The World Today

Much to the displeasure of Europe’s smaller countries, trilateral meetings of the European Union’s ‘Big Three’ – Britain, France and Germany – occur with increasing frequency. In fact, an informal triple leadership has emerged. The collapse of the European constitution project at the November Rome summit and the imminent admission of ten new members has focused minds in Paris and Berlin.

The enlargement of the European Union on May 1 concludes a process that began over a decade ago. Although the increase in membership from fifteen to twenty-five will not be the final expansion, the arrival of so many new recruits at any one time in future is highly unlikely. This is not to underestimate the challenges that further enlargement will present – the decision on opening negotiations with Turkey will dominate discussion towards the end of the year – but future growth will follow a tested and refined accession process. So what will be the new big idea? It could just be enlargement!

European Union expansion on May 1 brings new neighbours as well as new members. The arrival of Ukraine on its borders may be just as challenging as welcoming Poland, Hungary and the Baltic states. The Union’s new ‘near abroad’ offers a host of opportunities for all.

Russia has completed its electoral cycle, installing Vladimir Putin as president for another four years. The process has been revealing, leaving westerners with a different impression of how the country is evolving. Russia’s foreign policy is changing too, shrinking to its area of immediate concern.

A decade ago the international community failed Rwanda. Its subsequent attempts to bring justice for the genocide have been slow and costly. Now a second ‘genocide’ threatens with a lack of funds to help those infected with HIV and AIDS through the bloodshed. Is the world once again looking in the wrong direction, spending money on justice when health matters?

During the brutal years of civil war, many Sierra Leonians fled to make new lives in London. Now British charities and senior legal figures are helping the country rebuild. Representing many of the exiles as their member of parliament, Harriet Harman travelled to Freetown to see for herself.