After five years of intense law-making, the European Commission promises fewer financial services laws for the remainder of the decade. But there is still no fully integrated single European market in financial services. The EU will have to undertake a substantial 'tidyingup' exercise, including important new measures in areas such as cross-border payments. It also needs to ensure that Europe's financial regulators work together more effectively.

press release

When Iran restarted its nuclear programme in August 2005, it seemed to obliterate two years of EU efforts to persuade Tehran not to build a nuclear bomb. However, Mark Leonard argues that the EU should persevere with diplomacy. It should try to slow down the nuclear programme until there is a new regime in Tehran that is willing to make concessions in return for western aid and trade.

press release

Ever since terrorist bombs killed nearly 200 people in Madrid in March 2004, EU politicians have argued for greater European co-operation in fighting terrorism. The EU can help its member-states to hamper, capture and prosecute terrorists, but is only just starting to develop common policies. Daniel Keohane argues that the Union could and should do more to assist EU governments in preventing and responding to terrorist attacks.

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