That’s the Herbert Barth who retired at the end of May, when said hapless journalist was on holiday.
Barth’s automatic reply may be read as an optimistic statement on the durability of the Union.
“I am out of the office until the end of the century. If your message requires more urgent attention — make sure it does — please contact Jan Carlsson or Stefan Kohler. They also know where to find me if you want to contact me for any non-Commission related purposes.”
So the bloc will be around for at least another 86 years — and it already has part of its 2100 funding team in place.
