Americans should review stance
When the European Constitution goes into force, how will it affect transatlantic relations? The US’s positions regarding European integration have been variable. Some administrations, such as those of Kennedy, Nixon or Bush senior took a positive view, but others, such as the current American presidency, prefer to see Europe divided, as they believe this will be to their benefit. Don’t forget the comments of (Secretary of Defense) Donald Rumsfeld on the «old Europe.» I do not really know what this refers to. What would we say, for example, about Greece, a country with a history going back millennia? I also think the Americans realize that if they persist with these views, Europe will react. Today, Europeans have a convergence of views on specific issues. So the Americans would do well to revise their stance. I known them well. Whenever I meet with them I say: «There are 450 million of us and 300 million of you. This is a total of 750 million. That is half the population of China, and soon half that of India. So we should probably cooperate to our mutual benefit.» The idea that 300 million people will govern a world that soon will have a population of 10 billion does not seem realistic to me.
