Europe Foreign Policy Eastern Europe

Attempting to exploit their newly won collective power in foreign affairs, leaders of the 12-nation European Community expanded their support for the Middle East peace process Saturday and launched a new initiative to help stabilize the former Communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. "It is right that we play a major role in these areas," noted Belgian Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene, who, as leader of the host country, chaired the meeting here.

Attempting to exploit their newly won collective power in foreign affairs, leaders of the 12-nation European Community expanded their support for the Middle East peace process Saturday and launched a new initiative to help stabilize the former Communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. "It is right that we play a major role in these areas," noted Belgian Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene, who, as leader of the host country, chaired the meeting here.

More than two years after the fall of the Berlin Wall raised hopes of an end to the Continent's long division, Europe is spinning further apart, not coming closer together. Dramatic events over the last two days in Minsk and Maastricht--European cities thousands of miles and worlds apart--have underscored this reality. Indeed, one of the few things these events share is that both present new challenges to the United States.

More than two years after the fall of the Berlin Wall raised hopes of an end to the Continent's long division, Europe is spinning further apart, not coming closer together. Dramatic events over the last two days in Minsk and Maastricht--European cities thousands of miles and worlds apart--have underscored this reality. Indeed, one of the few things these events share is that both present new challenges to the United States.