A German aid package revives calls for solidarity with poorer EU countries

Imagine queuing up at a food bank only for a millionaire to rock up in a BMW and announce he is snapping up the entire supply of grub. That is roughly how Europe feels these days. Amid a continent-wide energy crunch, governments from Athens to Warsaw have spent months figuring out how to keep homes warm and factories running. European politicians have shared their best ideas, and tried to make sure whatever they did at home would not beggar their neighbours too much. The sense of everyone being in the mire together at least reinforced the unity forged in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Until, that is, Germany on September 29th flashed its cash with a surprise €200bn ($197bn) energy package to secure its own economic prospects. So long, suckers!