Letter to the Editor: From Mr Zaki Cooper

While we all hope that our footballers will be winning matches in Germany, it is extremely important that our politicians continue to win friends there (Brown links up with Merkel, June 3). This is particularly true given the fact that Germany will take over the presidency of the EU and G8 next year. With economic reform high on the agenda in Brussels, Anglo-German agreement will help to give impetus to these efforts.

Issues such as regulatory reform and liberalising markets will enable the economies of Europe to remain competitive in the global environment. No one knows this better than business, which is at the sharp end of these realities. That is why we welcome the proposal for a regular European business forum. It emphasises the role that business can play in taking forward the EU's agenda, and the importance of the UK in taking a constructive attitude towards Europe.

Zaki Cooper
Director, Business for New Europe