The debate on Europe's future has only just begun that a winning formula is gaining ground to define the point of arrival: the "Federation of Nation-States". In France, this seems to be accepted by both the government (Socialist) and the President of the Republic (Centre). Need it be reminded that Jacques Delors mooted this idea several years ago, at the time when it was still thought as inconvenient and dangerous to discuss the final objective of European construction?

Likewise in another field, enlargement. The President of Bulgaria, Peter Stojanov, launched in Davos, before the auditorium we know well, what he defined himself as an "extravagant idea": the twelve countries candidates for accession would together be proclaimed "political members of the EU" in 2004, whatever the state of their preparation for implementing the acquis communautaire, it being understood that the modalities, periods of transition, adjustment etc., would be defined on a case by case basis, by an appropriate strategy for each candidate. In concrete terms, for each of them, this status would especially have the significance of a "political project, a political and intellectual ambition", but the political gesture would be there.

The Commissioner for enlargement, Gunter Verheugen, declared that this was an interesting idea, which a few years ago could have represented an alternative to the procedure decided on but was now too late. But it is precisely "a few years ago" that Jacques Delors suggested offering all the countries of Central and Eastern Europe immediate participation in a European Confederation. The EU was to have sent them a strong message, marking their participation in the "European family", without waiting for them to be able to take on board and respect all Community legislation. The heads of government at the time, except one, dropped the idea; it was no time for visions of the future. Delors declared to our specialised bulletin "Uniting Europe" that the idea of a Confederation remains valid and that it was realistic (for the full statement of the Bulgarian President, the reaction of Mr. Verheugen and observations by Jacques Delors, see No. 130 of that bulletin, dated 5 February). But Verheugen's response is not very encouraging.

These are two further examples, after those of the "White Paper", of the rule spelt out by Rivarol (see heading). It's so well put that there is nothing to add. (F.R.)