EU's big boys look out for themselves - without a thought for the rest of us

Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, right, French President Francois Holland, center, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photo: Carlo Hermann/Pool Photo via AP

Ian O'Doherty

Anyone who has ever been excluded by a group of fairweather friends will know how frustrating that can be. When the group happens to be Germany, France and Italy, we shouldn't just be frustrated, we should be worried.

Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande joined Italian PM Matteo Renzi on the island of Ventotene yesterday to discuss the burning issues facing the European Union (EU) - and there are plenty.