For too long, decisions have been taken behind closed doors - tablets of stone have simply been past down to people without bothering to involve people, listen to their views or give them information about what we are doing and why.

Instead of saying that globalization is a fact, that it's inevitable, we've also got to demonstrate that while the growing interdependence of the world economy is indeed a fact, it's not uncontrollable.

Of course, the EU is not going to fall apart, but at best it will stagnate for the foreseeable future and we will be dealing with quite a lot of internal chaos.

What is most important for Europe is economic growth and jobs, security at home and safety in the world.

Few politicians are good at taking the high ground and throwing themselves off it.

Essentially we need a new social consensus for economic reform as New Labour has achieved in Britain.

Too often we think we can act without explaining and take decisions without justifying them.