The financial crisis in Europe raises several economic and political questions, including the effect on the European Union in general and relations between EU states in particular, as well as the possible impact on Israel.
The declaration by EU heads of state on December 8, 2009 about the political process in the Middle East is no cause for anxiety. However, neither should it be dismissed lightly, and we would do well to examine its long term implications.
A month after the general elections in Germany on September 27, 2009, the German parliament (Bundestag) convened for its first session, at which time Chancellor Merkel’s second government was sworn in. Merkel completed the coalition negotiations with the government’s new partner, the Liberal party, in record time.
The emerging nuclear fuel deal between the US, Russia, France, and Iran – whether it is actually implemented or not – is shaping up as another point Iran has scored to fend off international efforts that would cease its uranium enrichment activities. Although this agreement would deplete the Iranian stocks of low enriched uranium (LEU), it would also provide Iran with fresh nuclear fuel for its nuclear research reactor. Moreover, Iran has made it absolutely clear that it has no intention of giving up either its present capabilities...
During the week in which Kosovo declared independence, two important elections took place elsewhere, in Cyprus and Armenia. They attracted far less attention than did events in Kosovo, but they are also likely to influence Europe and its neighboring areas. Furthermore, there is some overlap between the issues raised in these election campaigns and Kosovo’s declaration of independence. While those supporting diplomatic recognition of Kosovar independence insist that it implies no precedent for international recognition of...
In the wake of his impressive electoral victory, President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy of France will now face the challenge of keeping his campaign promises to carry out reform at home and to elaborate a new foreign policy. In his victory speech, Sarkozy stressed the importance he attaches to the European Union but also reached out, once again, to the United States. Israel was not specifically mentioned in that speech, but the Middle East, in general, and Israel, in particular, are known to be on Sarkozy’s agenda.
L’Europe de la Défense analyzes the factors that prompted Europe to mold a new approach to defense issues, and describes the characteristics of “Europe’s Defense” as it appears in early 2005. The author urges Israel to approach Europe with a new strategy that offers Israeli expertise and experience in two principal fields: first, technology, and thereby create business partnerships, improve the competitive market, and contribute to European economies; and second, the war on terror, in which Israel has vast...
On January 12, the European Union resumed trade talks with Iran following an 18-month suspension. On the same day, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors arrived in Iran to investigate suspicions that nuclear weapons-related experiments had been conducted at Parchin army base, near Tehran. According to an Iranian official, the scope of the visit was limited, and not all was open to inspection at the suspect site.
