4 February 2012
Europe is so preoccupied with its own financial problems it is missing out on the debate about Asia's rise, Australia's foreign minister says.
Kevin Rudd warned that Europe "runs the risk of talking itself into an early economic and therefore globally political grave".
Mr Rudd was speaking on the issue of "America, Europe and the rise of Asia" at the Munich Security Conference.
His comments were dismissed by the EU's internal market commissioner.
Michel Barnier said Europe would "emerge stronger and better organised from this crisis".
'Fundamental strengths'
Mr Rudd told the annual meeting of world leaders that Europe had become sidelined from the debate about the growing economic and political influence of China and Asia, the AFP news agency reports.
