I believe that transatlantic relations are very important and that President Bush's visit to Brussels, in a few days, will have a major impact on that.

When I see the cultural diversity that exists today, I feel that we must defend it, and we need Europe, because otherwise we are going to live in a society with a single model, the Anglo-American model.

What's very important is that we build a space that matters in the world, one that operates according to democratic rules, and that small and large countries enjoy a good relationship.

I think that we must come together progressively, with the British, the Germans, the Spanish, the Italians and with the new members of the European Union, we must make an effort to forge closer links.

I believe that transatlantic relations are very important and that President Bush's visit to Brussels, in a few days, will have a major impact on that.

But the Republic has its rules and it must not tolerate any abuse of them.

Obviously, there is diversity, but Europe is a union of diversity.