In developing Universal Compliance the authors started from the premise that the United States cannot solve the nuclear proliferation challenge alone. The strategy that will stand the greatest chance of success is one that enjoys the greatest possible degree of international support. And the way to get that support was not to tell others what we think are the best policies and urge them to support them, but rather to ask how they would define the challenges, what policies they think would be most effective, and how they would improve upon suggestions we were making. This document represents the authors' best sense of a strategy and related policies that would heed President George W. Bush’s injunction that “the nations of the world must do all we can to secure and eliminate nuclear…materials.” (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Paper, March, 2005)
The EU Heads of State and Government agreed a new Constitutional Treaty for the EU at the European Council meeting in Brussels in June 2004. The Treaty was signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 and the ratification process is now under way. Some states have opted to ratify the Constitution through their respective parliaments while others have already pledged to hold a referendum. This briefing paper looks at those countries which will be holding referendums. It examines the legal procedure on the holding and overseeing of referendums in each of these countries with a specific focus on the UK, as well as predicting when the referendums are most likely to be held. We have also charted a likely chain of events leading to each referendum and the order in which they will probably be held. As an introduction we have provided a background discussion of the European Convention on the Constitution.
This document sets out the political vision expressed and supported by the participants at the London Meeting, the Palestinian Authority’s own plans for institutional renewal, and a set of clear commitments by the international community in support of the PA’s programme.
The 2004 Revision is the nineteenth round of official United Nations population estimates and projections prepared by the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat. The 2004 Revision is the first to incorporate the full results of the 2000 round of national population censuses. It also takes into account the results of recent specialized surveys carried out in developing countries to provide both demographic information and data to assess the progress made in achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The comprehensive review of past worldwide demographic trends and future prospects presented in the 2004 Revision provides the population basis for the assessment of those goals. The 2004 Revision confirms the variety of demographic dynamics of our times. While the population at the global level continues to increase, that of the more developed regions as a whole is hardly changing and virtually all population growth is occurring in the less developed regions. Especially rapid population growth characterizes the group of 50 least developed countries. Underlying these varied patterns of growth are distinct trends in fertility and mortality.
The Global Information Technology Report 2004-2005 is the fourth in a series assessing the state of the networked readiness of 104 economies. It is an update of the previous Reports, capturing new insights and best practices and gleaning policy lessons from various country experiences. The Report remains the most comprehensive and authoritative international assessment of the preparedness of countries to capture the benefits of participating in the Networked World. The Report uses the Networked Readiness Index (NRI), covering a total of 104 economies in 2004-2005, to measure "the degree of preparation of a nation or community to participate in and benefit from ICT developments".
With some notable exceptions, hopes for a fully free and independent press throughout the hemisphere appear to be dimming, according to a report issued by the Inter American Press Association, as several governments have turned openly hostile to media critics, and violence against journalists remains real, as five have been killed in the last six months. Greatest concern continues to emanate from Venezuela. The presidents of Argentina and Ecuador also have shown obvious antagonism toward the media in those countries and, in the case of Argentina, a willingness to discriminate against critics. In addition, there are concerns about steps taken by authorities in the United States threatening journalists with jail and fines if they refuse to reveal the identities of some sources
The Spanish economy has enjoyed many years of brisk growth and has recovered swiftly from the recent international slowdown. Activity has been boosted by low interest rates and strong job creation, and underpinned by structural reforms and a sound fiscal policy. As a result, the income gap with the euro area steadily narrowed. However, tensions have arisen that could undermine the strong growth performance as inflation is relatively high, eroding competitiveness, while the surge in house prices does not yet show signs of abating. Also productivity gains have remained meagre and unemployment is still high. (OECD Economic Surveys)
In September 2005, world leaders will come together at a summit in New York to review progress since the Millennium Declaration, adopted by all Member States in 2000. The Secretary-General’s report proposes an agenda to be taken up, and acted upon, at the summit. These are policy decisions and reforms that are actionable if the necessary political will can be garnered. It is for the world community to decide whether this moment of uncertainty presages wider conflict, deepening inequality and the erosion of the rule of law, or is used to renew institutions for peace, prosperity and human rights. Now is the time to act. The annex to the report lists specific items for consideration by Heads of State and Government. Action on them is possible. It is within reach. From pragmatic beginnings could emerge a visionary change of direction for the World.
Spain is one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, but has very limited domestic energy resources. As a result, Spain's energy imports should increase significantly in coming years. (Paper published by the Energy Information Administration of the US Government)
Presenting interim projections for major OECD economies, OECD Chief-Economist Jean-Philippe Cotis said economic momentum on both sides of the Atlantic is now largely back in line with OECD projections released three months ago, but some of the factors sustaining buoyant growth may not continue to do so (6 March 2006)
