Gian Enrico Rusconi on Europe-weary Europeans

US President Barack Obama is visiting Europe this week. But even if he ascribes the EU an important role in the world his friendly words will be contradicted by reality, writes political expert Gian Enrico Rusconi in the liberal daily La Stampa: "A rigid institution has developed, an apparatus of presidents, commissioners, committees, functionaries, norms, rules, laws and clauses. But in the end it's only the most influential nations who secretly decide everything. As soon as Europe is confronted with joint and binding challenges it becomes insecure, divided and basically powerless. ... The eloquent Obama will not fail to ascribe Europe a central role in public. No doubt he will find pretty words to revive the great 'dream'. ... But the Europeans - the citizens even more than the governments - have used up their reserves for idealised mobilisation. The Europeans' love of Europe has faded. ... The expectations of a continent in development have evaporated and its people are angry at the official Europe rhetoric."

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