This article reports the results of an exploratory study of the organizational characteristics, functions, and roles of intermediary nonprofit organizations selected by the European Union to deliver global grant funding in relation to its Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland. The results show that the main factor for determining organizational processes is the need to respond to conflicting pressures from two directions: upward to funding agencies and downward to community groups. This produces contradictory demands that are imported into the organizations as a set of internal tensions.The different structures and capabilities developed by the organizations to maintain unity and integrity in response to these tensions are explored and related to differences in the perceived role of the organizations.

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Does the economic crisis affect our values, and how? A values system helps individuals and organisations to analyse the world around them and shapes their political responses to it. It is important, in discussing our values as parties occupying the centre-right, that we continue to draw heavily on the rich heritage of Christian Democracy, which is part of the inheritance of many of the European People's Party member parties. Economic growth is but a means to an end, and efforts to avoid future crises must not be based solely on regulation, but on a long-term vision of the values that underpin our political system and the search for sustainable economic growth. Keywords Values Á Economic crisis Á Centre-right Á Christian Democracy Á European People's Party Á Free market economy Á Growth 1. Does the economic crisis affect our values, and how? 2. Do values suffer from practical considerations? 3. Do values get stuck between a quick fix and a long-term vision? J. Bruton (&)

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Résumé Du Plan Marshall à la CED, et de la monnaie unique aux premiers pas de la Pesc , les relations euro-américaines sont passées par des phases de transition. Parce que la seconde administration Bush a clairement exprimé son intention de travailler plus étroitement avec l’Union, nous traversons aujourd’hui une telle période de transition. La relation euro-américaine est si précieuse que c’est une autre transition, d’échelle mondiale celle-là, qu’il nous faut accompagner. Avec l’émergence de Chine, de l’Inde et d’autres, il appartient à la volonté des Américains et des Européens de coopérer ensemble pour que ce grand changement se fasse dans la paix et non dans le conflit. Ensemble, nous aurons plus de chance de gérer la transition selon nos termes, en préservant les valeurs libérales qui inspirent les règles et les institutions de la vie internationale.