Brussels, 28/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and its main challenges of the moment (constitutional crisis, debate on the future of Europe, budget 2007-2013, reform of its economic and social model, etc) were conspicuous by their absence from the speech of the British Prime Minister- and current president of the European Council- Tony Blair, speaking before Tuesday's Labour Party Conference in Brighton. The EU did not merit a single mention by Mr Blair, who simply said that Europe will have to face up to globalisation by opening up its markets and by modernising constantly. “In the era of rapid globalisation, there is no mystery about what works: an open, liberal economy, prepared constantly to change to remain competitive. The new world rewards those who are open to it”, he said. The United Kingdom is on the right track with reform and is increasingly setting the pace in this field, said Mr Blair. He added that Britain has nothing to do with French malaise or German Angst.