The EU is upping its assault on drugs as they are posing an increasingly potent threat to the Union and its Member States.

The European Union is a customs union with a common commercial policy that fixes customs duties and if necessary, determines import quotas.

The Informal Meeting of Ministers for Development Co-operation concluded that the EU is falling short in its commitments to developing nations.

The European Council of held from 4-5 November 2004 agreed on a new 5-year programme for justice and home affairs policy. The heads of state and governments adopted the Hague Programme to strengthen Freedom, Security and the Law in the EU. The programme continues integration in the areas of justice and home affairs embarked on at the Maastricht Treaty, intensified by the Treaty of Amsterdam and the Tampere Agenda ? the first 5-year programme (1999-2004) - and which is to be further strengthened by the future Constitutional Treaty.

Two important elections in January ? in Iraq and Palestine ? will certainly be a test of democracy, for the future of the Middle East, and the pursuit of peace.