The British still feel agriculture and its funding needs further reform, but they will not make agricultural funding an issue at this summit.

BBC: EU budget: Another battle looms

But Masha Bell, author of Understanding English Spelling, says reform of spelling needs to go further and alter the way words are written.

BBC: Could a new phonetic alphabet promote world peace?

It is not helped by its generous state pension scheme which, despite efforts at reform during the 1990s, needs further, deep cuts something the Communists would never agree to.

ECONOMIST: Italy