An Oasis

Transatlantic Relations

"There is no inherent opposition between power, supposedly the ‘US method, and law, the ‘European method’. Law and power are two sides of the same coin. Power is needed to establish law and law is the legitimate face of power. Sometimes European countries have tended to forget that law and international norms have to be backed by force. And occasionally I have heard American voices that seem to have forgotten that, if it is to have lasting effect, force needs to be backed by legitimacy."

Interesting article, The Future of Transatlantic Relations: Reinvention or Reform?, by Javier Solana at progressive-governance.net which talks of power and the rule of law, and interestingly, I thought, the doctrine of pre-emptive intervention applied to climate change and sustainable development.

Javier Solana is the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Secretary General of the Council of the European Union.

Posted by Paul at July 10, 2003 04:46 PM |