You feel that very profoundly in Aachen when you are in front of the throne of Charlemagne. I firmly believe that, from the economic and monetary angle, there are even more reasons to unify Europe today than 60 years ago, with India, China and the formidable progress of the emerging economies.
SZ: French politicians have also spoken in favour of a European ministry – as a counterbalance to the ECB. Trichet: I think they understood that it was a totally wrong approach. The ECB is fiercely independent and this is not challenged anywhere in Europe. It is at the heart of the Maastricht Treaty.