Doug is drinking the EU cool aid again.  Perhaps he should do some real research rather than just spouting the EU propaganda.

The EU is a long long way from being the poster child for economic recovery.  For starters, Doug, it was a debt crisis, not a deficit crisis.  And Euro area debt levels have not recovered one iota in most countries.  Govt Debt/GDP ratios in Greece (179%), Italy (133%), Portugal (130%), France (98%), Spain (99%), UK (84%) are all at or within a hair of their all time highs,   Only Germany and Ireland have made progress.  And recall that the target is 60% - sounds almost quaint.  

And as for GDP growth and unemployment.  Look at the numbers.  Youth unemployment in Greece and Spain is down, all the way to 46.6% and 38.6%.  Overall the UK, the US, and Germany all have unemployment of less than 5%.  France, italy, and Spain average over 13%.

The EU remains a huge economic underperformer.  Without Germany it would be a total basket case.  That, Doug, is the truth.