2 May
Breaking the Debt Deadlock in Africa: the IMF’s Balancing Act with China
The economic shock after COVID-19 plunged many African economies into debt trouble. Yet, four years later, the current system for restructuring debts – the G20 Common…
Geoeconomics
Shifting sands: The geoeconomic triumphs of the Gulf
Mark Leonard welcomes Cinzia Bianco, Agathe Demarais, and Camille Lons to discuss the geoeconomics of the Gulf
Risk and reward: Why the EU should develop the Middle Corridor trade route
The EU’s plans to upgrade the Middle Corridor trade route may boost Russian and Chinese connectivity with central Asia. But for Europeans, the long-term economic and strategic benefits of going ahead with the development far outweigh these risks
Forget about Trump: Why Europeans should start worrying about trade tensions with emerging economies
India’s tough stance at the World Trade Organisation’s ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi illustrates emerging economies’ rising resentment towards EU trade policies
De-risking and its impact on the global economy
Mark Leonard welcomes Agathe Demarais and Stephen Adams to discuss de-risking and its impact on Europe and the global economy
Rest meets West: How the UAE keeps its economic ties open
The UAE sees itself first and foremost as a valuable economic connector, bridging the BRICS+ and the West. Its bet is that that great powers, even amid rising tensions, need a safe haven to do business with one another
You break, you pay: Why the West should start confiscating frozen Russian assets now
Ukraine’s Western allies are discussing the possibility of confiscating frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction. But if confiscated during the war, these funds could provide desperately needed – and stable – financial support for Kyiv’s war effort
A stronger partner: How Europeans can make the most of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council
In this year of elections, Europeans can make progress on numerous fronts with the US by investing in the Trade and Technology Council
Security recall: The risk of Chinese electric vehicles in Europe
The security challenge posed by Chinese electric vehicles is in many ways greater – and trickier to solve – than that of 5G networks. With such cars entering the European market at growing speed, policymakers need to move swiftly
Missing money: Why Europe’s economic security requires a critical technology investment plan
The EU needs to complement defensive economic security measures with a focus on boosting its technological and industrial capacities. For this it needs a bold, security-driven investment plan
Publications
The power of control: How the EU can shape the new era of strategic export restrictions
Amid the US-China strategic competition, the EU must develop a new strategic technology doctrine and upgrade its export control policy
Tough trade: The hidden costs of economic coercion
The EU needs to develop an Anti-Coercion Instrument that acts as a powerful economic deterrent, but this alone will not sufficiently protect Europe against economic coercion
Geo-tech politics: Why technology shapes European power
New technologies are a significant force shaping international relations. If the EU wants to be more than a mediator between the US and China, it will need to change its mindset.
Measured response: How to design a European instrument against economic coercion
The anti-coercion instrument needs to enable countermeasures that are both effective and credible; if it does not, this could carry more risks than benefits
Defending Europe’s Economic Sovereignty: new ways to resist economic coercion
The EU should move quickly to consider and adopt a suite of tools to protect and enhance European sovereignty in the geo-economic sphere
The Trump opportunity: Chinese perceptions of the US administration
Four views from our authors on Chinese and Taiwanese views of the roots of Trump’s strategy and trade policy, and Chinese blind spots
Connectivity Wars
Why migration, finance and trade are the geo-economic battlegrounds of the future
A Fresh Start for TTIP
Given public opposition, the EU should make a fresh start in winning support for TTIP
Articles
Risk and reward: Why the EU should develop the Middle Corridor trade route
The EU’s plans to upgrade the Middle Corridor trade route may boost Russian and Chinese connectivity with central Asia. But for Europeans, the long-term economic and strategic benefits of going ahead with the development far outweigh these risks
Forget about Trump: Why Europeans should start worrying about trade tensions with emerging economies
India’s tough stance at the World Trade Organisation’s ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi illustrates emerging economies’ rising resentment towards EU trade policies
Rest meets West: How the UAE keeps its economic ties open
The UAE sees itself first and foremost as a valuable economic connector, bridging the BRICS+ and the West. Its bet is that that great powers, even amid rising tensions, need a safe haven to do business with one another
You break, you pay: Why the West should start confiscating frozen Russian assets now
Ukraine’s Western allies are discussing the possibility of confiscating frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction. But if confiscated during the war, these funds could provide desperately needed – and stable – financial support for Kyiv’s war effort
A stronger partner: How Europeans can make the most of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council
In this year of elections, Europeans can make progress on numerous fronts with the US by investing in the Trade and Technology Council
Security recall: The risk of Chinese electric vehicles in Europe
The security challenge posed by Chinese electric vehicles is in many ways greater – and trickier to solve – than that of 5G networks. With such cars entering the European market at growing speed, policymakers need to move swiftly
Missing money: Why Europe’s economic security requires a critical technology investment plan
The EU needs to complement defensive economic security measures with a focus on boosting its technological and industrial capacities. For this it needs a bold, security-driven investment plan
The bigger picture: The case for an EU-Mercosur free trade deal
Deepening ties with Mercosur countries makes perfect sense as part of the EU’s de-risking efforts to diversify economic ties away from China. Further delays in signing a free trade deal would push Latin America closer to China’s orbit – for good
High-voltage trade: How Europe should fight the electric vehicle wars
The electric vehicle industry demonstrates the challenges of de-risking in practice. The EU needs more than tariffs if it wants to prevent a looming over-dependence on Chinese electric vehicles without strangling its own green ambitions
A maker, not a taker: Why Europe needs an economic security mechanism
Europe risks becoming a taker, not a maker, of economic security norms. To prevent this, the EU should develop a European economic security mechanism.
Podcasts
Shifting sands: The geoeconomic triumphs of the Gulf
Mark Leonard welcomes Cinzia Bianco, Agathe Demarais, and Camille Lons to discuss the geoeconomics of the Gulf
De-risking and its impact on the global economy
Mark Leonard welcomes Agathe Demarais and Stephen Adams to discuss de-risking and its impact on Europe and the global economy
Digital empires: The global battle to regulate technology
Jeremy Shapiro welcomes Anu Bradford to discuss her new book “Digital Empires” and the race between China, the US, and the EU to regulate tech companies and the digital economy
The Great Reset? How the EU and the UK can rethink their economic cooperation with Ivan Rogers
In this fifth episode of our new mini-series, Mark Leonard and Susi Dennison talk to Ivan Rogers about the potential for a great reset in UK-EU relations
Macron and Europe: the French vision for strategic autonomy
Last week, France’s president Emmanuel Macron threw the EU bubble into turmoil by suggesting that Europe should not become the United States’ “vassal” over Taiwan
The crisis of democratic capitalism with Martin Wolf
Mark Leonard welcomes Martin Wolf to discuss his latest book “The crisis of democratic capitalism”
Agathe Demarais on sanctions as a foreign policy tool
Mark Leonard talks with Agathe Demarais about how sanctions work and how they can be truly effective
Davos world: Alexander Stubb and Mark Leonard live from the WEF
Mark Leonard and Alexander Stubb give us their take on this year’s World Economic Forum
15 years of ECFR: Reflections on Europe in a tumultuous world
We turned 15! Time to reflect on the past years and ECFR’s role in helping Europe find a strong, united voice
Events
2 May
Breaking the Debt Deadlock in Africa: the IMF’s Balancing Act with China
The economic shock after COVID-19 plunged many African economies into debt trouble. Yet, four years later, the current system for restructuring debts – the G20 Common…
25 Oct
Global Gateway Africa – Geopolitica, investimenti e prospettive per l’Italia
L’evento si concentrerà su come Il settore privato costituisca una componente fondamentale per l’attuazione del Global Gateway e sulle opportunità che questo può rappresentare
20 Sep
Taking stock and the way ahead: Realising the EU-Namibia Partnership
In November 2022 at COP 27 the European Union and Namibia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic partnership to develop raw materials…
15 Sep
30 years of the Single Market: A look into the future
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) was pleased to invite you to the public debate that took place on September 15 (09:30 – 14:30h)…
15 Sep
30 Años de Mercado Único: Una mirada hacia el futuro
El Consejo Europeo de Relaciones Exteriores (ECFR) tuvo el placer de organizar un debate público que tuvo lugar el 15 de septiembre (09:30 – 14:30h)…
22 Jun
Global Gateway Africa: il piano di investimenti europeo per il continente
L’incontro, organizzato dal mensile Africa e Affari, da Confindustria Assafrica e Mediterraneo e da ECFR con il sostegno di Lufthansa Group e di Assolombarda, ha l’obiettivo di analizzare le ragioni politiche dietro il Global Gateway
27 Jun
Balance of interests: keeping decarbonisation on course through the energy crisis
How can member states co-operate concretely to build European energy and climate sovereignty? What role for the new French government and other member states? And what is the role of the financial development institutions such as the EIB?
29 Mar
The birth of geopolitical Europe: In conversation with Josep Borrell
With the EU’s High Representative as our honoured guest, the panel will explore the birth of a geopolitical Europe and the new dimensions of European power with a focus on the tech, economic, and security terrains
21 Feb
Can Europe stand up to Chinese and Russian economic coercion?
The European Council on Foreign Relations in the context of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU is delighted to invite you to a debate on the principles that should guide Europe’s quest for economic sovereignty
17 Feb
Europe Debates | Should Lithuania expect more European solidarity vis-à-vis China?
This Oxford-style debate is part of ECFR’s Re:shape Global Europe project supported by Stiftung Mercator
In the media
The Strait is the main bottleneck for international energy trade: about 30% of the maritime oil trade passes through the Strait
Alberto Rizzi on Iran’s position in the Strait of Hormuz and how this may affect global connectivity
Moscow and Beijing may well boast about their no-limits friendship, but that closeness does not appear to extend to the trade sphere
In her op-ed, Agathe Demarais debunks the myth that Russia-China trade ties are special
China’s domination in shipbuilding and electric cars may well be the first steps to a Chinese edge in all the major categories of transport equipment
In her column, Agathe Demarais unpacks Beijing’s ships strategy and what it means for the West
The important thing is not to see it only as a raw material challenge, but as really a much broader industrial challenge over who produces the technologies of tomorrow
Vestager’s announcement is a wake-up call about the consequences of Chinese industrial overcapacity for Europe’s competitiveness
Agathe Demarais comments on the European Commission’s announcement of a new investigation into Chinese wind turbine suppliers