Though the UK has been mulling the policy for quite a while too (as you can see from the links in the story). At least a year. (The UK also enlisted Jimmy Wales to work out its policy in May.)
I'm glad for both the UK and the EU; this doesn't need to be a competition. I just found that remark amusing, like the famous headline "Fog in Channel; Continent Cut Off" :D
Good point!
Though it wouldn't be such a bad thing for different countries to compete on!