Resolution 1973 is a European victory.
Europe's universal values of democracy, rule of law and human rights do not fit well with action undertaken by regimes which maintain power by massacring their populations. On France's and the United Kingdom's initiative, the call by the Arab countries to stop the bloodbath launched by the Libyan regime, together with American support succeeded in winning over a courageous Security Council which was forced to heed world opinion. It is a direct blow to cold reason of State which supposedly led inexorably and definitively relations between nations. This heralds the emergence of the concept of an International Community.
It does not matter that the European Union did not succeed in speaking with one voice on this! It is not yet ready. Germany should not be stigmatised either for not having been the first in favour of using force at the service of law. Since the catastrophe of Nazism the Germans no longer believe in military constraint and to criticise them for this would be silly and short-sighted.
Above all what is important is that the main European principles of universal value which are part of our treaties and guide our common institutions are increasingly shared by others and that they become legal realities within international bodies which are helping to define the world of tomorrow. What we have succeeded in doing in Europe - ie stopping wars, reconciling populations, sharing our interests and providing prosperity - is also possible elswhere.
Even though the road we are taking will not be an easy one and though we shall have to face other battles for democracy - in Côte d'Ivoire, Yemen and elsewhere, it honours Europe, its principles, its law and finally convinces us that it is far from being on the decline.
