How many remember the Greek debt crisis? It lasted almost a decade with many pinning the start at October 4th 2009 after the center-left PASOK party won elections while some EU bureaucrats like to claim victory with the last bailout payment which was supposed to arrive in Athens on August 20th of 2018 at which point Greece exited its bailout. Greek finances where a mess and debt-to GDP ratio soared to nearly 180%.During that period, Greece saw GDP contractions almost every year, unemployment soar and incomes shrink.

When Brexit negotiations started, everyone expected to face some tough discussions which would range from the divorce bill to citizens right and from a trade deal to security. The easiest to agree on issue was supposed to be the right of citizens, but even that has not been resolved yet. The UK’s commitment to European security appears to be the only positive agreement so far, while the size of the divorce bill has held trade talks hostage.