The Reform Treaty s shortcomings are obvious.

We all have an interest in Russian reform.

This is relevant for the current debate about reforms in many democratic countries.

Greece needs both money and reforms rapidly and within the eurozone and the EU.

Soon thereafter, Henry agreed to convene Parliament to address the calls for reform.

Yes, Europe needs structural reform, as austerity advocates insist.

The passage of the Dodd Frank Act by Congress represents a significant milestone in the reform of the US financial sector.

Russian bloggers began to question these reforms even as the new legislation was moving through the Duma.

The EU s Reform Treaty is now the focus of that dispute, but its roots go deeper.

Markets react to credible announcements of reforms, as well as to their implementation.

But the saving rate even in households in their thirties has risen along with concern about reforms.

Four years ago, big Russian companies were interested in state subsidies, not structural reforms.

The company's new head was the first to announce reforms to the monopoly over the course of a year and a half, a new system of freight tariffs will be created.

The reform treaty that is to be adopted in 2009 is aimed at overcoming the EU s supposed democratic deficit.

In assessing the outcome of the Third Plenum, what observers should really be looking for is evidence of a bold strategy for political reform.

But this will not happen as long as politicians keep talking about reforms, while doing virtually nothing to realize them.

Innovation in government is not an intellectual luxury, a topic confined to seminars and panel discussions, or a matter only of administrative reforms.

There has been no significant progress on supply side reforms, especially on the core issue of how to expand the labor force.

Beneath the self congratulation, however, was the widespread feeling that both institutions are failing badly, and need fundamental reform.

Let us hope that the new Reform Treaty will help to reassure the critics and pave the way for a new and more robust phase of integration.

Focusing squarely on structural reforms would allay some of the fears that China s rise has inspired in the rest of the world, while winning praise from the international business community.

Europe, for its part, must think beyond the necessary reforms of Greece s pension system, tax regime, and collective bargaining arrangements.

In the long run, economic and social change may help to resolve the situation. China s dilemma remains that if it pushes too fast for reform, the Kim regime may collapse.

The massive regulatory failure exposed by the financial crisis that began in 2008 underscores the need to concentrate on reforms that provide the correct incentives to banks. But, if the past is any guide to the future, we should be aware of the limits of regulation.

When I first started asking my Japanese academic friends about Abe s supply side reforms, they said, Don t worry, they re coming.

China s dilemma remains that if it pushes too fast for reform, the Kim regime may collapse.

The massive regulatory failure exposed by the financial crisis that began in 2008 underscores the need to concentrate on reforms that provide the correct incentives to banks.

One reason that Russia s reform debates are so barren is the country s lack of coherent political parties.

There is a huge dependency on oil, a need for capital, a need for serious reforms, while the social burden is very strong.

While the EU clearly needs internal reforms, two external political factors are central to its prospects this year.

The Cuba news feed this morning was overflowing with reports on the supposed migratory reforms of the Castro dictatorship that went into effect yesterday on the island.

In return, Germany would insist on economic governance reforms that force other eurozone members to surrender some of their national fiscal prerogatives.

These countries now require painful, far reaching reforms to attain economic prosperity, a goal that presupposes cultural change as well.

The Dodd Frank Financial Reform Bill, which is about to pass the US Senate, does something similar and long overdue for banking.

Multilateral lenders like the International Monetary Fund were fixated on fiscal reforms such as reducing costly subsidies rather than shoring up a beleaguered economy.

From a political point of view, the fact that the majority of workers remains highly protected, and that firms have more flexibility than before, decreases the pressure for coherent, across the board reform.

But the hints of d tente with America that emerged since Khatami's inauguration could be undermined by domestic perceptions either of US intransigence (e.g. over sanctions) or that well intended US engagement is interference in Iran's internal affairs. Seemingly balked on political reform, President Khatami should focus on economic renewal which, when it comes, might revive his political agenda too.

Despite talk of growing Latin American independence and Castro s recent reforms, most countries, when forced to choose between Cuba and the US, choose the latter.

In fact, there are two problems with all this talk and little or no real action on structural reforms.

South Korea has focused on systemic reform and, today, despite labour unrest the signs of economic recovery abound and political prospects are brightening, too.

Seemingly balked on political reform, President Khatami should focus on economic renewal which, when it comes, might revive his political agenda too.

The legislation on the reforms will include other changes to the way the assembly works, including rules on disqualification of AMs and the design of the committee system.

Unless a robust international economic boom (unlikely) unexpectedly aids Berlusconi's government, we will hear more talk about reform but see even less action.

According to the results of a national poll released by the Razumkov Center, an independent research group, 81 percent of respondents don t see any progress in the anti corruption reforms conducted by the new government around the country.

Granted, transatlantic diversity might cause occasional squabbles. However, mutual interaction and equal partnership remain the only response especially if they are reflected into long overdue reforms of multilateral institutions and increased global governance.