Believe me. People were quite angry.
Legally the US might be able to impose sanctions, the EU probably won't follow suit and if they do it will be token sanctions, but right now Europe is in a really weak position economically. The sanctions have only exacerbated this.
On the Euro, I don't know about that. I know it was configured primarily to benefit Germany. That seems to be the primary goal. The Dutch also saw tremendous benefit based on their close economic ties to Germany and being a large trading hub/export route for German industry.
With respect to the EU it very much seems like the US left Germany as a 'cop on the beat' to police/regulate/stabilize Europe after 1949. The EU was supposed to be a "peaceful" solution to this- a way to provide order without permitting military ambitions and conquest. Germany more or less took it over, because that's what they generally do whenever they unify. Their mistake is in thinking they are in a strong position- they are overplaying their hand right now. Not only are they in a deceptively weak position economically, but they are also making tons of enemies both within and outside the EU.
The way things are going, if the EU fragments, we're into a period in Europe of extreme volatility and uncertainty.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2017 08:48AM by istirith.