The European Council on Foreign Relations

Welcome to the ECFR Wider Europe Programme

Europe is changing to the detriment of the European Union. As other regional actors such as Russia and Turkey are emerging in a multipolar Europe, the balance of power is progressively shifting away from the EU. In its eastern neighbourhood, the magnetism of the existing EU model has hits its limits. Further to the east, the EU has struggled to translate the multiple ties and mutual dependency with Russia into a meaningful strategic partnership. Turkey has become an actor and is pursuing increasingly independent foreign policy and carving out a role as a regional power. If the EU is to remain relevant, it needs to re-engage other European actors. The programme strives to raise awareness of Europe’s flagging influence in the eastern neighborhood and outdated approach to Turkey and Russia, and assist the European Union in defining a way forward.

ECFR’s Wider Europe was launched in 2007 with the agenda-setting report “A Power Audit of EU-Russia relations,” which prompted a pan-European review of the EU’s relations with Moscow. Our report “The Limits of Enlargement-lite” (2009) exposed the limits of EU’s approach to its neighbourhood, and “The Spectre of a Multipolar Europe” (2010) highlighted of the dangers of an increasingly multipolar Europe lapsing into separate spheres of influence. The collection essays “What Does Turkey Think?” has become a principal point of reference in the policy discussions in the run up and beyond Turkey’s general elections on 12 June 2011.

The programme is recognized for its policy-focused expertise, leading in-country research and unrivalled pan-European outreach. Its events, publications and regular reports all contribute to an improved European understanding of Russia, Turkey and the troubled neighborhood.

• Along with reports and publications, our experts regularly publish commentaries and blog posts. The Wider Europe programme and its expert staff also regularly feature in ECFR audio podcasts, which are published in five languages. You can also subscribe to ECFR’s podcast streams via the multimedia page, of our website or through iTunes.

• ECFR Foreign Policy Scorecard: ECFR’s comprehensive annual assessment of Europe’s performance on the world stage tracks the EU’s ability to deal with Russia and across Wider Europe by grading the EU’s unity, resources and impact across 13 different policy areas. Click here for the Russia or Wider Europe section of ECFR Scorecard 2010.