With Montenegro’s independence resulting from a referendum held on 21st May 2006, Europe and the Mediterranean Basin have gained a new State.
The two overarching priorities of Italian foreign policy against which all other priorities need to be evaluated consist of playing an important role within the European Union and maintaining good relations with the United States.
One of the striking features of 2006 was the way in which religion apparently obtruded into the political debate within Europe.
Over the past 25 years, the partner countries on the southern and northern shores of the Mediterranean Basin have benefited little from globalisation.
If one had to identify turning points in Syria’s politics after the death of Hafiz al-Assad in 2000, no doubt the events of 2005 top the list.
Numerous observers, particularly in the West, have lauded certain developments generated by social and political actions and reactions in Arab countries during 2005 and early 2006.
The start of negotiations on the European Union membership was the most important achievement of Croatian Government in 2005.
The doctrine of human security is gaining supporters. At a time when the topic is at the forefront of debates on security in the United Nations, a large part of the world-opinion supports its main postulates.
The long-lasting Turkey-EU relationship faced a major challenge in the year 2005. It was a year in which it would be tested whether the EU and Turkey would be able to go ahead with their relationship.
2005 was a year of great change in Lebanon with events triggered by the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and popular protests leading to the withdrawal of Syrian troops.
The ongoing debate in Spain about the National Hydrological Plan (NHP) has accelerated the crisis of the structuralist model, which has been the ruling model since the beginning of the twentieth century.
