Highlights
Featured
The infinite connection: How to make the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor happen
- Alberto Rizzi
- Policy Brief
The India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor is alive, if not yet kicking. Europeans should use the hiatus in the corridor’s development to agree on the next steps, with a focus on reconciling the various goals of all its participants
Proxy battles: Iraq, Iran, and the turmoil in the Middle East
- Hamzeh Hadad
- Policy Brief
The cycle of escalation in the Middle East since 7 October means Iraq has once again found itself a staging ground for Iranian-US conflict. But the relationship between Iraq and Iran is complex and multifaceted – and Europeans can help Iraq build its autonomy
The Gaza crisis: Mapping the Middle East’s shifting battle lines
- Julien Barnes-Dacey, Cinzia Bianco, Hugh Lovatt
- Special
This new ECFR mapping project identifies the spillover effects of the Gaza war in countries across the Middle East
A new political map: Getting the European Parliament election right
- Ivan Krastev, Mark Leonard
- Policy Brief
Mainstream parties are hoping to prevent an anticipated far-right surge in this year’s European Parliament election. But the results of ECFR’s latest opinion poll suggest their current strategy could backfire – and what they should do instead
Upcoming events
The quest for Strategic Interdependence: What does Brazil think?
- Online
- ECFR Madrid
Belarus in 2024: Navigating Trajectories of War and Repression
- Lithuanian Embassy in Paris, 22 Boulevard de Courcelles, 75017 Paris
- ECFR Paris
Recent events
Tech Summit, 3rd Edition – The rising technological influence in the next multipolar world
- NH Collection Piazza Carlina, Turin
- ECFR Rome
Ukrainian Victory. How to bring sustainable peace back to Europe
- Rome Polish Institute, Via Vittoria Colonna 1, Rome
- ECFR Rome
Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
Pathways to peace in Gaza: the prospects for Palestinian statehood
- Podcast
- Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
Mark Leonard welcomes Hugh Lovatt and Muhammad Shehada to discuss the war in Gaza and the prospects for Palestinian statehood
ECFR on air
Europe Listens: Saving multilateralism with Arancha González Laya and Richard Gowan
- Podcast
- ECFR on air
- Europe Listens
In September 2024, the United Nation’s Summit of the Future is set to take place – a crucial moment to mend “eroded trust” between peoples,…
Views from the Council
A defeat for Putin in Ukraine will improve the chances for the Other Russia
- Timothy Garton Ash
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 4 minute read
Alexei Navalny’s funeral and this weekend’s so-called election show us two Russias. Support the better one
False economy: Why Europeans should stop slashing development aid to Africa
- Mimi Alemayehou, David McNair
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 4 minute read
The first two months of 2024 have seen the EU and member states redirect billions of euros of development funding away from Africa – but this could come at great cost to their long-term interests on the continent
In the Media - Council
Showing that Ukraine is part of “us” means sending more of “our” air defences to protect Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure
Nathalie Tocci argues for the European defence of Ukraine’s skies
The weekend of Israeli attacks has triggered a new sense of inequality and a lack of prospects in Kyiv
Stefan Kornelius analyses the ongoing missile hail on Ukrainian cities
Featured projects
Charting The Long War
For seven decades, European integration has been driven by the quest for peace. The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point.
Re:shape Global Europe
The project strives to engage citizens across Europe and generate a wide debate about the purpose of European power in the twenty-first century
Multilateral Matchmaker
- Carla Hobbs, Rafael Loss, Jana Puglierin, Pawel Zerka
Public opinion polling
Through polling in EU member states, ECFR’s analysis seeks to unlock shifting coalitions in Europe that favour a more internationally engaged union
A crisis of one’s own: The politics of trauma in Europe’s election year
- Ivan Krastev, Mark Leonard
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Latest
Hanging in the balance: How to save Bulgaria’s foreign policy from political turmoil
- Maria Simeonova
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
Facing its sixth election in three years, Bulgaria’s political instability risks marginalising Sofia’s role within the EU. To avoid this, the campaigns of pro-European politicians in the country must not lose sight of Bulgaria’s international position
Letter from Washington: All-knowing America and US intelligence diplomacy
- Jeremy Shapiro
- Commentary
- Views from the Capitals
- 4 minute read
The apparent omniscience of US intelligence is a valuable strategic asset. In this third instalment of ECFR’s Letters from Washington, Jeremy Shapiro sets out what Europeans can learn from the US intelligence community to boost their diplomatic arsenal
Rebooting EU-India relations: How to unlock post-election potential
- James Crabtree, Manisha Reuter
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
Ties between Brussels and New Delhi have long struggled to reach their potential. After their respective elections, shared geopolitical concerns about China and common goals on topics from technology to economic security can provide a chance for a reboot
Direct destabilisation: Iran’s attack on Israel
- Julien Barnes-Dacey
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
Iran’s unprecedented direct attack on Israel risks further escalation in the Middle East. European leaders should join the US in pressing Israel not to retaliate with strikes on Iran – or the region could end up embroiled in an all-consuming war
Out of focus: Making progress on climate financing for Africa
- Ameer Chughtai
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
The lack of financing for climate projects in Africa is a major obstacle for the continent to reach its goals under the Paris agreement. In this critical year for climate finance, scattered efforts threaten to stymie real progress
Risk and reward: Why the EU should develop the Middle Corridor trade route
- Alberto Rizzi
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
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
Our experts are available for media requests. Our work involves many issues relating to Europe and foreign policy, and our programmes focus on Africa, Asia, the Middle East & North Africa, and Wider Europe.
It does mean the danger that Ukraine was going to be pushed back over the second half of this year is now much less likely
I hope the next CEO’s agenda will be to really double down on making ASML’s case a European case. This is not just a matter for the Dutch government.
Showing that Ukraine is part of “us” means sending more of “our” air defences to protect Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure
Nathalie Tocci argues for the European defence of Ukraine’s skies
Signing such an agreement is a very strong step for a country like Italy, with a very recent history of sensitivity and combating disinformation compared to other EU Member States
Teresa Coratella on the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Italy and the US to strengthen cooperation in countering disinformation
More on Africa
Tricks of the trade: Strengthening EU-African cooperation on trade in services
- Iza Lejarraga
- Policy Brief
Services play an increasingly important role in international trade. Improving EU-African trade in services would have wide-ranging benefits for both sides
The final nail: Niger’s break with the US
- Will Brown
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
Trading bases: The Red Sea tinderbox and the maritime economy
- Theodore Murphy
- Commentary
- 6 minute read
More on Asia
The battle for the Indian Ocean: How the EU and India can strengthen maritime security
- Frédéric Grare, Manisha Reuter
- Policy Brief
China is becoming increasingly assertive in the Indian Ocean. The EU and India should work together to support the smaller states of the region
Forget about Trump: Why Europeans should start worrying about trade tensions with emerging economies
- Agathe Demarais
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
Aiding competition: The geopolitics of humanitarian aid and disaster relief in the Indo-Pacific
- Mélissa Levaillant
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
More on European Power
Energising eastern Europe: How the EU can enhance energy sovereignty through cooperation with Ukraine and Moldova
- Szymon Kardaś
- Policy Brief
Over the past two years, the EU has helped Ukraine and Moldova to diversify away from Russian fossil fuels. This has significantly strengthened their energy sovereignty – but improving the efficiency and cleanness of their energy sectors would bring further mutual benefits
From crisis to climate: Europe’s energy diplomacy after two years of war in Ukraine
- Szymon Kardaś
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
Forget about Trump: Why Europeans should start worrying about trade tensions with emerging economies
- Agathe Demarais
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
More on Middle East and North Africa
The Maghreb maze: Harmonising divergent European policies in North Africa
- Anthony Dworkin
- Policy Brief
The Maghreb policies of the four most influential EU member states are diverging – but this fragmentation hinders the EU’s long-term interests in the region
Aid with reform: How the EU-Egypt deal can succeed
- Anthony Dworkin
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
On the brink: Why Europeans need to help save UNRWA from collapse
- Kelly Petillo
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
More on United States
The art of vassalisation: How Russia’s war on Ukraine has transformed transatlantic relations
- Jana Puglierin, Jeremy Shapiro
- Policy Brief
Europeans’ response to Russia’s war on Ukraine confirms their profound dependence on the US – an unwise position given the security challenge in Europe and coming geopolitical competition with China
Letter from Washington: Why we hate Trump
- Jeremy Shapiro
- Commentary
- Views from the Capitals
- 4 minute read
The Trump effect takes Europe
- Mark Leonard
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
More on Wider Europe
Life in exile: A new approach to Russian democrats in Europe
- Ksenia Luchenko, Kirill Shamiev
- Policy Brief
European governments need a more coordinated response to Russian democrats in exile – to give them certainty for the future and help guard against Kremlin subversion
From crisis to climate: Europe’s energy diplomacy after two years of war in Ukraine
- Szymon Kardaś
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
Greasing the gears: Readying Ukraine’s civil service for a European future
- Lesia Ogryzko
- Commentary
- 5 minute read