16/02/2006 3:34:18 pm
Dawn in DC. In a Washington, DC, where spring has suddenly come and where many seem somewhat preoccupied with the Vice President?s hunting accident, I yesterday gave three speeches about my book "European Dawn".

First, I spoke at what is known as the most important regular meeting in town, the Wednesday Meeting at the Americans for Tax Reform. Grover Norquist leads this meeting of some 120 people from the White House, think-tanks, Congress, and various lobby groups.

Second, I did my main lecture at the Heritage Foundation, the biggest think-tank in the US. It was well-visited and very professionally organised. The entire speech can be viewed here, at the Heritage web page, under Events Archive.

And the third speech was at the Treasury, for the staff at the Department for International Affairs. I was invited by the Under Secretary of the Treasury, Tim Adams, and we first had a meeting in his office (which was the President?s for a while after Lincoln was assassinated). A very interesting visit indeed.

There is a geunine interest in Washington, DC, in what happens with Europe. Will there be reform or further protectinist and statist backlashes? The Americans want a strong and growing Europe as a partner, not a declining, over-regulated and over-taxed museum continent. I have given an optimistic message that reform is coming also to Western Europe. But the question is fo course when.