ABSTRACT
Since its birth, the multiple-headed European hydra has been challenging to understand for the big and the powerful as well as for the simple citizens. In his new book, A Journey, Mr Blair writes that the former US president George Bush was confused by the presence of Guy Verhofstadt at the 2001 G8 summit in Genoa. ‘He didn’t know or recognise Guy, whose advice he listened to with considerable astonishment,’ Mr Blair writes. ‘He then turned to me and whispered, “Who is this guy?” “He is the prime minister of Belgium,” I said. “Belgium?” George said, clearly aghast at the possible full extent of his stupidity. “Belgium is not part of the G8.”’
