I myself was born just 2 days before Maggie Thatcher was born. I would never have thought I would end up in Brussels either; especially being a scientist. But yes, the parallels are strange and the history of these past 30 years impressive. We’re at a testing time for the World and the EU, what emerges post recession will be interesting, but the EU must act together and take a lead, not allowing its members to retreat into protectionism or nationalism, then we may emerge from this without too much pain.