Obama is back in Europe but this time it's not about "the worship" in front of 200 000 adoring Germans in Berlin. This time it's serious. Views of two experts.

Questions:

1. Five months ago was the election of Barack Obama seen as the breakthrough in US-European relationship and the start of the new chapter. At the beginning of Obama's first European trip to Europe as president, there are again many issues in which both sides don't agree. Do you think that the jubilant atmosphere from 5 months ago is over and the relationship is back to hard business as usual?

2. What does Obama want and expect from Europe and vice - versa?

3. In the recent interview for Financial Times Obama said about the G20 summit: "The most important task for all of us is to deliver a strong message of unity in the face of crisis". Do you think Obama is able of compromise or he only means unity, where everyone will agree with the US point of view?

Answers:

Stanley Sloan, Director, Atlantic Community Initiative

1. Barack Obama's election as president removed some important barriers to US-European cooperation that had been built up during the first George W. Bush administration and not totally dispelled by the second. Every new American president enjoys a "honeymoon" period in US-European relations, and President Obama came to office with much good will. In effect, his basket of "soft power" was full, just as George Bush's basket had been empty. The new administration added to the good will by asking the European allies for their ideas about Afghanistan in particular. However, there are very different US and European ideas about how best to deal with the current financial and economic crisis, and compromises will have to be fashioned to accommodate those differences. Obama's considerable soft power (the ability to get people to do what you want without coercion) will facilitate these compromises. On Afghanistan, the Obama administration has demonstrated its intent to deal with the challenges there on a regional level, with additional US troops to enhance security, and with the kind of development assistance required to give the Afghan people a life to look forward to. If the transatlantic honeymoon is to continue, the allies will have to recognize that a failed Afghan state is not in their interest and to improve their commitments and contributions there accordingly.

2. First, recognizing that there is no such thing as "Europe," but rather many European perspectives and positions, at least on important issues... Obama expects more serious civilian and military contributions in Afghanistan and cooperation to deal with the financial crisis. Europe expects Obama to listen to European views and to be willing to compromise where necessary.

3. Obama will try to produce compromise outcomes where necessary to achieve united fronts; his administration is willing to consider different European perspectives, and to take on European ideas when they seem valid. However, when he believes strongly in his point of view, he will insist on movement in his direction as well. That is how compromise is produced.

James Goldgeier, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at The George Washington University

1. There will always be disagreements because the perspectives and interests differ. Clearly Obama is still very popular among European publics, but this doesn't necessarily translate directly into policy outcomes. The better atmosphere does make it easier to discuss the differences, however.

2. I believe he would like to see Europe do more on the economic stimulus and more to help secure Afghanistan. Europe seems to want the United States to adopt a more European approach to regulation and also to help develop better relations with Russia.

3. I think they have already signaled willingness to compromise by recognizing the US won't get what it wants from Europe on a bigger stimulus package.