Meanwhile, a cluster of small islands in the Inner Hebrides are being sold on the open market.

BBC: Community ownership mooted for Tanera Mor in Wester Ross

But at least the inner cores must, by treaty, remain open to new members.

ECONOMIST: A treat from Nice

Ruiz said he now plans to move from Las Vegas to his hometown of Boston in order to open a boxing gym in the inner city.

BBC: Ex-champion John Ruiz hangs up gloves

And building one would indeed open up at the very least the inner solar system to us.

FORBES: Is This The Final Technical Piece We Need For The Space Elevator?

Whether the eurozone publics will support a more integrated inner core intruding more into national policies is at best an open question - they have not been asked.

BBC: Analysis: An EU of two tiers after eurozone debt crisis