The scope of what's at stake. There's nothing to be surprised or scandalised about. The stridency of the reactions and the dramatisation of some of the arguments brought about by anticipations to the European Commission's plans for a "fairer" system of budget financing (see our bulletin of 8 July, p.15) were entirely predictable. This is a touchy subject for public opinion, especially in countries such as Germany and the Netherlands, which feel they are paying Europe too much. Even in times...