meatless week

Provocatively,Vegans have challenged all of us – who are not like them that never eat flesh – to spend a week without consuming meat. If I were living all week in the same place, I would have accepted it.

As it is, those who are not used to a Vegan diet will need some good planning of the menus they will be going for. Not because they will run the danger of death by starvation, but because one would need to programme beforehand what is going to be eaten while making sure the choice being made is truly free of animal products (eggs? milk? cheese? broth cubes? honey?...) Following that, one would need to stock provisions.

Over the years, I met quite a number of people who had for long been vegetarian. Not only were they in the best of health and enjoying life (some were actually running the risk of obesity, believe it or not) but they were also quite used to enjoying such meals as pizzas and baked pasta which all were excellent to taste while containing no meat.