EU Has Risen to the Occasion

Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France | August 19, 2008

The EU can be proud of achieving a cease-fire between Russia and Georgia. ++ The Caucasus crisis has shown that the EU is able to create a space for diplomacy in order to resolve international conflicts. ++ Much remains to be done if the situation is to be stabilized in the long run but so far the EU has risen to the occasion. ++ Europe made Russia listen by choosing "action and negotiation over rhetoric and mere denunciation." ++ Once the Lisbon Treaty is ratified EU will have even better means to resolve international crises.