b'What are the economic prospects forexpensive energy, and a possible decline in Germany? To quote Hamish Macrae (in theforeign demand and investment, is a threat to pro-EU independent newspaper):continued German prosperity.One should never understimate theA weakening German economy is likely. countrys [Germanys] ability to fight backUnder those circumstances - with, possibly, against economic headwinds, but tradeGermany unable to afford welfare for its own talks, Brexit and a struggling car industryageing population as well as non-German- arent helping mattersspeaking immigrants numbering potentially in the millions - how can Germany then pay yet To exaggerate, Germany is brilliant atmore in transfer payments to EU countries, making cars people no longer want tofar less bail out the entire Eurozone?buy The situation of Germany in the EU is akin There is some sort of downturn looming,to a wealthy relative of a spouse who has and the experience of the last one is thatalways supported that marriage financially, we should not be too clever in trying tothen begins to have financial problems of predict how serious it might betheir own. Consequently, they have to cut back. Cutting back is bound to include The combination of an ageing population, athe reduction (or even elimination) of that high-costrenewables programme resulting infinancial support for the marriage. Table 15Table 16Germany: employmentturnaround afterGermany: diminishingpopulationof the 2004reformsworking age76 60 15-65 year olds (millions)74724070 20 68 662010206020302040 64Year 62GermanyFranceUK19952000200520102015Source: Trading EconomicsSource: Arbeitsagentur and World Bank If these are the prospects for the EUs strongest economy, what then are the prospects for weaker EU economies; for example, France?39'