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Summary Australia's foreign minister says Europe is becoming introspective with its internal problems.
Australias foreign minister launched a fierce broadside at Europe Saturday, saying the financial crisis has caused it to turn in on itself and warning it risked an early grave amid Asias rise.Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Kevin Rudd warned that Europe had become sidelined from the debate over the growing economic and political influence of China and Asia and urged Europeans to re-engage.Here in Europe, this continent has largely been missing in this debate, this should no longer be the case, Rudd said, adding that the region still had a great deal to offer in terms of diplomacy.The danger that I see is Europe progressively becoming so introspective and so preoccupied with its internal problems on the economy and on the eurozone in particular that Europe runs the risk of talking itself into an early economic and therefore globally political grave, he said.We dont want that. We actually think Europe has fundamental strengths to deliver to the rest of the world but we are not seeing a whole lot of that right now, added the minister.The European Unions internal market commissioner, Michel Barnier, hit back, saying that Europe would emerge stronger and better organised from this crisis.Rudd was speaking on a panel on America, Europe and the rise of Asia at the annual gathering of leaders, ministers and top brass that wraps up on Sunday.--Agencies
