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by Tim Rogmans,
Integration Manager, Gerling NCM
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13th May 2003
Is the EU weaker or stronger after the Iraq crisis?
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... Read the article
15th April 2003
Economic relations between the EU and US after the Iraqi crisis; Now is the time to make the rules clear
The Iraqi crisis and the resulting chill in EU - US relations is spilling over into the economic sphere. Some serious US politicians are still calling for boycotts of French and other European made goods. The EU accuses the US of giving its own firms the major contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq. On 6 April, the US Trade representative Robert Zoellick called upon Europe to 'join the US in expanding prosperity' by cutting agricultural subsidies. Meanwhile Chris Patten and Pascal Lamy have appealed for people to stop shouting in their article 'Let's put away the megaphones'. The progress over the next few months, in preparation for the WTO summit in Cancun in September, will determine whether the EU and US will sit at the table together as true partners ready to sacrifice special interest groups for the benefit of themselves, each other and the developing world, or whether they will bicker and slow down talks... Read the article
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