The lack of progress was predictable, but… It would have been naïve to expect progress in the negotiations on the EU financial perspectives 2007-2013 this week. A few days ahead of the referendum on the Constitution in two Member States, and after the German decision to move the elections to the Bundestag forward to the autumn, there was never going to be a significant concession made. With all eyes riveted to national public opinion, each State was moving towards a tightening of its...