'Better than Belgium', or the long goodbye

Bye bye. Bye. Bye then. Oh you’re still here? Just one more speech. Oh alright. Just one though.

The outgoing EU commission seemed like it was permanently stuck in the “going, going” stage of a public auction. We’d been saying goodbye for far longer than convention would deem strictly necessary. With varying degrees of audience attendance, participation and enthusiasm.

But now it’s actually done. There’s a picture to prove it. Jose Manuel Barroso is – since Thursday – officially h...