Take the unilateral French military action in Mali: the French are grateful to Britain for prompt logistical support and irritated by German squeamishness.The true importance of the Elysée treaty lies not so much in reconciliation (that began much earlier) but in how it made tight co-operation across the Rhine routine at all levels of government.
Soon after the beginning of the Cold War, GCHQ and the NSA were born and the alliance formed the basis of their extremely tight co-operation during the Cold War - the real heart of what has been known as "the special relationship".
Others may stay clear of tighter defence co-operation, but go along with closer co-operation on taxation or internal policing.
A push for a formal midterm agreement, led by cabinet ministers Danny Alexander and Oliver Letwin, in which the two parties would agree a slate of fresh policies, is meeting resistance, both because of the tighter ideological co-operation it entails and because Lib Dems feel it suggests more of the coalition agreement is complete than is the case.
This tight, trust-based co-operation between the publishing house and the printing house mediator is an important component of long-term co-operation.
It should also mean better co-operation between departments on the delivery of policy – though it will be interesting to see how that collaboration withstands the test of a tight spending review.
For ideas about promoting co-operation, visit Co-operative learning.
They see the euro as paving the way for a tighter political union.What about "enhanced co-operation", the old jargon for a core group within the EU to keep things moving forward if sceptics such as Britain and the Nordics prefer to stay aloof?
Finally, there is a need for stronger international regimes to counter today's threats of poverty, disease, climate change and provide greater security from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction via tighter nuclear, biological and chemical controls and reinforced co-operation on counter-terrorism.
"Security co-operation [between Israel and Thailand] is very tight," he said.
He said the reality of intelligence co-operation is that countries do it bilaterally or in "tight" groups instead of using EU structures.
