Congratulations to Angela Merkel as she picks up her new honorary doctorate today. The Chancellor's popularity has been on the wane in Germany, with it recently hitting a five year low, so she'll be relieved that two Belgian universities - Louvain and Ghent - still think she's great.

Mrs Merkel won't be bowled over to get what will be her ninth academic award. She has been showered with them for most of her time as Chancellor. And now she is being honoured for her "diplomatic and political efforts to develop the political strength of Europe, and to defend the values that allow our continent to find unity in diversity".

Few would doubt she excelled on the first part by establishing herself as the foremost champion of the European Union. Without her as the lynchpin, the political bloc would be in a much shakier state than it is today. But her zeal has meant others have, in particular Greece, had to pay the price to keep the European project on track. As the Greek economy suffered, her brinksmanship ensured the bailout negotiations were even more protracted and grueling for its people.