Some people desire simplicity, and will think it into existence if necessary. I expect the author of those words didn't, for example, think about the Netherlands being a net contributor to the EU, he just knew it's a small country.
In the EU, net contributors seem to have something awfully close to an effective veto regarding minor issues, so this is good news.
> In the EU, net contributors seem to have something awfully close to an effective veto regarding minor issues,
Do you have a source for this? I never got this impression. Some countries have proportionally large influence due to their size, namely France and Germany. Some others due to the high quality diplomats and politicians they send to Europe, such as Belgium and Italy.
Some countries actively sabotage their own influence in the EU, by showing nothing but hostility and obstruction (UK), or by using the EU as a kind of retirement plan for politicians and diplomats that failed domestically (Netherlands). Always echoing the German point of view should not be seen as "an effective veto", it is essentially an attempt to stay in favor with their formerly close, powerful friend to the east, who has been getting less and less interested over the years, as his attention shifts towards the East.
I read SZ (sz.de), which has separate articles about major issues and the occasional summary of minor things, e.g. when parliament is dissolved. "Other topics this year included: ..." Those other topics, the ones that don't merit separate articles, are the ones I have in mind.
In the EU, net contributors seem to have something awfully close to an effective veto regarding minor issues, so this is good news.