25/08/2016
Generally, I'm happiest when I've sorted the topic for the blog by about midday, and am able to start writing by about nine pm. To still be researching the subject at one am, though, with not a word written, is not good news.
For several days now, I've been working on the latest Monograph, which has taken me into a re-evaluation of the beginnings of the EEA, which has huge relevance to our exit negotiations.
One of the points to emerge is that, as the negotiations were proceeding, the Berlin Wall came down, followed by the collapse of the Soviet Union. One response to that was an expectation that the former Soviet satellites would join the Efta states in what was to become the EEA.
That is reflected in the December 1991 cartoon by Hans Geisen, who is illustrating Switzerland's mistrust of the policy of European integration and "emphasising the fact that, unlike the other European states, the country does not wish to take part in the European Union enlargement process".
The point was that the "enlargement" was not as we currently know it, but the creation of an all-embracing European Economic Space, in which the EU, the Efta states and the Eastern European states were to be "houses" in a "European village",with common decision-making rights.
Why that didn't happen, and what happened instead, is the subject of my current research, with a totally unexpected twist at the end which led me to one of those "cripes" moments â more like "clucking bell" â complete amazement at what did happen.
At this time in the morning, I can't possibly do justice to the subject, so I'll pick it up in the morning, when I've had some sleep. But at least I know what my next blogpost is going to be about.
