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Transatlantic relations have been a bit rocky in recent years with differences over the war in Iraq, the Kyoto treaty on global warming, and the International Criminal Court. Now a new report seeks the opinion of people in twelve European countries on what they see as the main global threats. The German Marshall fund commissioned the report and their Director for Central and Eastern Europe, Pavol Demes, spoke to Anca Dragu about its findings:

A professor from the University of Wisconsin in the United States arrived in Poland recently - with some very precious hand luggage. In fact they were parchments - documents written by popes and Polish monarchs in the 13th century. Michal Kubicki has the remarkable story of how they found their way to the United States and then back to Europe:

A new government was finally appointed on Monday, three months and a day after inconclusive parliamentary elections left the country in stalemate. Mirek Topolanek's right-wing ministers have big ideas - including a flat tax and slashing bureaucracy - but apparently no support in parliament, and could be tendering their resignations by the end of the month. So why are they bothering?

Poland's Solidarity trade union movement and the early anti-communist movement have a lasting place in the memory of many Poles. But the way in which workers' protests or the birth of Solidarity, are celebrated, is changing. The anniversaries are no longer limited to speeches and religious services - instead rock stars are in on the act. Two Pink Floyd members Roger Waters and David Gilmour have performed in cities closely associated with Poland's struggle to shake off communism. More from Michal Zajac:

The Hungarian Folk singer Iren Lovasz has been giving a series of concerts in Saint Stephen's Basilica in Budapest and in several ancient churches around Hungary. A folk singer at the very beginning of her career, Iren then made her name as a performer of world music. She's a mother of 3 and has a world music group, but sacred music is now her main focus. Gyorgyi Jakobi asked Iren Lovasz - why sacred music:

Relations between Slovakia and Hungary are strained following a number of violent racist attacks against Hungarians living in Slovakia. Hungary's government has asked Slovakia's to publicly condemn the attacks. Anca Dragu reports from Bratislava:

The Caspian Basin with its enormous energy reserves is strategically important to the EU - and especially to central Europe. Just how important was revealed when the Caspian Outlook conference was held in Slovenia this week. OPEC, NATO, Southern Caucasus countries and energy firms were all represented. Ksenija Samardzija Matul has more:

Organic foodstuffs are expected to make a big breakthrough onto the Czech market in the next five years. In 2005, Czechs spent a total of 350 million crowns ($15.9 million US) on organic products, and according to estimates, that number could reach 1.3 billion crowns (nearly $59 million US) by 2011. So what are the challenges for organic producers operating in what is essentially a new market?

On Sunday, a group of neo-Nazis gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Prague to protest against Israel's Middle East policy. Knives, truncheons, and gas pistols had to be confiscated by the police and 26 of the protesters were detained and taken in for questioning. Almost all of the demonstrators were members of the National Resistance organisation.

Dramatic headlines in some Czech papers this week warned of an "illegal car race" heading for Prague which will leave the city overrun by rusty wrecks, turning it into a giant scrap yard. The reason: the rally crossing six states is called "Czech Wrecks 2006" and cars taking part in it must not be worth more than 100 pounds.