The EU establishment is in an entertaining state of disarray in the aftermath of Sweden’s rejection of the euro. The mandarins have learned nothing from the experience. The Guardian <a href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/euro/story/0,11306,1042950,00.html

“>is reporting that Swedish premier Persson is blaming his predecessor for having set the scene for a referendum in the first place.

Translation: the people should never have been asked for their opinion.

Meanwhile the EU Commission is attempting to refute claims that the Swedish vote was influenced by France’s decision to ignore ‘the growth and stability pact’ that is a key part of the structure that is supposed to underpin the euro. Brussels may not like it, but there’s no doubt that it was (the ‘no’ lead increased in the aftermath of the French prime minister’s most definitive statement of intention to ignore the spending restrictions contained in the pact) and the Swedes were quite right to come to the decision that they did.

To Brussels, this is all most unfair. “People do not say they will not take up driving just because some other people do not respect the highway code,” a spokesman told the Guardian . Even by the standards of Commission sophistry, this is a most remarkable piece of dishonesty. The Pact is best compared with a contract. France has signaled (quite sensibly, as it happens) that it is going to break the terms of that contract. Why then should Sweden be expected to sign up for it?