happens in Gadheim, a Bavarian hamlet of 89 souls. A handful of part-time farmers cultivate wheat, barley and rapeseed. A hotel trains apprentices in gardening and carpentry. Birds tweet, cars whoosh by. The landscape undulates, mildly.
But Britain’s impending departure from the European Union has disturbed the rustic peace. Whenever the club’s composition changes, the French National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information calculates its new geographical centre. Over the years eastward enlargements have tugged the point from France to Belgium and then southern Germany; since 2013, when Croatia joined, it has sat in Westerngrund, a town in north-west Bavaria.
Gadheimers share in Europe’s frustration at Britain’s inability to ratify a deal. Without a date for Brexit they cannot plan the centre’s opening ceremony nor reap the modest tourist bounty some hope for. Yet as solid pro-Europeans, many feel ambivalent about celebrating the consequence of an event they deeply regret. Ms Kessler suspects Brexit might never happen, and would be delighted to be proven right.
Or the Dutch Antilles
Are they considering French Guyana
They're looking at it the wrong way. Had they been more entrepreneurial they would just go ahead and do that right now. Then, if/when things change, they simply update their slogan to 'Previously the EU's geographical centre'.
I suggest the town of Gadheim likely has this following the line item 'keep sewers functional', way down their list.