Turkey, increasingly turning away from Europe, is ontheroad to becoming a more effective force in the Middle East than is the EU. China and India are competing to replace the Europeans as the most important non-U.S. economic actor in Africa.
Despite their stunning form in Europe, Fulham have not won ontheroad in the Premier League since the opening day of the season and their lack of attacking intent at Anfield gave an inkling as to why.
The figures released by the IUR indicate that in 1997, the last year for which comparisons are available, a commuter is 25 times more likely to be killed ontheroad as they are on Europe's railways.
Former defence secretary Liam Fox urged Mr Cameron to make an "unambiguous declaration" that Britain will not continue down theroad of "ever-closer union" and to put a new deal onEurope to a referendum.
All this also puts pressure on Britain's other Nato allies in Europe, with an informal defence ministers' meeting in Bratislava next week expected to be another important step ontheroad to securing a wider troop uplift.