Now, as then, the crucial deals are thrashed out between a few key national leaders, and their advisers, in negotiations behind closed doors, often over good food and wine. Back then it was France‘s François Mitterrand and Germany‘s Helmut Kohl, with an important role played by the Italian prime minister, Giulio Andreotti. Next week it will be François Hollande, France‘s first Socialist president since Mitterrand, making his post-inauguration pilgrimage to Angela Merkel in Berlin, with a significant role played by today‘s Italian prime minister, Mario Monti.

From François to François: plus ça change, plus c‘est la même chose.