Hmm the French and Germa I learnt at school haven't really been that much use. never met a German or Dutch person that doesn't speak impeccable English. French and German do help you with Spanish which I wish I could have learnt at school. Would have been far more useful given that it is probably the third most widely spoken useful language.
Back in the seventies when our friends had their first child, none of us could have predicted the lad would now be living and working in Shanghai earning good money. married to a Chinese girl with a recent child of their own . Our friends have learnt Chinese. He to a passable level, his wife is fluent and regularly rings up the MIL for a chat on progress etc and have made numerous lengthy visits. Tis a small world once you get past the fog enveloping the English Channel.
You have got to say that it must stick in the craw of your average European country having to speak English when the only substantial country with English as its primary language is leaving the EU. maybe the 100 billion could be spent on teaching esperanto to the 500 million remaining? It would be a fantastic stimulus to GDP.