EU’s new man in Washington calls for fresh relationship

EU’s newly named ambassador in Washington DC, John Bruton,
argues that the Europeans should stop wanting to
misunderstand President Bush.  

In an interview with the Financial Times, the EU’s
new ambassador to the USA, the former Irish
prime minister, John Bruton, has called for pragmatism
and a new relationship between the US and the EU.   

He calls on Europeans not to take the rhetoric too
literally and not to be put off by a tendency for
some American politicians to place emphasis on
religion: 

“Rather than drawing conclusions, we should ask ourselves what
is President Bush telling us. Are we saying that there is no such
thing as evil in the world? And if there is such a thing, what is
wrong with using the world evil?” asks Bruton and adds: “Europeans
can penetrate the American debate. We just have to translate
European into American… Clearly the president is not seeking
God’s advice on where to locate air strikes.”

On the contentious Iraq issue, Bruton call for pragmatism: “We
have to realise where we are now on Iraq: even if the US had the
commitment of the French, Germans, Italians and Spanish, it would
not change the fundamental equation. We need practical answers:
what do Iraqi people need, how can the rest of the Arab world help,
can we work with the Arab League?”

On the looming crisis over Iran’s nuclear program,
Bruton wants to see diplomacy and a soft power approach
rather than tough military power. 

Read more with Euractiv

First steps taken towards a South American 'EU'

South American nations mainly from two free trade areas (Mercosur and the Andean Community) have signed an agreement with the aim of building 'EU-style' regional integration.