Lawyers have been keen to jump on the new Europe bandwagon, with the 1 May expansion being preceded by a beano in Brussels between the law societies of England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the bars of Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein.

All six share a joint lobbying office in the heart of the new Europe and there was much talk of the brave new world stretching from the Irish Sea to the Baltics.

But there were also remnants of ancient European traditions.

Rupert Wolff welcomed the throng with an explanation of the origins of the full name of his own Austrian Bar, Der Osterreichische Rechtsanwaltskammertag.

According to Mr Wolff - who should know as he is the bar's vice-president - the elaborate title refers to the 'burning of the day', with lots of medieval implications of mid-summer rebirth.

This Wicker Man-style approach might have struck a few chords with the Scots, but everyone else looked suitably confused and bemused.