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Map of Europe |
Fall 2001 Volume 2 - Number 4
Leader in Focus
NATO Must Prepare for "Unthinkable" Challenges
George Robertson
Secretary General of NATO
Current trade debates focus too much on whether trade liberalization increases trade, rather than on whether it increases jobs. If we can establish that more trade means more jobs, we shall have a much better chance of persuading developing countries to support a new round of multilateral trade negotiations in the WTO, and of getting the new round started promptly.
Special Report
The Transatlantic Response to Terrorism
Promise and Pitfalls for the U.S.-European Alliance
Antony Blinken
Senior Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Europeans have reacted to the terrorist attack on America with profound emotion and offers of support to the United States. The United States may prefer to keep its independence by not always operating under the NATO umbrella, but it will seek many kinds of support from Europe, ranging from military to diplomatic and financial, and from intelligence to law enforcement. There may well be problems along the way, but the Europeans remain the best allies America has.
NATO's Article 5: The Conditions for a Military and a Political Coalition
Robert E. Hunter
Senior Advisor, RAND Corporation
The invocation of NATO's Article 5 for the first time in history symbolized European support for the United States in the war against terrorism. But Washington has as much a need for political as for military support. It is in Europe's strategic interest to maintain solidarity with the United States. It is not yet clear, however, how the Bush Administration would react if Europe makes a series of political demands on Washington in return.
Are the U.S. and EU Listening to Each Other?
Stuart Eizenstat
Head of International Practice, Covington & Burling; former US Ambassador to the European Union
The tragic terrorist attacks of September 11 may provide a golden opportunity to renew active collaboration between the European Union and the United States, which have recently been adopting a more competitive mindset toward each other. There is some truth to each side's criticism of the other, and a number of serious political and economic tests lie ahead. But in the end the transatlantic relationship is likely to emerge stronger, not weaker.
Failures of U.S. Intelligence: Americans Must Become Better Spies
John Lenczowski
Director; John J. Tierney, Faculty Chairman, and Walter Jajko, Defense Fellow, The Institute of World Politics
Largely because of the openness and plurality of its society, the United States has allowed its intelligence services to succumb to major defects, especially an excessive reliance on technology, rather than on human intelligence. There must be major reforms in the intelligence services, and a new appreciation that spying is essential to protect society, if the war on terrorism is to be won. As in the 20th century, cooperation with Europe will be essential to determine the course of the 21st.
An Urgent Role for Congress in Airline Security
James L. Oberstar (D-Minnesota)
Ranking Minority Member, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Congress has been swift to deal with many of the dire consequences of the September 11 terrorist attacks. It has granted aid to the airlines, which suffered a huge financial blow. Now it must urgently consider further measures to protect the travel industry and its employees, including the use of federal workers to screen passengers and their baggage. It will also be vital to cooperate with European and other countries, including Russia and China.
Europe Asks for a Global Approach to Airline Problems
Arnaud Camus
Assistant Vice-President for International Agreements, Air France
European airlines want increasing worldwide cooperation, and are concerned that Europe is moving more slowly than the United States in introducing new security measures and state aids. It is important that these measures not distort competition. The Europeans want a new Transatlantic Cooperation Agreement to address the main issues facing the industry.
European Integration
EU Entry Could Help to Solve the Cyprus Problem
George Vassiliou
Head of the Republic of Cyprus Negotiating Team for Accession to the European Union
Cyprus is proceeding rapidly in its negotiations to join the EU, meaning that the question may soon arise as to whether it can join as a divided island. The EU has promised to admit Cyprus even if the "Cyprus problem" remains unsolved. For the moment the search for a solution is deadlocked, but Cypriot EU membership might help to unify the island.
Economic Crisis May Push Turkey Toward The EU
Yalim Eralp
Former Ambassador of Turkey to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
For historical, political and psychological reasons, many Turks have a deep mistrust of the European Union, even though they have long sought to join it. Turkey is right to feel aggrieved over the way it has often been treated by Brussels in the past. Many Turks have also been ambivalent about the benefits of EU membership. But as the EU enlarges eastward, the latest Turkish economic crisis has finally persuaded most Turks that EU entry is essential.
The Nice Treaty Should be Ratified - Then Repaired
Erik Berglöf
Director, SITE, Stockholm School of Economics
The Treaty of Nice, agreed at a marathon summit meeting by EU leaders last December, was meant to pave the way for the EU's enlargement and ensure that its institutions continue to function after the number of members almost doubles. Whether by accident or design, the institutional provisions of the Treaty are seriously flawed. The answer is to ratify the treaty to allow enlargement to proceed, which is the first priority, and then to fix its defects.
Will Ireland's "No" Stop EU Enlargement?
Joe Carroll
former Washington Correspondent, The Irish Times
Ireland's rejection of the Treaty of Nice, providing for the enlargement of the European Union, has caused dismay in the other 14 EU countries, as well as among candidate countries for membership in Central and Eastern Europe. The country's political establishment argues that the vote does not really represent majority opinion and is looking for a way to allow the treaty to enter into force so that enlargement can go ahead. Ireland will probably have to hold another referendum.
Finance and Banking
More Integrated Global Markets Survived Terrorist Attack
Karen Johnson
Director, International Finance Division, Federal Reserve System
International asset prices are conforming more closely, even as volatility in financial markets is growing. There have been huge increases in capital flows across the Atlantic and the coming of the euro has encouraged diversification of portfolios. Although the September 11 terrorist attack was also an attack on the global financial system, the system has rebounded from this assault.
Politics and Society
Anti-globalization Movement Could Throw The EU Off Course
Philippe Lemaître
Brussels Correspondent, European Affairs
European leaders are becoming increasingly concerned that the anti-globalization movement could undermine plans to enlarge the EU to include Central and Eastern European countries. The anti-globalization protesters have given new strength to opponents of the European Union in the various member states, an important sign of which was the rejection of the EU's Treaty of Nice in a referendum in Ireland. The EU must rapidly improve its image and show more constructive leadership if it is to stay on course.
"Civil Society" Will Play a Key Role in Creating a Better World
Paul Trân Van Thinh
Former Ambassador and Permanent EU Representative to the GATT
The terrorist attacks of September 11 have tragically drawn attention to the dark side of globalization. Civil society, composed of Non-Governmental Organizations, pressure groups and demonstrators, has been distancing itself from the terrorists. But in fact the problems that are the root causes of terrrorism, such as poverty, frustration and corruption, are the very problems that civil society has been trying to combat for many years.
Opinion
Why Putin Wants Russia To Become More European
Jury Sigov
Washington Bureau Chief, Delovye Lyudy and Novye Izvestia
When President Vladimir Putin came to power, he switched Russia's strategic priorities toward closer involvement with Western Europe. The events of September 11 mean that Moscow will now cooperate more closely with the United States, especially in the war against terrorism, and, hopefully, economically. But the underlying aim of Russia's policy will still be to integrate much more closely into Europe, which it feels is its natural home.
Book Reviews
Untangling Different Visions of Europe
Rethinking Europe's Future. By David P. Calleo
Reviewed by Stephen Fidler
A French View of Today's World
France in an Age of Globalization.
By Hubert Védrine with Dominique Moïsi
Reviewed by Jacqueline Grapin
Yes, France and America Really Are Different
Au Contraire! Figuring Out The French.
By Gilles Asselin and Ruth Mastron
Letter to the Editor
Terence Murphy: We Should Not Have Hidden the Truth About Kyoto