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There’s only one way to “just get it done” (Commentary)
Nick Witney - 07 October 2019
The UK’s European partners should grant it another extension in the Brexit negotiations. The horror show of the last three years has deflated much of the public’s belief in British exceptionalism.
Taking on climate change: The new east-west divide? (Commentary)
Marin Lessenski - 04 October 2019
The Green New Deal is the incoming European Commission’s lead priority. But it may struggle to battle on so many fronts at once.
Policy Brief
The instinctive multilateralist: Portugal and the politics of cooperation
by Susi Dennison and Lívia Franco - 02nd October, 2019
The Portuguese hope that the EU can help them tackle the challenges of globalisation: from climate change to cooperation on the impact of freedom of movement
PDF
Trump’s Ukrainegate could help Ukraine (Commentary)
Joanna Hosa - 30 September 2019
The US president's impeachment process ensures Ukraine stays on the radar of Americans - and this may work to Ukraine's advantage
At a snail’s pace: German inactivity becomes a climate burden on Europe (Commentary)
Josef Janning - 30 September 2019
One week after climate talks at UNGA and the unveiling of the government’s new climate plan, Germany’s gap between lofty goals and actual initiatives is still striking
European defence and the new Commission (Commentary)
Nick Witney - 30 September 2019
A new directorate-general for defence and space has a chance to make a difference, but only if it plays nice in the sandbox
5 reasons Macron got it wrong on Germany (Commentary)
Jonathan Hackenbroich - 20 September 2019
The French president still wants to relaunch Europe. But after two years of courting Berlin, he is now searching for new ways to strengthen Europe’s sovereignty
Von der Leyen’s safe Commission (Commentary)
Susi Dennison - 19 September 2019
Billed as a safe pair of hands, Ursula von der Leyen is about to find out that caution can only take her so far.
A win for Orbán? Hungary and the new European Commission (Commentary)
Zsuzsanna Végh - 17 September 2019
The man nominated to encourage democratic norms among the EU’s neighbours has overseen the degradation of Hungary’s own standards. The damage could already be done.
Tricks of the trade (Commentary)
Pawel Zerka - 13 September 2019
Trade policy is set to become one of the key tools of Ursula von der Leyen’s “union that strives for more”. But securing support from national governments and European citizens will be a challenge.
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Flash Scorecard
Independence play: Europe’s pursuit of strategic autonomy
by Ulrike Esther Franke & Tara Varma - 18th July, 2019
To fulfil its true potential, the EU needs to end its strategic cacophony and focus on capability building
Policy Brief
Strategic sovereignty: How Europe can regain the capacity to act
by Mark Leonard & Jeremy Shapiro - 25th June, 2019
The EU needs to learn to think like a geopolitical power.
PDF
Policy Brief
All at sea: Europe’s crisis of solidarity on migration
by Shoshana Fine - 14th October, 2019
The European Union’s approach to migration has created a crisis of solidarity.
PDF
Policy Brief
False moves: Migration and development aid
by Shoshana Fine & Susi Dennison & Richard Gowan - 08th October, 2019
Europe should not confuse development aid’s role in reducing forced migration with that of reducing migration more broadly
PDF
Policy Brief
The instinctive multilateralist: Portugal and the politics of cooperation
by Susi Dennison and Lívia Franco - 02nd October, 2019
The Portuguese hope that the EU can help them tackle the challenges of globalisation: from climate change to cooperation on the impact of freedom of movement
PDF
Policy Brief
Give the people what they want: Popular demand for a strong European foreign policy
by Susi Dennison - 10th September, 2019
European voters want to see the European Union come of age as a geopolitical actor and chart its own course
PDF
Policy Brief
Three crises and an opportunity: Europe’s stake in multilateralism
by Richard Gowan & Anthony Dworkin - 05th September, 2019
Despite the existing crises to the multilateral system, the EU possesses a set of specific strengths needed to actually save the system.
PDF
Policy Brief
Border games: Has Spain found an answer to the populist challenge on migration?
by Shoshana Fine & José Ignacio Torreblanca - 03rd September, 2019
Spain, and Europe, need a new story about migration – it remains to be seen how the country will put this into practice.
PDF
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Another fine mess: Syria after the US exit (Commentary)
Asli Aydıntaşbaş & Julien Barnes-Dacey & Jeremy Shapiro - 16 October 2019
Turkey’s invasion means Europeans can no longer be bystanders to Syria. They must now take three urgent steps.
European foreign fighters in Syria: The cost of inaction (Commentary)
Anthony Dworkin - 15 October 2019
Repatriation remains the most effective way for EU member states to assess each case, prosecute jihadists where necessary, and interrogate returnees to learn more about ISIS methods and plans.
Poland after the election: New headaches for the EU (Commentary)
Piotr Buras - 15 October 2019
The freshly re-elected Law and Justice party will now be more emboldened than ever in its dealings with Brussels
Germany at the helm: Can it bring Europe together in 2020? (Commentary)
André Hein - 15 October 2019
The German presidency offers the chance to build on strong levels of structural cohesion between member states – but citizens remain sceptical on some fronts.
The real battle for Poland’s future (Commentary)
Pawel Zerka & Piotr Buras - 11 October 2019
Jaroslaw Kaczynski promises the ‘Polish model of the welfare state’ and social protection like in the West - but if his party stays in power after the October 13 election, the country will drift further away from its hard-won freedoms and connections with Europe
The Polish election by numbers (Commentary)
Pawel Zerka & Piotr Buras - 09 October 2019
Polling on the upcoming election in Poland reflects a society often at odds with the ruling party. This is the election broken down by numbers.
There’s only one way to “just get it done” (Commentary)
Nick Witney - 07 October 2019
The UK’s European partners should grant it another extension in the Brexit negotiations. The horror show of the last three years has deflated much of the public’s belief in British exceptionalism.
Taking on climate change: The new east-west divide? (Commentary)
Marin Lessenski - 04 October 2019
The Green New Deal is the incoming European Commission’s lead priority. But it may struggle to battle on so many fronts at once.
Von der Leyen's EU Commission: Picks for a Union that strives for more
Mark Leonard is meeting his ECFR colleagues, Tara Varma, Piotr Buras and Teresa Coratello in Berlin to go through the newly selected EU Commission. What have been surprises, disappointments and challenges in von der Leyen's new cabinet? And what role did geopolitics play during the selection process?
This podcast was recorded on 10 September 2019.
Read von der Leyen's Vision Statement here:
Bookshelf:
Meddling or Bargaining? - Emmanuel Macron's Iran Initiative
This week, ECFR director Mark Leonard discusses with experts Ellie Geranmayeh and Julien Barnes-Dacey the French president Emmanuel Macron's bold initiative: Europeans are now to explore a credit line for Iran to entice the sanctions-battered country to keep abiding by an international nuclear deal. But the US and president Trump are sceptical.
Bookshelf:
- "Crashed" by Adam Tooze
- "21 Lessons for the 21st Century" by Yuval Harari
- "Eric Hobsbawm: A Life in History" by Richard J. Evans
The podcast was recorded on 6 September 2019.
The EU's New Top Personnel
This week, ECFR director Mark Leonard discusses the new faces of the European Council: from Ursula von der Leyen to Josep Borrell, these are the figures who will lead Europe over the coming years. Mark is joined by an all-star cast from four ECFR offices across Europe.
Bookshelf:
Wes Mitchell: Perhapsburg (American Interest)
Francis Fukuyama: Identity
John Mearsheimer: The Great Dillusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities
Alexandros Yannis: Chimera: A Novel
Luuk von Middelaar: Alarums and Excursions – Improving Politics on the European Stage
Parag Khanna: The Future is Asian
German philosophy about Europe from Immanuel Kant to Jürgen Habermas
Robert Menasse: Die Hauptstadt
ECFR: Strategic sovereignty: How Europe can regain the capacity to actThe podcast was recorded on 5 July 2019
France's European strategy: The reality check with Shahin Vallée
Ever since his Sorbonne speech in the summer of 2017, Emmanuel Macron has been in search for allies to support his vision of a Renaissance for Europe. His first bet was the alliance with Germany, difficult enough to get in light of Merkel’s scepticism about high flying concepts. Macron then had to deal with opposition from the North, conflicts with Italy and lack of outreach to the East. After the European election, our speaker has told the Guardian, Macron appears to have lost essential momentum: “Once a beacon of hope for change, the president risks turning into a junior coalition partner in the management of a status quo in Europe.” What is next for France and for Macron’s Europe strategy?
The event was held on 3 July 2019 in ECFR's Berlin office.
What is Europe's maritime security role in the South China Sea?
Le podcast de notre BCM du 24 juin « What is Europe's maritime security role in the South China Sea? » en présence de Mathieu Duchâtel, directeur du programme Asie à l’Institut Montaigne, Delphine O, ambassadrice et secrétaire générale de la Conférence mondiale de l’ONU et John Nilsson-Wright, senior fellow au programme AsiaPacific de Chatman House.
Expecting the Unexpected?: the UK & the 2019 European elections
At our recent event in London, ECFR's Director Mark Leonard and MEP candidates Laura Parker, Jan Vincent-Rostowski, Irina von Wiese and Shahrar Ali, moderated by Mary Kaldor, discussed what to expect from this week’s European elections in the United Kingdom.
United States of Europe? Panel with German EU election candidates
At the Humbold Symposium 2019 in Berlin, ECFR's director Mark Leonard moderated a panel discussion with Katarina Barley; German Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection; Damian Boeselager, Vice-President of Volt Europa; Nicola Beer, General Secretary of the Free Democratic Party; Sven Giegold, Member of the European Parliament; Daniel Caspary, Chairman of the German CDU/CSU-delegation in the European Parliament. Among others, the panel discussed the Spitzenkandidaten process, new models of digital taxation, and what to do with Viktor Orban.
L'avenir de la démocratie en Europe
Podcast de notre conférence du 24 avril « L'avenir de la démocratie en Europe » en partenariat avec la Revue Esprit, en présence d’Ivan Krastev, président du Centre for Liberal Strategies et co-fondateur de l’ECFR, Vincent Martigny, chercheur associé au Centre de recherches politiques de Science Po, Susi Dennison, directrice du programme Europe Puissance de l’ECFR et de Tara Varma, directrice adjointe du bureau de Paris de l'ECFR.
Video: Borrell returns: His vision for Europe
ECFR - 22 May 2019
An exclusive ECFR Madrid interview with Josep Borrell, Spanish Foreign Minister and lead PSOE candidate for the European Parliament elections, on the European Union and his vision for it
Video: Ivan Krastev on fears and hopes ahead of the European Parliament election
Ivan Krastev - 09 May 2019
Ivan Krastev talks from Warsaw on how voters in many EU countries are more worried about nationals leaving the country than about foreigners coming in, as a recent ECFR survey shows.
Video: “War and Peace: Has Trump made the world more dangerous?”
Mark Leonard - 26 April 2019
Mark Leonard participates in a debate organised by The Institute of Art and Ideas (IAI) in London.
Video: The Four Crises of Europe: Felipe González and the European Elections
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 08 April 2019
ECFR Madrid sits down with former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe González to discuss topics such as the state of the European Union ahead of May's European Parliament elections, the rise of Eurosceptic parties, Brexit, and relations with the US and Russia.
Video: How to restore democracy in Venezuela? Interview with Felipe González
José Ignacio Torreblanca - 07 February 2019
ECFR Madrid in collaboration with Fundación Felipe González recorded a conversation between former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe González and Head of the ECFR Madrid Office José Ignacio Torreblanca on the situation in Venezuela and the legitimacy of Juan Guaidó’s claim to the presidency.
Video: Video: A new European security in a new strategic environment
Katharina Botel-Azzinnaro - 21 June 2018
How can security be achieved in an age of connectivity?
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Financial Times
16th October, 2019
Rachman discusses in his podcast the similarities between the Brexit and Trump phenomena and America's shrinking role on the global stage with among other Jeremy Shapiro.
The Irish Times
14th October, 2019
Piotr Buras is cited in the Irish Times on PiS entrenchment following the Polish elections
CBC Canada
13th October, 2019
Pawel Zerka is cited on the reasons for the level of support for PiS in Poland
euronews.
13th October, 2019
Piotr Buras speaks on the latest poll for the Polish parliamentary elections
Standard
13th October, 2019
Der Standard published Pawel Zerka's and Piotr Buras's opinion piece on Poland's future after the elections.
Die Presse
13th October, 2019
Nick Witney's opinion piece on the Brexit farrago and its bizarre evolutions of this autumn in the UK published in Die Presse.
The Independent
12th October, 2019
Pawel Zerka makes some prediction on voter mobilisation prior to the Polish elections
World Politics Review
11th October, 2019
Richard Gowan outlines Kelly Knight Craft's progress in her new role as US permanent representative to the United Nations
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Upcoming events
There are no upcoming events
Past events
« Elections en Pologne : espoirs, craintes, et implications pour l’Europe »
Paris - 14 Oct 19
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à un Black Coffee Morning sur le thème suivant : « Elections en Pologne, le jour d’après : espoirs, craintes, et implications pour l’Europe » en présence de David Cadier et Pawel Zerka.
Bewitched by Brexit: Referendums and modern democracy
Paris - 01 Oct 19
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à un Black Coffee Morning sur le thème suivant : « Bewitched by Brexit: Referendums and modern democracy » en présence de Caroline de Gruyter, Carole Ulmer, et Jeremy Shapiro.
Artificial Intelligence and autonomy in warfare: the European approach
London - 03 Sep 19
A discussion workshop on Artificial Intelligence’s impact on geopolitics and warfare and what it means for Europe
Can Europe’s new leadership deliver on strategic sovereignty?
Brussels - 11 Jul 19
In cooperation with European Foreign Ministries, the EEAS and Bruegel, "Strategic sovereignty: How Europe can regain the capacity to act" looks at the different ways that, in a world of superpower competition, Europe is in danger of becoming a plaything of other powers.
Europa, ¿quo vadis?
Madrid - 20 Jun 19
La oficina de Madrid de ECFR organiza este evento en colaboración con la Fundación Bertelsmann para tratar sobre el futuro de la Unión Europea en esta nueva legislatura y sobre qué quieren realmente los ciudadanos.
Folkemødet: The hope and fear paradox
- 15 Jun 19
Panel discussion at the Folkemødet with Susanne Baumann, Lykke Friis, Stina Soewarta and Catharina Sørensen
European Parliament: how European Will It Be?
Warsaw - 11 Jun 19
Summary of the debate about consequences of PE election for future shape of the European Union.