The European Council on Foreign Relations

Commentary: Democracy, Human Rights and Justice

Stop rewarding violence in Afghanistan

17 Aug 09 - Emma Bonino

The international community needs to get serious about helping Afghanistan and stop rewarding human rights abuses.

Kosovo visa liberisation: an Open Letter by the Schengen White List Project

An open letter urging EU visa liberalisation for Kosovo. Signed by Giuliano Amato, Otto Schily, Gerald Knaus and Mark Leonard, among others.

EE UU-UE: más allá de la ‘guerra contra el terrorismo’

17 Jul 09 - Anthony Dworkin

La desunión transatlántica en materia antiterrorista ha causado problemas legales y ha impedido emitir un mensaje que redujera el atractivo de Al Qaeda.

African parameters

Equatorial Guinea is a deplorable tyranny, and that Obiang has no intention of building a democracy.

The coup in Honduras and approaches to semi-democracies

06 Jul 09 - Narcís Serra

The Honduras coup is intolerable. The EU should remain aware of its responsibilities and capacity for influence in conflicts that have international repercussions.

Fragility in the making

03 Jul 09 - Vessela Tcherneva

Bulgarians go to polls on Sunday. Instead of enhancing the fledgling democracy, the elections have increased feelings of uncertainty concerning Bulgaria’s democratic future.

Iran: A European issue

19 Jun 09 - François Godement

Iran’s political fate carries great implications for Europeans, and the EU’s traditional negotiation methods might not be enough.

Europe must help close Guantánamo

04 Jun 09 - Anthony Dworkin

Europe must seize the opportunity presented by Obama’s desire to close Guantanamo.

Europe needs a new approach to human rights in China

04 Jun 09 - John Fox

Twenty years after the massacre in Tiananmen Square, the EU should must help enforce the rule of law in China.

The EU should do more to support UN peacekeeping in Africa

27 May 09 - Richard Gowan

The EU should cooperate more with the UN in peacekeeping missions if it wants to show its ‘effective multilateralism’ is backed up by muscle.

End of the “war on terror”: what next?

27 May 09 - Anthony Dworkin

Obama is redefining the fight against terrorism. But he has come up against some stiff criticism and urgently needs the EU’s help.

Sri Lanka - dealing with the legacy of a brutal war

20 May 09 - Anthony Dworkin

Now that the fighting in Sri Lanka is over, attention must focus on reconciliation.

A confused EU cannot fight racism

The debacle in the UN could be the precursor of more clashes over human rights, with Europe as a target.

What's Left?

06 Apr 09 - Tibor Dessewffy

The neo-liberal discourse dominant in the last three decades has collapsed. But what is the state of the European Left?

Why Gaddafi should look to Europe

20 Feb 09 - Tom Nuttall

The African Union could lean a lot from the EU if it wants to become a serious union of African states.

 <  1 2 3 4 >  Last »

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.

Read more press >

Click here for ECFR's Youtube channel.