The European Council on Foreign Relations

Commentary: Wider Europe

Fog in Moscow

22 Mar 12 - Jana Kobzova ,

Vladimir Putin is set to reassume the reins of power in the Kremlin. But what will Russia's foreign policy be, and how should the European Union and its member states react?

 

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The Americanisation of Turkey

21 Mar 12 - Dimitar Bechev,

Turkey's international profile and domestic politics have long been oriented towards the European Union. Now, both the Arab awakening and the internal momentum of AKP rule are pushing Ankara closer to the United States.

 

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Power and Weakness in Putin’s Russia

15 Mar 12 - ,

Vladimir Putin’s support machine was strong enough to guarantee him victory in the presidential election. But Putin’s strength is the weakness of the opposition and he should be worried by the divisions within his own government.

 

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Europe's role in fighting corruption in Russia

09 Mar 12 - Ben Judah,

The re-election of Vladimir Putin presents the EU with an opportunity to encourage reform in Russia. It should set up an EU-Russia anti corruption dialogue and work harder to prevent the proceeds of corruption ending up in Europe.

 

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How Putin ran out of ideas and won

01 Mar 12 - ,

Russia has changed and Vladimir Putin has run out of ideas. Although he will still win the Russian presidential election, Putin faces the biggest ever challenge to his power once he re-enters the Kremlin.

 

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Russia's liberal-nationalist cocktail: elixir of life or toxic poison?

23 Feb 12 - ,

Young, liberal figures such as Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Milov are building bridges between democratic and nationalist wings of the protest movement. Will this marriage prove a mix that mobilises a nation against the Putin regime, or will it taint the legitimacy of both sides in years to come? 

 

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Ten trends for 2012

21 Dec 11 - , Nicholas Walton,

After a frenetic 2011, what are the big trends that are going to shape Europe and the wider world in 2012? Here are ten that ECFR experts think are likely - and one widely predicted trend that we don't think will happen...

 

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The hobbled summit

14 Dec 11 - Ben Judah, Jana Kobzova ,

As the EU and Russia hold their latest summit neither side can boast that they are in the best of health. But the summit is important for symbolic reasons - and there are several practical issues that they can address at the same time.

 

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Russia's post-BRIC election

08 Dec 11 - Ben Judah, Jana Kobzova ,

Russia in 2010 was as corrupt as Papua New Guinea, had the property rights of Kenya and was as competitive as Sri Lanka. As Putin readies himself to retake the presidency he must also work out how to deal with a country that is now firmly post-BRIC.

 

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The beginning of the end for Putin?

06 Dec 11 - ,

Russia's election results are bad news for Putin for two reasons. Firstly United Russia did badly despite the election being biased in its favour, and secondly it shows that Putin can no longer rely on an apathetic population.

 

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How the eurozone crisis affects EU power

25 Nov 11 - ,

The economic crisis has huge implications for EU foreign policy. There is less time for it, less money available, and Europe's ability to project soft power is in a coma.

 

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Mother Russia, Father Putin

15 Nov 11 - Ben Judah,

Russia's foreign policy over the coming decade will bear the signature of Vladimir Putin, as Russia seeks new alliances and international clout. The price that Russia is likely to pay is international isolation

 

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Why enlargement-lite will not save the Arab Spring

25 Oct 11 - Mark Leonard,

The European Union has a vital role to play in helping consolidate the transitions of the Arab Spring. But first they need to rethink their approach and develop a new foreign policy for the Southern neighbourhood: Enlargement lite will not work.

 

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The Tymoshenko verdict

11 Oct 11 - Andrew Wilson,

The EU's credibility is at stake over the sentencing of Yuliya Tymoshenko to seven years imprisonment. Unless there are signals from Kiev that the sentence will be reviewed or repealled, the EU must act.

 

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Same Putin, different Russia

07 Oct 11 - Ben Judah,

It looks like Vladimir Putin is heading back towards the Russian presidency that he first took over in December 1999. Putin's politics have changed little since then, but Russia is now a very different place and the Russians themselves want very different things.

 

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In the Press

New York Times
15 May 12

Thomas Klau quoted on Hollande's visit to Berlin

Le Monde
15 May 12

Le Monde quotes ECFR's Policy Brief on China and Germany new special relationship

Francetv Info
15 May 12

Thomas Klau is quoted on Hollande’s first meeting with Merkel in Berlin

Rzeczpospolita
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Thomas Klau quoted on Hollande's visit to Berlin and negotiations of Fiscal Pact

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