Member states’ divisions give bad impression in East

Date: 06/03/03

THE image of the EU's common foreign and security policy had been dented in the eyes of Japan following divisions between member states over Iraq, said the Commission envoy.

Describing the splits as "very saddening", Zepter said he was concerned about the tendency towards more intergovernmentalism at the expense of a community approach, adding that even his native Germany seemed increasingly "more tempted in that direction".

However, he reserved his toughest criticism for the US administration, describing its stance as, at times, "highly irresponsible".

He was particularly scathing about Secretary for Defense Donald Rumsfeld's dismissive characterisation of France and Germany as "Old Europe".

"What Rumsfeld said was a disaster. Whenever he opens his mouth he loses an ally.

"I'm a big friend of America, but wedge-driving is the worst thing that can happen," he added.

• Dennis Abbott was invited to Japan by the Foreign Press Center, a non-profit organisation supported by the foreign ministry, Japan Newspapers and Publishers Association and Keidanren (Japan Federation of Economic Federations).

Special thanks to Chise Takahashi and Hiroko Yamada.

The image of the EU's common foreign and security policy has been dented in the eyes of Japan following divisions between Member States over Iraq, according to the European Commission's envoy.