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	European Policy Summit report Europe's Balkan Partners Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Albania are all queueing up to join the EU. The signing of the new Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) is a sign that Western Balkan countries are jointly taking their economic and political destinies in their own hands. But when and how the EU will expand beyond 27 Member States is a question that lacks a clear answer. The EU must show a clear strategic vision of future expansion, and practical steps to increase co-operation should be taken on each side to ensure the accession process doesn’t lose momentum. Tuesday, December 05, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Visions of the Future: A Prelude to Change - Five Scenarios for 2035 If we continue on our current trajectory, even the most optimistic projections suggest that by 2050 humanity will demand resources at double the rate at which the Earth can generate them. What will Europe´s society and environment look like in 30 years’ time, let alone by 2050? Can we anticipate some of the problems of tomorrow and, if so, what should be done? Preserve landscapes as they are now? Attempt to steer change or simply let change happen? Wednesday, November 29, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	European Policy Summit report Europe's Demographic Challenge The global population is growing and Europeans are now living longer than ever before, but with these developments comes a demographic challenge: Eurostat predicts that by the middle of the century, Europe’s working population will decrease by almost 10%. This pressure on the European working population has forced the issues of labour migration, pensions, childcare, healthcare and retirement to the top of the agenda. How can Europe begin to approach the demographic challenge in a holistic way to ensure all the issues are addressed? Thursday, November 23, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	European Policy Summit report Energy Europe: Security of Supply, Competitiveness and Environmental Sustainability The EU needs a common energy policy. It needs it to stop EU members from undermining each other on energy supplies, to manage the internal energy market and to promote a transition to more sustainable energy consumption. But while for Commissioner Dimas Brussels will take the lead in the international debate on climate change, and Commissioner Piebalgs calls for a transatlantic carbon market, many uncertainties are still looming on Europe’s unfolding energy policy. The credibility and scope of the ETS has to be reinforced, change in customer demand and improvements in EU’s infrastructure are needed for an efficient internal market, providing a more secure and sustainable energy mix. Thursday, November 09, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Re-fashioning the UN for the 21st Century The United Nations needs reform—on that, everyone agrees. But there is a distinct disagreement on what specific kind of reform is needed and for what purpose. Now into its second half-century, the UN is at the centre of an increasingly lively debate on how its structures might be reformed in response to the changing challenges it faces. As Secretary General-designate Ban Ki-moon prepares to take on this most arduous of diplomatic posts, what is the outlook for UN reform? To discuss these and other related issues, Friends of Europe brought together a distinguished panel of experts for its latest Café Crossfire debate. Monday, November 06, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire The State of Europe Pragmatic progress and strategic alliances are the order of the day rather than ‘grands projects’ in the current climate of the European Union. Practical issues such as migration strategies, international trade, environmental cooperation and fostering innovation are being constantly developed to further the goal of the European Union as a major global player. Thursday, October 12, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Atlantic Rendez-Vous report EU-China Relations: Defining a new partnership This Friends of Europe report is based on the proceedings of the latest Atlantic Rendez-Vous satellite debate between Brussels and Washington DC. China has to be a strategic partner, based on political dialogue as much as on trade. That was the view in both Brussels and Washington at the latest Atlantic Rendez-Vous. The EU and the US have their own concerns, but they share the same strategic view – that China will be a key player in the 21st century, not least on the trade and investment landscape. Where they differ is in the tactics of managing the transition. Thursday, October 12, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Policy Spotlight report UN Reform: Ongoing Process or Distant Dream Mark Malloch Brown, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations told a high-level Friends of Europe audience that current UN governance, including the UN Security Council, no longer reflects the global reality because it still largely based on the outcome of World War II. “A Security Council without real membership opportunities for countries such as India, Brazil or any African country is clearly not reflecting how power is distributed today, “ he said. A much-needed shake-up of the UN will remain a distant dream until these issues have been tackled. “When it comes to reform, I would say we have covered the first mile, but this will be a marathon,“ he told his audience of ambassadors, journalists, EU officials and business leaders. Monday, October 02, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Information for Patients: The EU's Policy Options The lack of access to safe water and sanitation faced by billions of people worldwide is one of the key challenges facing sustainable development. How can we ensure that access to safe water across Europe is extended as far as possible, without compromising water quality? Can policy be effective in changing people’s attitudes and behaviour to help to reduce the overwhelming demand for water at home and at work? Communication between a wide range of stakeholders seems to be an important part of addressing demand-related issues. But on what basis should such communication take place, and how do we ensure that this is an inclusive and effective process? Wednesday, September 20, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Policymakers' Dinner How safe is REACH making Europe's consumers? After seven years of intense negotiation between EU policymakers, industry representatives and both consumer and environmental organisations, the EU's REACH strategy for making chemical products safer is nearing completion. Are satisfactory compromises in the offing for issues like the automatic substitution of any safer chemical available? And have outstanding questions on labeling been resolved? Above all, can the EU's 450m consumers be certain that levels of both risk and hazard relating to some 30,000 chemicals in everyday use have now been reduced without triggering major cost increases at the supermarket checkout desk? Wednesday, September 13, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Policy Spotlight report Policy Spotlight with Nicolas Sarkozy Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s Interior Minister, and contender for next year’s presidential elections, outlined his vision for the future of Europe at Friends of Europe in Brussels. In his first major policy statement on EU issues he outlined to a capacity audience of international press, NGOs, EU officials and business leaders, a far-reaching reform agenda that is clearly calculated to rekindle a Europe-wide political debate on the EU’s future. Friday, September 08, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Policy Spotlight report Turkey and the EU: Four Scenarios, from Train Crash to Full Steam Ahead Less than a year after the formal start of Turkey’s accession talks with the European Union, the two sides seem at loggerheads. The complex and often ambiguous relationship between the EU and Turkey is strained and risks being sorely tested in the coming weeks. Kirsty Hughes outlines the possible scenarios for EU-Turkish relations in the autumn ranging from full steam ahead to total train crash. A Report in association with Chatham House and the European Institute of the London School of Economics. Friday, September 01, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Kirsty Hughes
	European Policy Summit report The World's Water Crisis: Turning the Tide - Policies for the Future The lack of access to safe water and sanitation faced by billions of people worldwide is one of the key challenges facing sustainable development. How can we ensure that access to safe water across Europe is extended as far as possible, without compromising water quality? Can policy be effective in changing people’s attitudes and behaviour to help to reduce the overwhelming demand for water at home and at work? Communication between a wide range of stakeholders seems to be an important part of addressing demand-related issues. But on what basis should such communication take place, and how do we ensure that this is an inclusive and effective process? Tuesday, June 20, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Meeting Europe's Obesity Challenge With 14 million children in the EU overweight, Europe is faced with an obesity problem of epidemic proportions. Can Europe do anything to solve it and if so, how far and at what level should it intervene? These were just some of the questions posed on June 8 at a Friends of Europe Café Crossfire lunch debate on Meeting Europe’s Obesity Challenge that brought together key actors in the field, including Robert Madelin, European Commission Director General for Health and Consumer Protection, Jean Martin, President of the Commission of Food and Drink Industries of the EU and Geof Rayner, Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Food Policy, City University London. Among many of the issues raised, the speakers laid particular stress on self-regulation of food and drink manufacturers and the role education can play in tackling the problem. Thursday, June 08, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	European Policy Summit report Greening Our Cities: Environmental Priorities for Urban Communities Defining environmental policies is key to improving Europe’s sustainability, maximising resource efficiency and minimising impact on the climate. More efficient planning and use of resources in Europe will both help protect the environment and leave more resources available for the rest of the world, particularly poorer countries. Cities face a major challenge with waste despite the fact that EU environment legislation has helped improve the way we dispose of and recycle it. Wednesday, May 31, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Atlantic Rendez-Vous report Transatlantic Cooperation on Homeland Security The aftermath of 9/11 at first saw an increase in transatlantic frictions over different approaches to anti-terrorist policy by the U.S. and EU Member States. This debate asked how much coordination existed in areas ranging from intelligence-gathering to surveillance, and from enhanced security measures to civil and infrastructural protection? Were the US and Europe thinking alike on homeland security? Tuesday, May 30, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire The Future Role of Europe in Space Keynote speaker Mauro Facchini, Deputy Head of the European Commission´s Space Policy Unit, told the audience that the Commission expects the space and security budget to be cut by about 30%. This prompted Michel Praet, Head of the Cabinet for the DG for Enterprise and Industry at the European Space Agency (ESA), to question the feasibility of any future European space policy which is not properly funded. Tuesday, May 02, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Defining Europe's Soft Power Is Europe a "soft" or "hard" power? While Eneko Landaburu, DG for External Affairs at the European Commission, argued that if Europe was to grow from being a regional power it must show more "courage and ambition", Michael McKinley, Deputy Chief of the US Mission to the EU, was quick to highlight some of Europe´s recent achievements. Menouar Alem, Ambassador of the Moroccan Mission to the EU, insisted that Europe needed to combine"soft" or "hard" power. Tuesday, April 25, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Automotive Research: Recapturing Europe's Lead According to Ari Vatanen MEP, “if Europe wants to survive, it needs to have high added-value products and invest heavily in science and education”. Jack Metthey, Director for Transport, EC Directorate General for Research, and Lars-Göran Rosengren President and CEO of Volvo Technology Corporation, also contributed their views on automotive research and on the best approach to achieve greater competitiveness and greater road safety in Europe. Tuesday, April 25, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Tackling Europe's Innovation Shortcomings At the latest Café Crossfire on Europe's innovation shortcomings organised by Friends of Europe in association with Intel, MEP Vittorio Prodioffered a European perspective, while Intel’s Chairman of the Board, Craig Barrett, was on hand to demonstrate the American way. Barrett stressed the three key ingredients of a policy that would be both innovative and commercially productive. These were: education, broad-based R&D, and the creation of the right environment to allow investment in innovation. The Intel Chairman of the Board painted a picture of educational establishments, corporations and venture capitalists working together in the active pursuit of wealth. Tuesday, March 28, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Policymakers' Dinner Northern Climate Change and the Melting Polar Ice-cap: An EU Challenge? Safeguarding the Arctic region’s climate is a critically important part of averting global climate change. What needs to be done to focus EU efforts on it, while also maintaining the momentum generated at the Montreal Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention? Monday, March 27, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Atlantic Rendez-Vous Is the Atlantic a two-way street for Innovation? This report takes an original approach to a familiar problem: what can be done to create an innovative Europe and how can a transatlantic partnership foster better cooperation and exchange of innovation best practice between the EU and the US? It is part opinion poll, part survey of political leaders and opinion makers, and part group study findings. The report presents the outcome of the third Atlantic Rendez-Vous (ARV) project in Friends of Europe’s 2006-2007 ARV series Friday, March 17, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Who's Afraid of the Polish Plumber? What are the main arguments, pros and cons, being advanced by the two sides of the debate, and with the services directive now firmly back in the EU’s legislative process, what are its prospects of reaching the Statute Book in its present shape? Wednesday, March 08, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Policy Drivers for Change: Meeting Europe's road safety challenge What can policymakers do to include a greater road safety dimension in Europe's "culture of mobility?" With two-thirds of all fatal traffic accidents occurring in towns, what should urban authorities be doing to make their roads safer? Tuesday, March 07, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire What can CEOs do to push the Lisbon Agenda? When European leaders met at a summit in Lisbon in March 2000 they set the EU the ambitious goal of becoming "the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world" by 2010. But six years on Europe, is hardly the beacon of economic growth and prosperity that leaders imagined. With growth and competitiveness on everyone’s minds, the latest Friends of Europe Café Crossfire debate focused on what CEOs can do to advance the objectives of the much-vaunted Lisbon Agenda. Wednesday, February 22, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Will it work? An open debate on the Commission's White Paper on Communication Policy The Commission has put in place the third and last piece of its new communication puzzle by adopting its White Paper on communication policy. The White Paper's ambition is to establish communication policy as "a policy in its own right". It moves away from the idea that communication is largely a "Brussels affair" and intends to focus on citizens instead of institutions. A well-attended conference organised by Friends of Europe proved that the Commission is not the sole owner of the EU communication strategy. This is the report of the conference’s proceedings. Wednesday, February 01, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Technology, Globalisation and Inclusion: Is Innovation a development tool? Are there policy measures that could be used, by the EU and others, to encourage the more even and widespread take-up of new technologies to reconcile competitiveness and inclusion? Wednesday, January 25, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Visions of the Future: Shell Global Scenarios to 2025 For 35 years, Shell has pioneered the development of scenarios to help identify major business risks and opportunities. Scenarios are not forecasts but efforts to understand the possible interplay of different types of change. The new Shell Global Scenarios highlight three different ways in which market incentives, the quest for security, and aspirations to social justice and cohesion could interact during the next two decades. Wednesday, January 11, 2006 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe