Our chance to reshape Europe

OUR presidency of the EU next year gives us an opportunity to leave an even bigger mark on the union’s future if we choose to lead a debate on its place in the world.

The war in Iraq, the transatlantic war of words before and after that war and the current stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have underlined Europe’s weakness on the world stage.

Internal differences have revealed a divided entity with no hope of speaking with one voice on international issues.