A largely unnoticed "surge" of European troops in Afghanistan now needs to be followed by a similar "surge" in civilian experts as part of a new European strategy for the country.

European Council on Foreign Relations energy expert Pierre Noel has sent a pressing memo of advice to Europe's Energy Ministers in light of the Industry, Transport and Energy (ITRE) Council meeting. Noel recommeds a revival of ongoing efforts to build a Europe-wide single, competitive gas market; and investment in gas security measures in the most vulnerable member states in Central and Eastern Europe.

In the wake of President Obama taking the first steps for the closure of Guantanamo, ECFR counter-terrorism expert and Senior Policy Fellow Anthony Dworkin says the move is an important step and is also in Europe's direct interest.

ECFR experts react to recent developments in Europe's gas crisis and argue for an EU energy security conference.

China experts at the European Council on Foreign Relations react to the news that China had canceled the EU-China summit, originally scheduled for 1 December, saying China's move calls into question the very idea that China and Europe had a strategic relationship.

Building a single European market in natural gas would be the most effective strategy for the European Union to counter Russia's divisive energy diplomacy. The analysis is published a few days prior to the release of the EU Strategic Energy Review and the next EU-Russia summit. It also comes two months before the start of the Czech EU presidency which will work on energy security as one of its priorities.

The European Union?s leverage to promote human rights values and its vision of a rules-based world order has dramatically declined over the last decade. This is the main finding of a new report by Richard Gowan and Franziska Brantner MEP, published today by the European Council on Foreign Relations.

In the aftermath of the Russia-Georgia conflict, the European Union should act to prevent wider political fallout on the continent. The EU can still "win the peace" by pushing for an international peacekeeping mandate in Georgia's secessionist regions, taking the lead in the post-conflict reconstruction effort, and strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty has cast doubt over institutional reform within the European Union, but EU governments cannot afford to move at the speed of the slowest, and should push for a 'multi-speed' Europe on defence.

Andrew Wilson's report provides an in-depth analysis of the political context of Dmitry Medvedev?s rise, focusing on the behind-the-scenes manipulation by ?political technologists?. It urges EU leaders not to rush to embrace Medvedev, but use the momentum to establish the foundations for a common Russia strategy and set a series of ?tests? for the new president.