08/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - The number nine issue of Challenge Europe, the European Policy Centre (EPC) founded by Stanley Crossick focuses on the theme of "repairing the Damage: European Disunity and Global Crisis" and the consequences of the war in Iraq. Governments and citizens had attempted to warn (about the dangers of) this war and now had to say no to such a strategy for the future, asserts Max Kohnstamm, Honorary President of the EPC. He also warned that in order to establish a strategy for peace it would be necessary for the EU Member States to agree to a high level of sharing sovereignty even if it was necessary for "transition periods like in the past". He explained that it was clear from the beginning that at the end of these periods the right of veto would be abolished even in areas such as foreign and defence policy. As indicated in the introduction by John Palmer, Policy Director at the EPC, Iraq is examined in this edition of Challenge Europe. It is also looked at by Alyson Bailes, Director of the International Research Institute for Peace in Stockholm (which mentions the "love and fear in the EU-US relationship" and asserts that, "collectively, the EU is not a jackal but a fox and could be a tiger in the future". Ian Davidson, the well respected British commentator says that the key issue for 2003 is not Iraq but the USA. He also believes that Tony Blair is no where near the "heart of Europe" and that the European slogan of new labour is there in full and is in large part responsible for the "mess" in Europe. Simon Duke, Professor at the European Institute of Public Administration in Maastricht, is more optimistic and considers that the time is right for developing a joint European diplomatic corps. (The European Policy Centre, residence palace, 1555 rue de la Loi, 1040 Brussels. Tel: 02 2 231 0304; Fax: 32 2 231 0704; E-mail: info@TheEPC.be).