If there really is now a coalition of the willing in favor of a common European policy...

There's really no "if" about it, regardless of what Anne would like to believe. The 27 nations of the EU have either ratified or, endorsed the ratification of, the Lisbon Treaty, one of whose provisions is the appointment of a European president and high commissioner, the function of whom will be to represent a common EU foreign policy as decided by the European Council. Whatever one might think of such a prospect, there's really no doubt but that there is an EU-wide "coalition of the willing".

You and I wish. But the individual foreign policies of France, the UK and Germany will all draw more water than a pan-European foreign policy. That is, unless you get an individual in charge who actually commands a measure of attention and respect. Yeah, I actually agree with Anne on this one.

People murmur about Tony Blair, but I would just as soon elevate Sarkozy to the job.

As much as Europe thinks the right thoughts, they have a terrible habit of never getting of their asses to do anything about it. Lets hope that they beat the odds this time.

his declare europhilia has never been followed by acts.

He did nothing to dampen the caricatural anti-europeanism that runs in all social classes in UK.

And his keen support to GW during the initial stages of the Irak invasion shows clearly where is heart was.

Not even among its political class beneficiaries does any one believe in this Presidential coronation (there will be no contest for fear of stirring up national antipathies, rather defeating the object at the outset). 'Euroland democracy' is a project with ever growing contradictions. Ignoring these is not possible when the issue is much more fundamental than food subsidies or a common speed limit for motor cars.

When the issue was apples or butter, there was a certain prevailing mood of uninterest, except among French farmers demanding (in effect) more German money. Now the questions being put are much more central and less tractable. Euroland's quest for a foreign policy is best summarised as 'whose foreign policy?' Whatever the outcome for Euroland's waltzing politicians let not sensible people confuse it with democracy. It will be imposed on the "coalition of the unwilling" if past form is anything to go by.