cromwell wrote:But basically, German runs Europe,
And part of the blame for that can be placed firmly at the door of Thatcher and subsequent UK governments.
When the UK joined it had the second largest economy and population within the EU. Along with fellow new members, Denmark and Ireland, with whom we had strong economic and cultural ties, we were part of a pretty strong bloc on our own. We could have put a brake on the Franco/German pact and offered a different direction. The Netherlands might also have joined with us.
But no! Instead of negotiation and persuasion Thatcher decided to challenge and threaten, and what did she get? A rebate! That, however, was always on the cards due to the CAP and the UK's net contribution to it when our agricultural practices were vastly different from those in Europe. She never, ever, got much else.
So, the Europe we have today is not the one we could have had if the UK had played its full part.