Chiming In

In Canada's federal government, expenditures and programs are
controlled by the Tresury Board, whose minister sits in the cabinet.
There is then a normal cycle of accountability through Parliament.
And the press reports back to the general public. Somehow this is
not happening with the EU. There is a government of sorts for internal
matters, the Commission, and External Affairs is the purview of the
national leaders in the European Council. Individuals holding cabinet positions
in the Council are rotated from various member countries, with each country
holding one portfolio...etc Après vous.

The overall budget of the EU for 2019 is 165.8 billion Euros. In contrast, that of
the UK as a country amounts to 772 billion Pounds (906 billion Euros). So covering
all of Europe, there is less going on. And there is information about the EU's programs
and activities, all of it maddeningly cheerful.

So where is the dirt? How would one ever know? Here is the central problem of
the EU as a resource-sucking institution: it is a space of diplomatic niceties, inside and
out.

Yet some people do know. I was reading last night about a modelling exercise that shows
the expected effects on GDP of both a deal or no deal scenarios on various countries,
short term and long. So there is expert work being done, and the hungry press is
being fed. The kind of piece on my list of things to translate for my Anglophone
friends. But why do I need to? The official languages of the EU are French, English and
German and it would be reasonable to expect to be reading all about in those
three languages the next day. Apple and Microsoft are all over themselves trying to
offer news services. This can happen!

So - in a remain after all scenario - there would be work to be done to use the
services of the EU.

Also noteworthy, Mrs May did not participate in the last Council discussion, but
simply left with her extension decision. They discussed China, and decided stuff.

Just saying...

The current EU Commission

https://www.liberation.fr/planete/2019/03/26/brexit-quitte-ou-double-pour-les-economies-europeennes_1717331

https://www.liberation.fr/planete/2019/03/22/bruxelles-apres-le-brexit-le-conseil-europeen-des-chefs-d-etat-s-acheve-sur-le-debut-des-discussions_1716870