Europe is already 'paying' for the right to ride to ISS by leasing back to NASA much of the capacity of Columbus and developing, building and launching the ATV.

It's on paper and signed for.

As a European - I would like NASA to fullfill it's obligations to its international partners. I dont want my tax money wasted on a CEV to do something for which we've already paid.

The simplest and most efficient way for ESA to get people to ISS in the event of a breach of the agreements which bind together the various nations contributions, would be to simply buy a seat on a Soyuz vehicle. You could do so 20, 30, 100 times before spending as much as it would cost to develop our own vehicle.

Doug