Europe ‘axis’ regroups to curb Bush in second term [View All]

The Times
By Greg Hurst, Political Correspondent in Brussels

FRANCE, Germany and Spain signalled a new alliance yesterday to strengthen the European Union’s political project as a counterbalance to the United States after the re-election of President Bush.
The triple axis formed by “old Europe” powers, whose leaders were the most vociferous in opposing the Iraq war, was a rebuff to Tony Blair’s accusation that they were in a “state of denial” over the outcome of America’s presidential election.

Jacques Chirac, France’s President, declared that the result left the world “more multi-polar than ever” and said that Europe must react by strengthening its political unity and press ahead with its new constitution.

“The confirmation of strong American politics leads naturally to the necessity to reinforce Europe politically and economically,” M Chirac said at an EU summit in Brussels.

“Europe today has more than ever the need and necessity to reinforce its unity. That is the goal of the constitution.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1346318,00.html