-
Policy Brief
China’s great game in the Middle East
by Camille Lons (project editor), Jonathan Fulton, Degang Sun, Naser Al-Tamimi - 21st October, 2019
Europeans should monitor China’s influence on regional stability and political dynamics, especially in relation to surveillance technology and arms sales
PDF
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.
Europe with no cards to play: Erdoğan, Trump, and Europe's weaknesses
Turkey's offensive into northeast Syria is moving at an unprecedented pace with grave consequences. Europe's utter irrelevance in the face of US withdrawal from the Turkish/Syrian border has been thrown in to stark light, particularly as it fails to take responsibility for European Isis members in the region. Europes weakness on migration and the refugee crisis as a whole has also been highlighted. What can and should Europe do at this crisis point? As events unfold, Asli Aydıntaşbaş, senior policy fellow with the Wider Europe programme joins host Mark Leonard from Turkey. Mark is also joined by head of ECFR's MENA programme, Julien Barnes-Dacey. Jeremy Shapiro, our research director, provides insight into Trump and Erdoğan's relationship breakdown and what US foreign policy under Trump may continue to look like.
This podcast was recorded on 10 October 2019.
Bookshelf:
"The Fall of the Ottomans: The Great War in the Middle East, 1914-1920" By Eugene Rogan
"The Noise of Time" by Julien Barnes
"Chimera" by Alexandros Yannis
Details of the text message sent by a No.10 source to the Spectator
Iraq after the “October protests”: A different country (Commentary)
Hussein Dawood - 11 October 2019
Popular protests are no new phenomenon in Iraq. But this latest round may transform both the government and the country.
Sisi’s illusion of stability (Commentary)
René Wildangel - 04 October 2019
The EU should end its acquiescence to Sisi’s policies.
Weathering the storm: Saudi Arabia one year after Khashoggi (Commentary)
Eman Alhussein - 02 October 2019
Will admitting responsibility at the highest levels be enough to turn international opinion back in Saudi Arabia’s favour?
Web Special
Differentiation Tracker
by Hugh Lovatt - 01st October, 2019
ECFR’s Differentiation Tracker provides a snapshot of third state relations with Israel – and the extent to which these contain a clearly defined territorial definition that explicitly excludes Israeli settlements constructed on occupied territory in line with UNSCR 2334.
Can Germany stop Libya becoming the new Syria? (Commentary)
Tarek Megerisi - 24 September 2019
The forthcoming Berlin conference offers the chance of a diplomatic breakthrough for all sides in Libya’s proxy ‘civil’ war. Will they seize the opportunity?
The indispensable mediator: Europe’s role in the US-Iran dispute (Commentary)
Ellie Geranmayeh - 20 September 2019
With the intense escalation between Iran and the US, and the potential for French mediation efforts to unravel, Europe must think carefully about its next move
-
China’s great game in the Middle East
by Camille Lons (project editor), Jonathan Fulton, Degang Sun, Naser Al-Tamimi - 21st October, 2019
Europeans should monitor China’s influence on regional stability and political dynamics, especially in relation to surveillance technology and arms sales
PDF
Meeting the challenge of secondary sanctions
by Ellie Geranmayeh, Manuel Lafont Rapnouil - 25th June, 2019
The EU and its member states should strengthen their sanctions policy and begin to build up their deterrence and resilience against secondary sanctions
PDF
Saudi First: How hyper-nationalism is transforming Saudi Arabia
by Eman Alhussein - 19th June, 2019
Saudi Arabia is embracing a new nationalism that is transforming domestic politics and the country’s foreign policy
PDF
The displacement dilemma: Should Europe help Syrian refugees return home?
by Jasmine M. El-Gamal - 14th March, 2019
-
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.
Iraq after the “October protests”: A different country (Commentary)
Hussein Dawood - 11 October 2019
Popular protests are no new phenomenon in Iraq. But this latest round may transform both the government and the country.
Sisi’s illusion of stability (Commentary)
René Wildangel - 04 October 2019
The EU should end its acquiescence to Sisi’s policies.
Weathering the storm: Saudi Arabia one year after Khashoggi (Commentary)
Eman Alhussein - 02 October 2019
Will admitting responsibility at the highest levels be enough to turn international opinion back in Saudi Arabia’s favour?
Can Germany stop Libya becoming the new Syria? (Commentary)
Tarek Megerisi - 24 September 2019
The forthcoming Berlin conference offers the chance of a diplomatic breakthrough for all sides in Libya’s proxy ‘civil’ war. Will they seize the opportunity?
The indispensable mediator: Europe’s role in the US-Iran dispute (Commentary)
Ellie Geranmayeh - 20 September 2019
With the intense escalation between Iran and the US, and the potential for French mediation efforts to unravel, Europe must think carefully about its next move
The geopolitics of reconstruction: Who will rebuild Syria? (Commentary)
Julien Barnes-Dacey - 16 September 2019
Rebuilding Syria will not be needs driven, rather the regime will aim to subdue the emergence of meaningful civilian opposition
-
Upcoming events
There are no upcoming events
Past events
Supporting Israeli-Palestinian Civil Society: What is the Future of International Funding?
London - 08 Oct 19
A lunchtime discussion on the future of international funding for Israeli-Palestinian NGOs and the challenges it faces
Vers un nouvel hyper-nationalisme saoudien ?
Paris - 09 Jul 19
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à une discussion avec Eman Al-Hussein, Fatiha Dazi-Heni et Camille Lons, sur le thème : « Vers un nouvel hyper-nationalisme saoudien ? ».
The future of Israeli-Palestinian conflict: towards annexation and illiberalism?
Paris - 19 Jun 19
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à une discussion avec Yehuda Shaul et Hugh Lovatt sur le thème : « The future of Israeli-Palestinian conflict: towards annexation and illiberalism? ».
Accès humanitaire et risques sécuritaires au Sahel
Paris - 14 Jun 19
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à un Black Coffee Morning avec notamment Andrew Lebovich et Lucile Grosjean, sur le thème : « Accès humanitaire et risques sécuritaires au Sahel ».
The Future of Israeli-Palestinian Peace after Trump’s ‘Deal of the Century’
Berlin - 13 Jun 19
Discussion of the US 'peace' plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and EU's position and role in the peace process.
Where next for Syrians ?
Paris - 17 May 19
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à une table-ronde avec Jasmine El-Gamal, Bassma Kodmani et Julien Barnes-Dacey sur le thème suivant : « Where next for Syrians ? ».
-
Europe with no cards to play: Erdoğan, Trump, and Europe's weaknesses
Turkey's offensive into northeast Syria is moving at an unprecedented pace with grave consequences. Europe's utter irrelevance in the face of US withdrawal from the Turkish/Syrian border has been thrown in to stark light, particularly as it fails to take responsibility for European Isis members in the region. Europes weakness on migration and the refugee crisis as a whole has also been highlighted. What can and should Europe do at this crisis point? As events unfold, Asli Aydıntaşbaş, senior policy fellow with the Wider Europe programme joins host Mark Leonard from Turkey. Mark is also joined by head of ECFR's MENA programme, Julien Barnes-Dacey. Jeremy Shapiro, our research director, provides insight into Trump and Erdoğan's relationship breakdown and what US foreign policy under Trump may continue to look like.
This podcast was recorded on 10 October 2019.
Bookshelf:
"The Fall of the Ottomans: The Great War in the Middle East, 1914-1920" By Eugene Rogan
"The Noise of Time" by Julien Barnes
"Chimera" by Alexandros Yannis
Details of the text message sent by a No.10 source to the Spectator
Towards a new Saudi hyper-nationalism?
Le podcast de notre discussion du mardi 9 juillet « Vers un nouvel hyper-nationalisme saoudien ? », en présence de Eman Al-Hussein, chercheuse associée à l’ECFR, de Fatiha Dazi-Heni, chercheuse à l'Institut de recherche stratégique de l'École militaire (IRSEM)et de Camille Lons coordinatrice du programme Moyen-Orient Afrique du Nord de l’ECFR.
Quelle issue pour la situation en Libye ?
Podcast de notre BCM du 5 mai « Quelle issue pour la situation en Libye ? » en présence de Tarek Megerisi, chercheur au programme MENA de l’ECFR, Mary Fitzgerald, chercheuse et consultante indépendante et Virginie Collombier, professeure à l’Institut universitaire européen (IUE).
Video: Video: The Middle East’s new battlelines
ECFR - 03 May 2019
ECFR’s New Battlelines Project maps Iran’s coalition of allies, regional influence and the counter-coalition that has formed to oppose them.
Le retour des combattants terroristes étrangers dans l’Union Européenne
Podcast de notre discussion du 28 mars « Le retour des combattants terroristes étrangers dans l’Union Européenne » en présence de Marc Hecker, chercheur au Centre des études de sécurité de l’IFRI, Sharon Weill, chercheuse à l'École des affaires internationales (PSIA) de Science Po, Anthony Dworkin, chercheur au programme MENA de l’ECFR et Manuel Lafont Rapnouil, directeur du bureau de Paris de l’ECFR.
Protests in Algeria: A fifth term for Bouteflika?
Mark Leonard speaks with Andrew Lebovich, Anthony Dworkin and Chloe Teevan, about what the demonstrators want, and EU-Algeria relations.
Bookshelf:
La Martingale Algérienne, Réflexions sur une crise by Abderrahmane Hadj-Nacer
A History of Algeria by James McDougall
Algiers, Third World Capital: Freedom Fighters, Revolutionaries, Black Panthers by Elaine Mokhtefi
The Battlefield: Algeria 1988-2002, Studies in a Broken Polity by Hugh Roberts
Protests and the ailing president: Algeria's political crisis by Andrew Lebovich
Renewing Europe by Emmanuel Macron
Why did Iran's foreign minister resign?
Mark Leonard speaks with Ellie Geranmayeh and Dr Kayhan Barzegar about Mohammad Javad Zarif’s resignation and the current political situation in Iran. The podcast was recorded on 27 February 2019.
Bookshelf:
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Reading Lolita from Tehran by Azar Nafisi
Let the swords encircle me by Scott Peterson
Films:
Europe-Maghreb : quelle coopération en matière de migration ?
Podcast de notre discussion du 14 février « Europe-Maghreb : quelle coopération en matière de migration ? » en présence de Tasnim Abderrahim, chercheuse invitée au programme MENA de l’ECFR, Shoshana Fine, coordinatrice du programme Europe Puissance de l'ECFR, Olivier Kaba, responsable d’équipe projets Migrations de l'AFD et Chloe Teevan, coordinatrice du programme MENA de l’ECFR.
Irak : quels enjeux pour l'Europe ?
Podcast de notre BCM du 5 février « Irak : quels enjeux pour l'Europe ? » en présence de Delphine O, députée La République En Marche, Florence Gaub, directrice adjointe de l'Institut d'études de sécurité de l'Union européenne(EUISS)et modéré par Camille Lons, coordinatrice du programme Afrique du Nord et Moyen-Orient (MENA)de l’ECFR.
The US role in Syria
Anthony Dworkin steps in for Mark Leonard and discusses the US strategy in Syria with Asli Aydintasbas, Julien Barnes-Dacey and Jasmin El-Gamal. The podcast was recorded on 10 January 2019.
The disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi
Mark Leonard speaks with Asli Aydintasbas, Jeremy Shapiro and Julien Barnes-Dacy about what effect the incident might have on relations between Saudi Arabia, the US and Turkey. The podcast was recorded on the 16 October 2018.
Bookshelf:
The Jungle Grows Back by Robert Kagan
The River of Doubt by Candice Millard
Lords of the Desert by James Barr
Khashoggi disappearance: Time for an independent investigation by Julien Barnes-Dacey
-
El Universal
16th October, 2019
Asli Aydıntaşbaş speaks to El Universal about the Turkish incursion into Northern Syria
Politico
15th October, 2019
Ulrike Franke comments on Turkey invasion of Syria and the likelihood of NATO involvement
The Financial Times
10th October, 2019
Julien Barnes-Dacey argues Europe has failed to step up when it comes to the escalating violence in northeastern Syria
The Guardian
09th October, 2019
Asli Aydıntaşbaş is quoted in the Guardian on the Turkish offensive in northeastern Syria
The Washington Post
09th October, 2019
Asli Aydıntaşbaş writes for the Washington Post on US withdrawal from Turkey and Erdoğan's invasion of Syria
Deutsche Welle
09th October, 2019
Julien Dacey-Barnes quoted in Deutsche Welle on the Syrian dilemma the EU faces
The National
09th October, 2019
Julien Barnes-Dacey comments on the preparedness of the EU for US withdrawal from Turkey
Deutsche Welle
07th October, 2019
Julien Barnes-Dacey quoted in Deutsche Welle about Turkey's offensive in North Syria after the US troop withdrawals
The Daily Star
07th October, 2019
Julien Barnes-Dacey features in Lebanese outlet The Daily Star, speaking on the reopening of the Syria-Iraq border
-
