Divided by a common language but united by a common market

MOST of the European decision-making mechanism is now on vacation but in September we will see what portfolios will be allotted to Charlie McCreevy, Peter Mandelson and their various new Commission colleagues.

The main priority identified for the new European Commission, under José Manuel Barroso, is the sharpening of Europe’s competitiveness and improving Europe’s sluggish economic growth rates.

Whatever about these economic challenges, the central political task facing the European Commission and indeed all leading European politicians over the next few years is the ratification of the new European Union constitution. Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern in particular are likely to spend some of their holidays in Barbados and Kerry respectively doing some strategic thinking about how to get the European constitution passed by referenda in their respective countries.