Open-handedness and controls. Austerity measures are, for now, inescapable in Europe. The EU and its member states are forced to keep an eye on what they spend. All governments, some more than others, are committed to national budget rebalancing programmes and, when it comes to the Community budget, net contributor countries are opposed to expansion that exceeds the rate of inflation (see yesterday's column). This is a difficult situation, albeit comprising a positive aspect - it compels...