Latest European views. A wire story from Reuters in Belgium quotes various European ministers still not convinced about Wolfowitz for the World Bank president job. And Luxembourg Economics Minister Jeannot Krecke revealed that European governments have produced a paper listing "concern about the way Mr Wolfowitz intends to handle the policy of the World Bank".

Swedish Finance Minister Par Nuder made what is perhaps the best diplomatic comment on the nomination so far: "I would like to say that if you can't get the one you love, you have to love the one you can get".

The Austrian Finance Minister also sounded a note of caution.

Dutch Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm said: "Some countries already know what they are going to do, and some countries will wait until these talks have taken place". But he finished: "I did not see any very negative attitudes so I think he is taken as a very serious candidate".

No "very negative" attitudes is by no means a compliment coming from a minister ... but it seems increasingly clear that they have not got the bottle to challenge the US on this matter.

The BBC also confirms the negative views that remain in Europe, citing the German finance minister among others and mentioning Wolfowitz's much-trailed trip to Brussels to answer questions on debt relief and other issues.

Alex Wilks ~ March 23, 2005

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