WHAT
IS EUROPE
& BUSINESS?
When articles are written about what Europe is or isn't, its always to be in comparison to USA. Is it because the USA fears the market share Europe will have once commerce increases amongst its member states.
As the article states "....free movement of labour, goods, services and capital could prove to be Europe's greatest assets..." this has always been the core objective of Europe not politics.
I will answer the journalist's question about what's the point of Europe as he asks:
" ...is Europe turning out to be just another United States?..."
Answer: United member States, qui, not a clone of USA, non. (1)
The only thing getting in the way is out-moded "political lobbying" based on the American model and those who wish to keep the status quo. Therefore I disagree with journalist about it being a choice between democracy and borderless capitalism. This comment is what many would like to see occur, as if there can't be a seamless business opportunities for all member states.
To quote from Denis Ranque on how he sees differences "....with American and the British companies, he quotes Oscar Wilde on how the two peoples are divided by a common language. Industrial and management work practices are pretty much the same, but the language and culture differ vastly.
[He says] The Americans are much more direct, yes, from an American just means yes but a yes from a British person may mean "maybe". There are nuances. I had difficulties when I first worked with the British because I was used to American English, which is more straightforward, much less nuanced ~ but the British practice understatement..."
One reason is because British English gives much more depth and richness to the language. The French and other languages are based in latin or greek but also similar since some of the European languages come from the Sanskrit language [which is from ancient India] for example, the Hebrew word for the number seven is the same for the hindu deity Shiv.
In a recent recruitment article states, in regards to international assignments for example, "....where Germany favours a more hierarchical management structure with a few, making decisions. America has a flatter, matrix structure, in which decision-making involves a number of people...." This is interesting to see the difference in how the structure is applied to how people base their decisions and organisational functions.
I will point out here, that Britain ranks as
the second
largest service
exporter. Britain's share of total world exports of services rose to 7.4 per cent. We
provide services to companies overseas in areas when their local firms do not have the
expertise.
For mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and supply chain management, most of the expertise lies in the UK and the US. So at least there's a choice and hopeful more.
With regard to Europe and the
future development, I agree with the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) that
more participation of the CBI is required in Europe. However I would say those of
the IoD (Institute of Directors) could be more involved with the Brussels and their
counter-parts to create the atmosphere of what 
Europe's vision was meant
to be ~ not leaving it in the hands of politicians who come and go for business will be
what matter's to create wealth for all member states. (2)
For those who find the Europeans hard to grasp. As said by Denis Ranque, Chairman of Thomson-CSF, "...the British is a country where it is really easy to do business because the rules are clear and the French have entered a new century like everybody else. Typically, the French tend to be rational, try to put everything into squares - like the French garden - but also the French have a lot of emotion and react on perception than reality.
The Britons are extremely pragmatic, they react on facts and very rarely on emotion. They [the Britons] will not try to solve 100% of a problem when they can solve 90% of it quickly, while the French will take more time to try to solve 100% and maybe more - producing over-engineered solutions..."
(3)I disagree partly with this view of Europeans, our emotions is that of one is visible the other isn't but both run deep!
The common ground between England and France is the complimentary factor ~ both put their energy into creative projects which makes Europeans original thinkers but also doers with the aim of longevity for employees not here today and gone tomorrow as the USA model of business.
REFERENCE SOURCES:
(1) The Economist Magazine, 12th February 2000.
(2) Sunday Business Newspaper, 9th January 2000.
(3) Sunday Business Newspaper, 16th January 2000.