It was unlikely that growth at that pace would persist, and according to figures released earlier today, the speed of growth early in 2004 was noticeably more moderate. A range of business surveys suggest that conditions experienced in the first four or five months of 2004, while as strong as those of late 2003, were nonetheless better than average.
So the question is simple, but fundamental: is working together still the best way to solve the new challenges which we face? For various reasons the answer is an unequivocal yes. If those challenges are continentwide, acting exclusively at national level is not enough. And if they are global, collaboration between the Member States gives Europe a strong voice.