With all the diplomatic activity and many players in the Middle East, the news can get confusing. What should we watch -- the Arab-sponsored peace plan or the Quartet's Road Map? Who's leading the negotiations -- Bush, Blair, Solana?

Yet, I see a common thread running through all them that can help us navigate seemingly unconnected developments.

The EU's Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Peace and its related European Neighbourhood Policy. Read about it here.

Remember, Euro-Med was negotiated in 1995 by EU High Representative Javier Solana as a way to bring security to Europe by ending conflict in neighboring countries, including the Middle East. Since the Euro-Med wasn't working, Solana strengthened it by creating the European Neighbourhood Policy, which offers economic incentives to countries if they cooperate. Starting on Jan. 1, 2007, the ENP has a seven-year timetable attached to it, to urge participating countries to speed up their reforms.

Note, in the above link, that the European Neighbourhood Policy was created in direct response to a paper Solana delivered in 2003, titled "A Secure Europe in a Better World -- The European Security Strategy." Also, note the countries participating in Euro-Med. See them here. 

Now, it should make sense why some of their leaders are suddenly so willing to make peace in the Middle East when they never were before.

There are incentives.