IN EUROPE. January 16th, 2007, European Movement Latvia. EML has selected the ten main european events in 2006, from the french press' point of view.

Mozart’s 250 year anniversary (27^th January) 250 years after the birth of the most famous composer, 2006 celebrates Mozart’s life and work in Europe.

The avian influenza (17^th February) This infectious disease of birds has reached Europe and the pandemic risk required veterinary measures for domestic birds’ protection in EU countries.

Milosevic’s death (11^th March) The former Yugoslavian president Slobodan Milosevic was found dead in his cell at The Hague on March 11, 2006. His trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity has therefore ended without a verdict.

Montenegro’s independence (21^st May) Montenegro's state referendum commission has confirmed the victory of the pro-independence initiative in the 21 May referendum. The EU "fully respect" the successful outcome in which Montenegrins decided to sever a union with Serbia.

Airbus’ troubles (14^th June) EADS’ action fell by 26℅ after Airbus’ official announce of A 380 delivery delays. Several leaders of the group, and especially its co-director Noël Forgeat, are suspected of insider trading: they sold their actions in April, before the stockholders Lagardère and DaimlerChrysler’s partially disengaged their capitals. Louis Gallois replaced N. Forgeat at the co-presidence on the 2^nd of July, and became OCE of Airbus on the 9^th of October.

World Football championship (9^th July) Italy won the final of World Football Championship against France at penalties. Zinedine Zidane head butted Marco Materazzi and was red-carded of the field after 100 minutes.

Riots in Hungary (17^th September) The admission by Hungary's Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany that he lied to voters may have sparked the country's worst riots in decades, but the violent street protests have deeper-reaching economic and political roots.

Adhesion of Bulgaria and Rumania (28^th September) Bulgaria and Rumania should have joined Europe in 2004, but their adhesions have been delayed because of democratic and economical reasons. On the 28^th September, the Commission has officially approved the memberships of these two countries. They will join Europe on the 1^st January 2007.

Anna Politkovskaia’s murder (7^th October) The Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaia was murdered shortly after she entered her apartment building. Politkovskaia has been called “the conscience of Russian journalism” by the deputy editor of Novaia Gazeta, the daily newspaper for which she wrote. She was the only Russian intellectual seriously engaged in exposing to the world the unspeakable doings of the Russian security forces in Chechnya.

Alexandre Litvienko’s murder (17^th November) The ex-officer of the Federal Security Service (the successor organisation of the KGB), was poisoned with the toxic metal thallium in London, after reportedly investigating the murder of Anna Politkovskaya.