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Imagine if the original international standards of weights and measures charged for access to their master units and restricted data about their quantities. The lack of vision is remarkable, yet symptomatic of the EU.

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>The lack of vision is remarkable, yet symptomatic of the EU.

...and the rest of the world, judging by the comments. And also, let's not forget the EU is a collection of countries.

> let's not forget the EU is a collection of countries

Well, sort of. But why is that relevant?

What is outstanding about the EU is that it restricts the economic growth of it's member states. I've seen it argued that this is not merely the fault of poor governance., like the rest of the world, rather it's an inherent feature of the way the European Community was set up. Their lack of concern for Free Market principles is not just due to a contempt for small business but rather an inability to accommodate them. (the sole exception may be subsidising the French farming industry).

Its not just French farmers who are subsidised though - farmers all across the EU avail of various subsidies, grants, etc.

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