Beyond ditseconomicinterest in Europeanstability — the EUmayhave its troublesbut it isAmerica's richestoverseasmarket — the US has much to lose from a break-up of the alliance.
The New Flemish Alliance, which made the break-up of Belgium a central manifesto pledge at the election, said it had "fundamental remarks" to make about the proposal before continuing negotiations.
But while Mr Miller sat at the summit table on Thursday night, a group of parliamentarians from his Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) met in Warsaw and agreed to break away and form a new party.
Second, that even if Alliance does make progress it will require the bigger parties to break their anti-water charges pledges before the policy can become reality.