Wallstrom warns of Iraq war effects on Europe

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday March 31, 2003 17:29 by observer

Getting ready for the resource wars of the future

MARGOT WALLSTRÖM - EU Commissioner for environment predicted that some EU member states will move on with a cooperation, that not all can - or want to take part in.
Swedish EU Commissioner for environment, Margot Wallström on Friday warned over the American interpretation of the war against Iraq and its consequences for the EU cooperation.

"Even before the war was started we were told about the conflict as if it was a sports match. One becomes the victim of own war rhetoric, when believing to be technical superior to a small, dirty country as Iraq has been portrayed", she said in a speech at the Swedish embassy in Copenhagen clearly pointing at the US.

The war will have wide-ranging effects on the EU cooperation, she said.

"Either the EU builds a military force not to have to call on the US in case of another conflict in the Balkans, or the rhetoric must be adjusted to the realities. Only the member states can decide what way to go. But we might be in a deeper crisis than we realise", Ms Wallström said.

For the work in the Convention she also saw other implications. "I see it as very important to safeguard the community method with room for all the three institutions, the Commission, the Parliament and the Council", she stated and added that there is a "real risk to see Europe develop into two tracks".

"If the leaders of Europe do not manage to agree on handling the after-war situation in Iraq, then I am convinced that some member states will move on with a cooperation, that not all can - or want to take part in", she said.