Old Europe

This article is about "Old Europe" a term in contemporary politics. See Old European culture for the archaelogical meaning of the term.

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In January 2003 the term Old Europe surfaced after the U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld used it to refer to European countries that did not support the 2003 invasion of Iraq. On January 22, 2003 Rumsfeld answered a question from a Dutch questioner about the potential US invasion:

Related Topics:
2003 - Secretary of Defense - Donald Rumsfeld - 2003 invasion of Iraq - January 22

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:Q: Sir, a question about the mood among European allies. You were talking about the Islamic world a second ago. But now the European allies. If you look at, for example, France, Germany, also a lot of people in my own country -- I'm from Dutch public TV, by the way -- it seems that a lot of Europeans rather give the benefit of the doubt to Saddam Hussein than President George Bush. These are U.S. allies. What do you make of that?

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:Rumsfeld: Well, it's -- what do I make of it?

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:Q: They have no clerics. They have no Muslim clerics there.

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:Rumsfeld: Are you helping me? (Laughter.) Do you think I need help? (Laughter.)

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:What do I think about it? Well, there isn't anyone alive who wouldn't prefer unanimity. I mean, you just always would like everyone to stand up and say, Way to go! That's the right to do, United States.

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:Now, we rarely find unanimity in the world. I was ambassador to NATO, and I -- when we would go in and make a proposal, there wouldn't be unanimity. There wouldn't even be understanding. And we'd have to be persuasive. We'd have to show reasons. We'd have to -- have to give rationales. We'd have to show facts. And, by golly, I found that Europe on any major issue is given -- if there's leadership and if you're right, and if your facts are persuasive, Europe responds. And they always have.

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:Now, you're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe. If you look at the entire NATO Europe today, the center of gravity is shifting to the east. And there are a lot of new members. And if you just take the list of all the members of NATO and all of those who have been invited in recently -- what is it? Twenty-six, something like that? -- you're right. Germany has been a problem, and France has been a problem.

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:Q: But opinion polls --

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:Rumsfeld: But -- just a minute. Just a minute. But you look at vast numbers of other countries in Europe. They're not with France and Germany on this, they're with the United States.

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Rumsfeld's "Old Europe" is probably equivalent to the European Union, with the exception of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain (where the government supported the U.S. until it was voted out of power), Italy, Denmark, Portugal and the newly joined Central European and Baltic states Hungary, Poland, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic. Other European states gave some support to the US invasion, including Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria.

Related Topics:
European Union - United Kingdom - Netherlands - Spain - Italy - Denmark - Portugal - Central Europe - Baltic states - Hungary - Poland - Lithuania - Czech Republic - European - Croatia - Romania - Bulgaria

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The German translation altes Europa was the word of the year for 2003 in Germany, because German politicians and commentators responded by often using it in a sarcastic way. However, altes Europa and Old Europe now frequently surface in European economic and political discourse in novel and serious ways.

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In contrast to Rumsfeld's usage of "Old Europe", the term New Europe (and Neues Europa) also appeared, reflecting either the European states that supported the war, the newly accepted to the EU Central European states, or a new economically and technologically dynamic and liberal Europe, often including the United Kingdom.

Related Topics:
New Europe - EU - United Kingdom

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In light of the history of European diplomacy, it may also reflect power conflicts within the EU as member nations resent the power and influence demanded by France and Germany.

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