January 5, 2006: Russian energy giant Gazprom flexed its muscles in a dispute with Ukraine over the price of natural gas. The quarrel was settled only after Gazprom stopped delivery of natural gas supplies to the Ukraine, sending a symbolic chill throughout Europe. Read more »
January 10, 2006: After five years of an often strained relationship with Gerhard Schröder, George Bush no doubt expects better times with conservative Angela Merkel in office. By criticizing the Guantánamo prisoner camp, Merkel shows she is not a pushover. Read more »
January 26, 2006: A new questionnaire for Muslims applying for German citizenship in Baden-Württemberg is a cause for concern for some human rights activists. Supporters argue that the questionnaire is needed to determine if applicants will fit into German society. Read more »
February 10, 2006: The German language is experiencing a renaissance in Europe not seen since the end of World War II. The language of Goethe and Schiller has long been the most widely spoken first language in the European Union. But is it spoken widely enough in Germany? Read more »
February 21, 2006: The surprise visit by a Hamas delegation to Turkey raises an old question: What is Turkey’s place in the world – in the West or the East? Or is Turkey really a bridge between the two? The answer may reveal a future role for Turkey in the EU. Read more »
March 4, 2006: Did agents of the German foreign intelligence service give information to U.S. forces prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq? Germany says no, but the "New York Times" says otherwise. The pre-Iraq war rift between Germany and the U.S. continues. Read more »
March 16, 2006: The declining birth rate in Germany has serious implications for the country’s future. How will generous social benefits be financed and how will Germany meet its military obligations if the population decline predicted for the future takes place? Read more »
March 24, 2006: In this year's State 
of the Union address, U.S. President George Bush announces the need to reduce America's dependency on imported oil. How dependent is America on foreign oil, and will the United States be able to reduce its oil consumption? Gas wars [MP3] »
April 1, 2006: America isn't the only country that wants to reduce its oil consumption. One European country wants to get rid of all imported oil by the year 2020. Europeans know what dependency on oil imports means. Germans remember the oil shock of 1973. Gas wars [MP3] »
April 9, 2006: Last week’s "energy summit" was a success, despite predictions that the talks between top government officials and representatives of Germany’s private energy suppliers would end in failure. Germany still has energy problems, though. Read more »
April 24, 2006: Europe’s traditional population is slowly dying out, while Islamic residents of Europe have a birth rate 3 times higher than that of native Europeans. The percentage of Muslims in Europe will double from 5 to 10 percent within the next 15 years. Read more »
May 13, 2006: What is the future of the EU constitution? In the nearly one year since French and Dutch voters rejected the treaty, a lot has been said about the need to move forward. However, little has been done. Will Angela Merkel get the ball rolling again in 2007? Read more »
May 19, 2006: Despite the oil shock of 1973, Europe remains dependent on foreign suppliers for a major portion of its energy needs. With worldwide demand for oil increasing, Europe finds itself competing for available supplies with other major oil importers. Gas wars [MP3] »
June 4, 2006: France apparently wants to initiate debate within the European Union on the question of future EU expansion. In a position paper being called the "Non"-paper, the French call for stricter requirements for admitting any new members to the EU. Read more »
June 13, 2006: German chancellor Angela Merkel voices support for having a reference to God in any future constitution for the European Union. Her comments are a remarkable contrast to the godless position of the previous German government of Gerhard Schröder. Read more »
June 21, 2006: In comments made during a panel discussion held in Augsburg, Germany, Otto von Habsburg speaks out on the lack of faith displayed publicly in western Europe. According to him, there are too many "professional Catholics" living from the church. Read more »
June 28, 2006: How much should the European Union depend on foreign sources of energy? That question is a matter of growing concern for many EU leaders. Case in point: Europe’s need to import natural gas and its relationship to the Russian energy giant Gazprom. Read more »
July 16, 2006: Although President Geoge W. Bush’s stopover in Germany on the way to the G8 summit in Russia reflects his good personal relationship with German chancellor Angela Merkel, he still is not about to win a popularity contest with the German people. Read more »
July 26, 2006: The fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militia has led to calls for an international military force to be stationed on the Israeli-Lebanese border, creating a buffer zone between the two countries. Will German troops be sent to the Middle East? Read more »
August 21, 2006: Since 9-11, terrorism seemed at times to be far from Germany, other than for Islamic terrorists who may have used the country for stopovers en route to assignments. A chilling discovery in 2 commuter trains last month shows that Germany is also a target. Read more »
September 1, 2006: The United States is the unquestioned world leader in oil consumption. China leads oil consumption in Asia, which as a region is among the world's "Big 3" energy consumers. Which region is the third member of the world's "Big 3" energy group? Gas wars [MP3] »
September 14, 2006: For the first time since World War II, German troops will be sent to a region near Israel as part of the UN peacekeeping force monitoring the Israeli-Hezbollah cease fire. The historic decision reflects Germany’s growing international stature. Read more »
October 3, 2006: The media have reported extensively on the reaction in the Islamic world to Pope Benedict’s use of a quote critical of Islam during his visit to Germany in September. What about the reaction in Germany and Europe in support of the pope? Read more »
October 10, 2006: Germany’s grand coalition government of chancellor Angela Merkel is showing signs of cracking. One of the latest conflicts to arise is an old question prompted by a visit to Turkey by Merkel: Should Turkey become a full member of the European Union? Read more »
October 20, 2006: America’s population reached the 300 million mark this week. America has a growing population, while birth rates in Western Europe are declining. The divergent demographic development in both regions offers an interesting contrast. Read more »
November 5, 2006: Lebanon’s government has given the German navy permission to operate within the six mile zone along the Lebanese coast north of Israel. The decision follows a serious incident involving the buzzing of a German surveillance ship by Israeli jets. Read more »
November 18, 2006: A blackout on Saturday evening, November 4 plunged some ten million Europeans in six different countries into darkness. The power outage sparked discussion on the need for a European energy agency to oversee electricity distribution within Europe. Read more »
November 27, 2006: Will the European Union maintain its principles in negotiations with Ankara on Turkey’s bid to join the EU? Or will the desire to continue EU expansion eastward prevail over principle? Case in point: a conflict over Cyprus and the EU customs union. Read more »
December 6, 2006: Turkish prime minister Recep Erdogan made the headlines last week when he claimed that Pope Benedict XVI had reversed his position and now supports Turkey in its bid to join the European Union. The pope himself has not confirmed Erdogan’s claim. Read more »
December 21, 2006: By the end of 2008 Europeans will be able to travel from the Atlantic coast to the Russian border without ever showing a passport – thanks to a remarkable treaty that may show the road ahead for full political union in the European Union. Read more »
