There are clear signs that the EU’s influence at the UN is declining in one of the areas on which it is most united: human rights.

The indictment of Sudan’s president marks a critical moment for the International Criminal Court. European supporters of international justice should give it their backing.

The “crisis” created by Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty is pretty tame - the EU faces far greater dangers in East Africa.  But Lisbon could help solve them.

The Afghan opium economy continues to grow. To have any chance of success, international efforts need to focus on security and bringing criminal kingpins to justice through a specialised UN court.

The EU should pay attention to who is appointed as the next chief of the UN’s peacekeeping department.

During his upcoming visit to China, EC President Barroso will need to convince the Chinese leadership to begin talks with the Dalai Lama.

Our continent’s diversity should let us promote freedom without the taint of Bush’s neocon project imposed by force.

EU governments should put concrete demands to the Chinese government, including a comprehensive review of its Tibet policy.

European leaders need to follow France and Poland’s example and take a tougher line on China, with real political threats, if the situation in Tibet does not improve.

The events shaking the wider Tibetan area should lead both the Chinese government and its international partners to a deep reconsideration of past policies.

The most important question of the US presidential campaign is whether we can hope for a rejection of ‘democratic imperialism’ after an illegal war that made both the US and the world less safe.

The EU needs to act to ensure that China does not use violence to put down protests in Tibet, but engages the Dalai Lama in real dialogue.

A new propaganda offensive by China on its activities in Africa provides an opening for the West. We should use this to persuade China to take responsibility for its impact in Africa.

In a ruling announced today, the European Court of Human Rights has struck a significant blow in defence of Europe’s moral standing in the fight against terrorism.

Spielberg was right to step down but governments should look at China’s policies within a historical context, and have a strategy for influencing Beijing beyond the summer of 2008.