（2004）柏林:因為德國和法國反對美國出兵伊拉克,美國國防部長拉姆斯菲爾德在對其進行貶損時所用的一個詞老歐洲,被德國語言專家評審團評為2003年度詞語。當拉姆斯菲爾德所說的這個詞被反對伊拉克戰爭的大家驕傲地用作戰斗口號之后,設在威斯巴登市的德國語言協會在一年一度的評選當年最有代表性詞語的民意測驗中,選擇了das alte Europa。

老歐洲一詞本意是用來刺激大家的,但它的意思卻歷程了轉化,而今歐洲人將它作為正面的擁有自信的新代名詞。語言協會主席魯朵爾夫胡伯格于周五說道,這是一個很有意思的詞,由于它在跨越國界后有了新的意思。他補充道。BERLIN - Old Europe, a term US Secretary of Defense^{1 Donald Rumsfeld used to disparage2 Germany and France for resisting war in Iraq, was named phrase of the year in Germany by a panel of language experts. The Wiesbaden-based Society for the German Language made das alte Europa its choice in the annual poll for the expression of the year after Rumsfeld's phrase became a popular rallying cry①used proudly by opponents of the war.}

The term 'old Europe' was originally used as a provocation^{3, but its meaning underwent a transformation4 and now stands as a new-found symbol of positive self-confidence among Europeans, Rudolf Hoberg, chairman of the language society, said Friday. It's an extremely interesting term because it took on new meanings across borders, he added.}