Programmes

ECFR's research work is organised around the following three programmes:

Wider Europe

Can the EU recast its relationship to its eastern neighbours and a resurgent Russia? What can be done to use the prospect of EU membership and economic, military and political cooperation to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law, resolve frozen conflicts and lessen the threat of energy dependence?

China

This programme explores how the EU could pursue more effective strategies in its relations with China on global issues like energy and climate change; development and human rights; nuclear proliferation and global governance. The programme also publishes as a joint Asia Centre and ECFR project a bi-monthly analytical survey of Chinese news and debate entitled China Analysis.

Middle East and North Africa

The MENA programme was established in early 2011 in response to the dramatic protests across the region that became known as the ‘Arab Spring.’ Europe, like most of the world, was unprepared for these events, which have demonstrated the urgent need for the EU to re-think fundamentally its relationship with its neighbours across the Mediterranean. ECFR seeks to identify opportunities for Europe to make a real difference in the MENA region at this crucial time, and advocates European engagement with and promotion of wide-ranging reform in the region.

ECFR also works on several other projects and special initiatives, including Germany in Europe, and the ECFR Foreign Policy Scorecard.