In a world where Western voters demand maximum results for minimum expenditure of blood and treasure, assassination by machine has an obvious appeal to political leaders.

There has to be a majority of countries in favour - a minimum of 255 out of a total of 345 votes - and member states can demand that the majority represents at least 62% of the EU's population.

Elementary economics would suggest that if you raise the cost of employing the lowest-skilled workers by increasing the minimum wage, employers will demand fewer of them.