Joao Vale de Almeida, the European Union's new "Ambassador" to Washington, has announced that he is the first point of contact for diplomatic relations between the Americans and all European nations:
In a comment that has come to symbolise the American view of the EU, Henry Kissinger, the former US secretary of state, is once said to asked: "When I want to talk to Europe, who do I call?"
In a response to that question, Mr Vale de Almeida declared: "In this area code, you call me." The ambassador insisted that he did not wish to "impose myself" on member states' ambassadors, who will continue to oversee "bilateral matters." But he declared: "Where we have a common position, I am the one leading the show."
How do you feel about that?
