George bush had one chief aim on his trip to Europe: to find Out if his European allies would help with security challenges in Iraq, Iran and beyond. But to do it, he first had to change the mood, from unilateral to co-operative. At Mainz, in 1989, his father had declared America and Germany to be "partners in leadership". In Brussels, 16 years on, the son did not go so far. But by talking of a "new era of transatlantic unity" and by visiting the top two institutions in the European Union (the European Commission and the Council of Ministers), Mr Bush became the first president to be seen taking the EU, as opposed to NATO or individual countries, seriously as a negotiating partner.
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