We don't need a Europe which believes it could or should do everything, but a Europe that can deliver on its key tasks. What we need is a rational debate, a debate which is policy and politics driven, on these questions. And this debate needs people to push it forward. The Commission intends to play its full role in the post-Nice process, and so will the European Parliament. As for Member States, there seems to be a strong German-French alliance in the making to move the ball forward.
Myths are politically useful, but fairy tales take some believing.
That is where I see the main asset of strong German-French ties. So if Berlin and Paris manage to develop a common understanding of what the European project should be about in the future, we will have made a big step forward. However, this is not to say that the debate about the future of Europe should be left to heads of states and government or to the EU institutions. Today is part of this process. So the floor's yours.