Essential element. The role played by the EU in bringing the conflict between Georgia and Russia to a swift end has been recognised almost unanimously. If there had not been a European initiative, the conflict on the ground would have been extended, with more killing and injury, refugees and destruction. Member states did not always see things the same way, but they managed to reach a sufficiently balanced common position to allow Nicolas Sarkozy to act on behalf of them all. It was the EU...