Throughout the postwar era a special relationship between France and Germany has often been the catalyst for European integration. The two countries have achieved jointly the leadership that neither could sustain alone. However, the Soviet collapse has presented them with a new agenda of problems. German unification has resurrected old geopolitical fears and has had disruptive economic consequences. Central European states are struggling to transform themselves into liberal democracies with market economies and clamoring to join the European Union, posing a formidable challenge to its practical cohesion, organizational patterns, and economic resources. Events in the former Yugoslavia have lent urgency to the need for decisive action on enlargement and exposed the fragility of Europe''s capacity for collective military action. The Franco-German response has been to deepen the EU, while proceeding slowly on enlarging to the east. The partners have pursued their monetary goal with
