The perfect European

I remember back in the good old days when those many Brussels's non-food & beverage souvenir shops around the Grande Place fairly abruptly replaced the traditional Belgian lace and Louis XIV - baroque minatiures in their front line windows, with loads of China made European flagged merchandising, pretty much anything that allowed a random number of yellow shining stars printed on a blue background tradeable for only a couple of Belgian Franks.

With Germany united, the single market becoming casheable for businesses, the Schengen agreement celebrated by travellers and the easy accession by disciplined and modern Sweden, Austria and Finland, Brussels' road to the capital of Europe (and not just the European Union) had become inquestionable.  The ideal moment in time for a bit of innocent and harmless self-irony.

Internet and social networks were still a relative exclusivity and a popular item any tourist could easily lift on any streetcorner and proudly communicate to friends at any corner of the world was a sarcastic postcard on "the perfect European".

A funny cartoonized postcard illustrating a typical national of the then selective 15 member states, touching on cliché views much older than any United Europe dream. 

"Humorous as a German, Organised as a Greek, Humble as Spaniard, Available as a Belgian, Talkative as a Finn, Generous as a Dutchman, Sober as the Irish,Cooking like a Brit", etc.

I have not really been down to the Grand Place for quite a few years or bought a postcard anywhere for that matter, but I wonder how funny or festive any European, or any other person, would still think that postcard would be in today's context.

Especially in times of recession, the perfect European Unionist should be .... her/himself.