Will the EU end up like Yugoslavia?

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http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/1359201-will-eu-end-yugoslavia

Relatively speaking, the European Union (EU) is beginning in many ways to resemble Tito’s Yugoslavia. As it stands, there is no lack of reasons to compare the incomparable. For example, at a time when the EU is attempting to reinforce centralised control of its periphery, its foundations are being threatened by excessive nationalism and accumulated incompatibilities between member states. This is a situation that is strongly reminiscent of the golden age of Yugoslavia (1981-1986), a period when it came close to joining the European Economic Community (EEC).

And that is not the only parallel. Much like Belgrade and Zagreb, Berlin and Paris have become pillars of the Union in spite of the differences between them. At the same time, we have seen a flare-up between financially responsible and spendthrift countries and between the more developed and less developed members of the EU. All of this has a lot in common with the process that led to the break-up of Yugoslavia.

The concept of a two-speed or multi-speed Europe recalls the idea of transforming the Yugoslav Federation into an “asymmetric confederation,” just as the slogan “Brotherhood and unity of Yugoslav peoples” is similar to the position currently defended by Brussels: that common interest should prevail over enmity and differences.

The democratic deficit suggests yet another parallel: in the one-party system in Yugoslavia, leaders were not elected by universal suffrage, just like the highly placed civil servants that manage today’s EU – in spite of the fact that all of the members of the Union have multi-party systems. In both cases, the fear that the more populous states would have too much influence has prevented the introduction of the principle of “one citizen, one vote.”

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1. Eu sanctions against Iranian oil may cause Greece to go first

They've been getting their oil cheap from Iran. The absense of that may help accelerate their demise. It would be a cruel joke indeed if the sanctions were the straw which broke the camels back.

Today's forecast for 1 year hence is $118 / barrel : http://www.oil-price.net/

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2. We live in interesting times. Nt