No Referenda for the Europeans: Such is European Democracy!

Photo of Nicolas Sarkozy courtesy of SpiegelOnline International

SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL: All of Europe's internal divisions were revealed at the Brussels summit. Once again, selfish national interests were promoted with tricks, threats and embarrassing haggling. Nevertheless, the result is a step forward for the European Union.

Of course, in the end there were only winners. Angela Merkel, Germany's new superwoman, chancellor in Berlin and, as a side-line, Europe's savior, summed up. She said, "everything that we wanted was achieved." France's President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that it was "very good news for Europe and for France: Things have been taken care of." Of course he had played a big part in it. As had British Prime Minister Tony Blair and many others.

Even Poland's President Lech Kaczynski, who had continuously threatened to torpedo the European Union summit, saw himself as a winner too. The solution that had been found for the EU Council voting system was "more favorable for Poland than the square root" -- a system the ruling Kaczynski twins had said they were willing to die for prior to the Brussels summit. The Fresh Impetus that Europe Desperately Needs (more) By Hans-Jürgen Schlamp in Brussels

Mark Alexander