As somebody who is usually naively optimistic it comes as a nasty surprise to myself to conclude that the EU is weaker after the Iraq crisis. Still, Johan Cruyff (ex-professional footbal player, amateur philosopher and a natural pessimist) once said that 'every advantage has a drawback'. Turning this around, I will conclude that every drawback presents an opportunity.

The main opportunity from the Iraq crisis for the EU is that it has highlighted a number of shortcomings in the EU that already existed but that people mistakenly believed did not matter enough in order for them to be treated with real urgency. If the Iraq crisis has served to highlight the need to act, then something good will have come out of it.

On foreign policy, the EU's lack of a common policy has been well demonstrated and has increased the pressures for reduced EU influence. Now the US 'hardliners' even mistake France and Germany as representative for the whole of the EU, trying to push the EU in a corner of anti-American, anti-Israeli cowards. For example, many US congressmen and senators recently signed a petition that cast doubt on the validity of the 'Roadmap for peace' between the Israelis and Palestinians, due to supposed lack of credibility of its signatories (which include, besides the US, the EU, the UN and Russia). Now that the true nature of those behind the Roadmap has been revealed in the Iraq war, the petition implies, the US should not take it too seriously either. Similarly, the loud calls for a dominant role for the UN in the reconstruction of Iraq seem to fall on deaf ears.

On defence, it is clear that Europe does not have its own viable defence capability or policy. Here, it remains to be seen whether the recent effort of France and Germany provides the leadership which others will join or whether it will further marginalise France and Germany in global politics. It is already clear that some European countries are willing to build a European defence capability and strengthen the European defence industry. However, Europe should make sure that the awarding of defence contracts should still be done in a fair and transparent way (even if this risks that not all defence contracts will stay with European suppliers! The process for awarding the military Airbus engines to Europrop is not a sign of strength).

On the functioning of democracy, the most striking element of Europe's participation in the Iraq war is not the opposition to war of some countries (France and Germany), but the active support or participation of a significant number of European nations (for example UK, Spain, Poland). This participation is striking because it was against the wishes of the vast majority of their populations, who saw this war as unnecessary and unjustified. As Franck Biancheri noted in his article for Tiesweb, the European populations were in fact relatively united in their opposition to war. Several European governments went against the wishes of their people to support war and thereby made Europe look divided.

The opportunity here is for European people to have more of a direct say in the decisions that are (or should be) made at a European level. The Bush administration has helped by antagonising so many Europeans that it is now becoming clear what distinguishes Europeans. Not only on the Iraq war, but also on the environment (see Kyoto) and multilaterism (see international Court of Justice). This is not to say that European-ness should be defined as anti-Amercian. Many Americans also don't agree with the most unilateralist policies of the Bush administration and democratic governments do change. Also, Europeans should remember that they have more in common with the people of the Unites States than with anyone else.

On the economic front, Europe may begin to realise that it should count on its own efforts to come out of the current slowdown. Internal reforms are needed in many fields (pensions, labour market, agricultural policy) to make Europe more dynamic. Again, Europe should not become strong 'at the expense' of the US, but 'together with' the US, opening markets while respecting the environment and workers' rights.

The Iraq crisis and the events preceding it have taken the shine off some of the EU's most impressive recent achievements, including a successful introduction of the euro and preparations for enlargement. The EU political system looks weaker as a result of Iraq but there is now increased awareness that profound changes are needed.