European Union leaders have had a successful summit meeting at Porto Carras near Thessaloniki after an exceptionally difficult six months in world and European affairs.
The range of issues covered and progress made is impressive. They have adopted the draft constitution prepared by the Convention on the Future of Europe. They had a thorough debate on immigration and asylum policies which should apply in an enlarged EU. And on foreign, security and defence policy they have made a confident and united commitment to develop more coherent and disciplined structures after the disarray over Iraq.
There was little sign here of the divisions between old and new Europe so prominent a few months ago. EU enlargement, now endorsed by substantial votes in favour by Poles and Czechs, has created a real dynamic affecting various areas of its work.
This was most notable in the Convention's final stages under the direction of Mr Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, who brokered compromises thought unthinkable by many sceptical onlookers. They were needed in time to complete a new treaty to give a political framework to enlargement by rationalising decision-making and representation. It now looks as if the constitutional treaty will be completed in good time to welcome the new states next year. That is a major political achievement.
Of equal importance is the maturing discussion at this summit on the EU's common foreign, security and defence policies. An excellent paper from Mr Javier Solana set out the EU's potential new doctrine in these areas, covering essential interests, values and the means of achieving them. The emphasis is on multilateral approaches, including United Nations endorsement and a worldwide focus reflecting the nature of international threats. Repairing and developing transatlantic relations after the Iraq crisis is put centre stage, but on the basis of a much more equal approach. There is a clear delineation of regional and global threats affecting EU interests and values and a determination to tackle them more effectively. It remains to be seen whether such political confidence can translate itself into greater economic confidence. The European economy badly needs a stimulus, from structural reforms at national and EU levels, if it is to recover. It would be foolish to overlook the difference that can flow from political change successfully executed. For this, other Europeans should be thankful to the Greek EU presidency. Ironically, this will be the last such national summit to be held, following agreement that an enlarged EU must adopt a different approach to its political administration.