Washington, 02/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - Receiving the "Transatlantic Leadership Award" from the European Institute with Madeleine Albright last week in Washington, the Secretary General of the EU Council/High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, stressed before his American discussion partners the depth of current changes in Europe. He said: "You will be talking to a very different European Union in a few years' time". On the subject of security and defence policy, Mr Solana said that, since he took over his post a few months ago, he has been struck by the "commitment of the Member States, even those who have traditionally been reticent about pooling areas which touch the heart of national sovereignty". He concluded: "but the political will exists".