Pipe Dreams Pipeline politics are putting a dampener on trade in the Caucasus and Caspian Sea regions, with Russia and the US being the main culprits. War and regional conflicts are stalling plans to make use of the region's vast oil and gas revenues. Control over the region's oil and gas resources will become increasingly important to the Expanded European Union over decades to come, as developed fields run dry.

Dangerous waters Despite posing a serious threat to the health of local residents in eastern Europe, groundwater pollution is not being tackled.