Thus The New York Times today. “A plan to steeply cut greenhouse gas emissions is an important step forward and a signal to other nations to set some aggressive goals of their own,” elaborates the newspaper. In particular, the twenty-eight nations agreed to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by at least forty percent, compared with 1990 levels, by 2030. “This is, of course, just a number,” starts the article with a welcome touch of humor. “Goals are easy to set but harder to meet.” Precisely. The article continues by saying that Europe has already made impressive progress, but that much of it must be attributed to the deep recession following the financial crisis in 2008. Exactly. In short, the article is pocking fun at the Union, as is more than warranted after years of bungling on everything under the sun. Luckily for the European Union’s luminaries who agreed on this fabulous goal, 2030 is far, far away. Besides, who knows how the Union will look sixteen years from now, assuming it does not break up in the meanwhile. “Just a number,” to quote the funny article once again.