Other primates and mice followed, and the Soviet Union a few years later joining the animal space race when nine dogs went skyward aboard rockets.

CNN: Reports: Monkey soars from Iran into space -- and back

That is just when the European Commission is due to start talks with Cyprus over its joining the Union.

ECONOMIST: Cyprus

When people can patiently assess what, if anything, they might gain from joining a union, they usually conclude they're better off not doing it.

FORBES: Fact and Comment