European Institute

Striking a pragmatic tone ahead of the upcoming U.S.-Russia summit, a top U.S. policy-maker said that the meeting is intended to “do some useful things” including renewed momentum on arms control.

Germany, the EU’s “Mr. Coal,” has stumbled in its first high-tech attempt to make this fossil fuel environment-friendly.

Worldwide support is growing for civil nuclear energy; however, polls show Europe trails in the overall trend, with Western Europe offering the strongest resistance. Even within Western Europe, however, nuclear energy is becoming more attractive as a means toward greater energy independence from Russian natural gas and as a way to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

With both Chrysler and now GM acquiring buyers for their European operations, a score card is emerging about the winners and losers in Europe in the biggest-ever upheaval in the global car-making industry.

When President Barack Obama announced plans to close the prison in Guantánamo Bay, Europeans reacted positively to the U.S. policy change, which EU nations had long sought. In practice, however, most EU member states are proving reluctant to take in Guantánamo prisoners; there are dozens of them whom Washington feels cannot be simply deported to their own nations because of fears that they would be tortured there.