Cancun: a paper tiger

jurgen maier
The strategy of the European Union (eu) did seem to be transformed in the conference centres of Cancun. A coherent eu policy is non-existent. Europe is deeply divided between the American satellites (the uk, Spain and Italy) and the Gaullist camp (France, Germany and Belgium). There is distrust and antagonism among the European nations as well as between the various ministries of a country. In Germany, for instance, the economics and environment ministries regularly attack each other in public. Such infighting makes it amply clear that the eu is simply not a player with smart tactics, unlike the us.

The picture will become clearer with 10 new members joining the eu next year. Some experts perceive that the