The agreement reached by the European Council on 22 June is a huge diplomatic success for Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy. Developed from the ‘simplified treaty’ proposed by the UMP candidate, the ‘re-form treaty’ reconciles Europe’s ‘yes’ and ‘no’ voters. On the international stage, the Union will at last have the wherewithal to act as a major player. The European ‘spirit’ that was in the air in Brussels gives some grounds for optimism about the political will of the current top leaders to make use of the political tool they have forged.