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Europe's dynamic duo - or the blunder brothers?

• Mark Mardell
• 15 Apr 08, 04:11 PM

When Berlusconi was Prime Minister of Italy before, he wasn’t always loved by his fellow European leaders.

disgusted many.

At European summits, he was rumoured to go shopping in Brussels’ upmarket antique shops when the meetings got too dull.

Aside from his ally in support of the Iraq War and , he hadn’t many friends. But this time around, will he have a bosom buddy?

Think of this.

A flamboyant, conservative, shoots-from-the-hip pro American, accused of manipulating the media and coming out with asides that shock the more delicate of his countrymen.

The new prime minister of Italy, of course. And also the newish president of France.

A dynamic duo: both, you could say, short and to-the-point. Nicolas Sarkozy was just another cabinet minister when Berlusconi last strutted the European stage, but the two are said to get on extremely well.

Mr Sarkozy

Diplomats in European capitals are scratching their heads, trying to work out how these two little men with big personalities change the dynamics in Europe. For it is beyond doubt that Berlusconi’s election does change things.

It is impossible to predict, but will be interesting to observe, whether these two similar personalities will clash or complement each other.

Will they be searching for the most outrageous soundbite, furious if one upstages the other? Or will they slap each other on the back and join forces?

An early summit between the two is on the cards; certainly there is a lot to discuss.

Atlanticists

Behind the stylistic similarities and eccentricities, they are both Atlanticists and both conservatives, with a stronger belief in the national interest.

The biggest and most important European countries now all have leaders who believe in strong ties with America. The wound of Iraq is fading.

If a Democrat wins the US elections, the relationship with Europe is likely to become stronger and easier still. Then there is always Iran.

Berlusconi is likely to be a supporter of France playing a fuller role in Nato and could give important backing to France’s vision of a new, bolder European defence initiative, particularly one that is about organisation rather than boots on the ground, or rather helicopters in the sky.

Italy and France both suffer budget deficits and a serious problem of consumer confidence because of rising prices.

Mr Sarkozy may find a new ally in beating up the European Central Bank and calling for it to take a more political, and less purist approach.

He is certainly likely to find an ally against the commission’s desire to make the common European market a protection-free zone.

°Υ³σ±π°ω±π’s .

Italy already strongly backs it but Mr Berlusconi will give it more visibility and perhaps have some interesting views on those on the other side of β€œOur Sea” as the Romans called the Med.

Incendiary peacocks

For concern about immigration from North Africa is going to be another area of common policy concern, for his policy of amnesties.

Italy will now add its voice to those big European countries who want the president of the European Council, set up by the Lisbon treaty, to be something of a counterweight to the European Commission, a figure on the world stage.

Mr Sarkozy has already proposed Tony Blair and it is inconceivable that Mr Berlusconi wouldn’t back his old friend if he wanted to throw his hat in the ring.

All eyes will be on Mr Berlusconi at the June summit. Sometimes we bemoan the lack of big personalities to bring European politics to life.

Now we have a pair of peacocks with incendiary ideas. The relatively colourless Ms Merkel and Mr Brown will be watching and biting their nails.

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