The dangers confronting Europe today are less specific than during the cold war. Instability is the new threat and the existence of powerful international institutions is the main element against this new threat. In order to establish a post cold war cooperation framework it should be sufficient to retool and adapt the existing institutional framework by giving priority to mutual interests and shared dangers. The evolution of the ESDP throughout the last fifty years bears with itself all the ups and downs caused by the lack of political will and the differences of opinion between the leading European states. September 11th has been instrumental in reminding the value of the cooperation spirit already developed within NATO, and this spirit of cooperation helped the finalisation of a solution to the ESDP which constitutes a remarkable achievement. Please click here to read the text in full