Is Europe heading to the stars or to the dogs?

 All agree that increased integration will be the key to solving the crisis in the Eurozone area but while seeing the logic some are reluctant to take this step.

France and Germany will announce proposals on Monday intended to assure the future development of Europe. At the heart will be a new EU treaty that means increased financial integration. Is this the way forward or are member states shellshocked, punchdrunk and seeing stars.

 Restabilising Europe will be a long a difficult process with France and Germany working together to create a zone of stability.  This will need to be agreed by all 27 member states which only 17 of which use the Euro.  Germany is taking great pains to reassure those concerned that this is not a step on the road to a federalised super state and that the European Central Bank will remain independent.

But can they get agreement on this? Even among the Eurozoners there is discord. France rejecting the idea of fiscal union and in particular the idea that national budgets should be being approved in Brussels while Germany want France to do a lot more to end speculation about its capability to repay its large debt.

Outside the Eurozone the situation is at least as fraught. The UK and others are concerned about a two speed Europe where countries outside the Eurozone are marginalised in favour of those within however the Eurozoners are reluctant to have their monetary policy influenced by people who remain on the sidelines but feel the need to throw stones at those trying to fix the problem.

So will this go ahead, will 27 members vote in a fashion likely to effect positive change. Will the change stick - can Europe be mended without becoming a federated superstate. Who can say. But if they are going to do something they need to do it fast! CM