You may be bemused to hear from a 2,500-year-old Greek spirit, reputedly of wisdom, casting a few ideas your way via l’express (as time is of the essence), but there’s no space to explain in a few lines. Mauritius’ foreign minister has suffered a self-inflicted eclipse, but in any case it’s more relevant to hear from a local daemon, on loan from Mount Olympos (Greece is after all still in the EU). All eyes may be on Britain’s navel but Brussels could do more to help Remainers. Brexit has international implications, as even little Mauritius’ main TV channel has noticed.

Admittedly, it’s mainly the UK’s fault. Mere Theresa has often spoken in a duplicitous manner – surprisingly for one who goes to church even more often than to Brussels. She’s assumed the impossible task of keeping her party together rather than working in the national interest. And she’s never spoken of the nearly 50% of voters who want to remain, let alone considered the views of the younger generation, unfortunately too immersed in virtual reality to bother to vote – or a petition to remain, signed by about six million people. The whole process seems to be driving her out of her mind, never mind the EU – and her job.

She shares the British trait of being literal-minded, hence Brexit means Brexit, so that the UK’s never had the wit to take advantage of the facilities available to limit immigration. It would have helped if the EU had spoken more publically about them and if Britain had more adequate control and follow-up of immigrants. The Home Office hasn’t been fit for purpose for years, even during Madame’s reign there, as cutting budgets was her first priority.  Free movement is a fine principle but it could do with some adjustment. However, what’s blown British brains most was the mass migration sparked by Mere Merkel’s open-door policy, compassionate perhaps but introduced in the most imperious manner. People don’t like emperors, as Dear Emmanuel has discovered – nor EU bureaucrats and the way the EU budget is inflated by pork-barrel politics.

Madame’s most absurd red line was to stop contributing “huge” sums to the EU budget by simply cherry-picking specific programmes.  Unfortunately little’s been said about how much EU money flows back into Britain. To help solve matters, you could dangle the carrot of an in-depth review of your budget and audit functions, and promise to seek a better balance between Brussels and national parliaments. It might also be worth floating the idea that the EU is going to limit red tape and EU-wide regulations except when absolutely necessary. Mind you, her problems with the ECJ seem intractable although Zeus could lend her a few thunderbolts if that might help.

There are more red lights and lines on both sides than in a brothel. She’s explicitly ruled out membership of the EU’s single market because that’s incompatible with migration controls but the imbroglio is also of the EU’s own making as it keeps side-stepping issues that need addressing. Trying to keep together 27, let alone 28, members may be no easy task but it’s time for the EU to examine its own navel. An EU willing to discuss reform would be a more attractive proposition.  It’s not as if the issues raised in the UK referendum aren’t issues elsewhere and, if nothing’s done, populist parties across Europe may fare rather well in the May elections. Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir. A new way forward is needed from the EU so that Article 50 can be withdrawn – but you’ll need to get a move on and stop waiting for other solutions to fall into your lap from Mount Olympos.