The European Council on Foreign Relations

Commentary: Democracy, Human Rights and Justice

Europe et opérations extérieures

Daniel Korski et Richard Gowan sur la stratégie de sécurité civilo-militaire de l’UE. L’Europe peut-elle passer de la rhétorique à l’action?

The Munich Security Conference: Europe's absence

09 Feb 10 - Ulrike Guérot

The Munich Security Conference was once again at the centre of foreign policy discussion, but Europe was an intellectual absentee

Haiti: how many Europeans does it take to assess an earthquake?

14 Jan 10 - Richard Gowan

Whether Bulgaria’s Rumiana Jeleva is the right person for the EU’s humanitarian job or not, Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake shows just how badly Europe needs someone to coordinate humanitarian assistance.

Sri Lanka's Choice, and the World's Responsibility

13 Jan 10 - Chris Patten

Pity the poor Sri Lankan voter. As presidential elections loom on Jan. 26, the public is faced with a choice between two candidates who openly accuse each other of war crimes.

Yemen: Europe’s next challenge

04 Jan 10 - Daniel Korski

Terrorists plots and embassy shut-downs: Yemen received a lot of media attention over the New Year period. But now action, including by the EU, must replace the headlines.

Europe’s road to a new Jerusalem

14 Dec 09 - Chris Patten

The EU’s new policy statement on Israel and Palestine is pretty good. Now Europe needs to use it – and the money poured into Palestine – as the basis for real change.

Nice location, shame about the neighbours

23 Oct 09 - Nick Witney

Europe’s biggest challenge in coming decades is how it will get along with the Islamic world.

Europe’s civilian failings

16 Oct 09 - Tom Nuttall

Prospect Magazine blog post on our latest report - A review of Europe’s civilian capacities.

The EU and failing states

The EU has a disturbing “lack of capacity” when it comes to state building and crisis missions. The EU and its member states need to stand up to help prevent fragile states turning into failed states.

No more low-hanging fruit

14 Oct 09 - Pavol Demes

Since 1989 liberal reformers have helped bring 10 Eastern bloc countries into the EU. Now comes the hard part.

Backsliding on human rights

The EU and their allies have to get their act together on human rights. Lives are at risk.

Lives at risk at the UN

10 Sep 09 - Richard Gowan

As European power at the UN declines, human rights standards drop and lives are put at risk.

No easy solution for hunger

African farmers need seeds and fertilizers - and Governments that work.

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Latest Publications

China shapes its post-crisis economic agenda

The latest issue of China Analysis looks at Beijing’s willingness to strengthen international economic governance, and its authors argue that much thinking in China seems to focus on the short term

China and India: rivals always, partners sometimes

The authors of the latest issue of China Analysis argue that Western concerns over “Chindia” - the emergence of a Sino-Indian economic power bloc or strategic alliance - may be unwarranted. 

Towards a post-American Europe: A Power Audit of EU-US Relations by Nick Witney & Jeremy Shapiro

Europe has the US president it wished for, but does Barack Obama have the strong transatlantic partner he wants?

Can the EU rebuild failing states? A review of Europe’s civilian capacities.

Have broken promises and treating Afghanistan, DR Congo and Iraq like Bosnia left the EU without the capacity to prevent fragile states from becoming failing states?

What does Russia think?

ECFR publishes a collection of views from key Russian intellectuals.

The EU and human rights at the UN: 2009 annual review

The EU’s ongoing loss of influence at the UN is putting lives at risk, argues the author of ECFR’s latest paper.

China’s response to the G2

Fears in Europe that China works to lock the US into a “G2” embrace so as to dominate the global agenda do not reflect Chinese experts’ current strategic thinking.

European and Russian power in the troubled neighbourhood

Is a complacent strategy that focuses on gradual change rather than crises losing the EU its battle with Russia for influence in the eastern neighbourhood?

Beyond the “War on Terror”

The EU has an opportunity to influence President Obama’s efforts to reform US counterterrorism policy

A Power Audit of EU-China Relations

China is exploiting the EU’s divisions and treating the 27-state bloc with “diplomatic contempt” on issues ranging from trade to the Dalai Lama.

Shaping Europe's Afghan Surge

Will the military surge in Afghanistan fail without a civilian surge?

Re-wiring the US-EU relationship

With the pivotal change of leadership in Washington, the US and the EU may have an ideal moment to strengthen the US-EU institutional bond.

Beyond dependence: How to deal with Russian gas

Could building a single European market in natural gas be the most effective strategy for the European Union in countering Russia’s divisive energy diplomacy?

Promoting democracy abroad - the EU's record

In a joint research project with FRIDE, ECFR looks at the EU’s record in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Ukraine, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco.

Is the EU a global force for human rights?

The EU’s leverage to promote human rights through the UN has dramatically declined over the last decade, our exclusive report reveals.

Can the EU win the peace in Georgia?

This authors analyse the background and developments in the Russia-Georgia conflict and outline recommendations on how to prevent wider political fallout.

Re-energising Europe's Security and Defence Policy

European governments cannot afford to move at the speed of the slowest, argues Nick Witney, and should push for a ‘multi-speed’ Europe on ESDP

In the Press

The Kyiv Post - 11 Mar 10

A piece on the EU and Ukraine, quoting Wilson and Popescu’s recent report.

The Prague Post - 10 Mar 10

Korski: “The Anglo-American strategy in Afghanistan has hit an absolute low mark.”

Reuters - 08 Mar 10

Daniel Korski on what lies ahead for Baroness Ashton.

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