The European Council on Foreign Relations

Commentary

Start worrying and learn to ditch the bomb

The world is at the brink of a new and dangerous phase - one that combines widespread proliferation with extremism and geopolitical tension.

EU-Russia: avoiding new failures

The biannual EU-Russia summit begins on 26 June in Siberia. Can the EU take advantage of the opportunity to restart the relationship, or will it fall victim to the divisions that have plagued it in the past?

The EU cannot afford to become a symbol of weakness or decline

25 Jun 08 - ECFR Statement

EU leaders would be failing their citizens’ hopes and interests if they let uncertainty over the Lisbon Treaty weaken Europe’s fledgling foreign policy. A statement signed by 44 ECFR members

The EU risks losing Bosnia and a lot more

25 Jun 08 - Daniel Korski

Despite having signed an SAA, Bosnia may no longer exist in ten years. More EU attention, not less is needed to fix things

Instead of bullying the Irish, Europe should be working on plan D - and E

19 Jun 08 - Timothy Garton Ash

As Britain moves to ratify the Lisbon treaty, EU politicians are wrong to threaten Ireland. We’re all in the same boat.

Un salto di qualita' per rilanciare il ruolo dell'europa

19 Jun 08 - Emma Bonino

After the Irish no, EU leaders should avoid further introspection and move ahead with flexible integration. A comment piece in Italian from Il Riformista.

The EU faces bigger challenges in Africa than in Ireland

19 Jun 08 - Richard Gowan

The “crisis” created by Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty is pretty tame - the EU faces far greater dangers in East Africa.  But Lisbon could help solve them.

Salvage operation

17 Jun 08 - Andrew Duff

Whatever the reasons for the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, the result is devastating for the EU both internally and externally.

Saving global Europe

Europe’s citizens - and the world - need an EU that can act more effectively abroad. Failure by European leaders to create such a Union would have serious repercussions.

The Naked Emperor

An analysis of the Irish ‘no’ to the Lisbon Treaty, published in El Pais. In Spanish and English.

Ireland's creative destruction

13 Jun 08 - Daniel Korski

With an Irish “No” to Lisbon, others should continue the ratification process and European leaders keep focus on how to make the EU an effective global player.

The prospect of an Irish 'no'

The rejection of Lisbon by Irish voters would upset the delicate balance which has kept the much buffeted European ship afloat.

Donors must rethink their Afghan strategy

10 Jun 08 - Daniel Korski

The Paris conference this week is a “last-chance” saloon for Afghanistan and donor governments.

Tags: China

Get involved over Georgia or invite a war

The West could be sleepwalking into a war on the European continent. An article published in the Financial Times.

What Bush divides, Ahmadinejad unites

Iran’s nuclear programme is as scary as the potential of an Israeli air strike on the country.

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Latest Publications

A danger or an opportunity? Post-Copenhagen China and climate change

This latest edition of “China Analysis” looks at the response to the Copenhagen conference within China itself, as it faces the worst environment position imaginable, threatening its systems and interests. 

A global China policy

China is now a huge foreign policy challenge to the EU: it must respond with a global China policy.

Beyond wait-and-see: the way forward for EU Balkan policy

Risk of instability in the Western Balkans: the EU can no longer 'wait-and-see'.

Dealing with Yanukovych’s Ukraine

The Yanukovych Paradox: How Ukraine’s new president can be good news for Europe after all.

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.

In the Press

The Age - 07 Sep 10

Thomas Klau on France's pension protests.

TIME - 06 Sep 10

Jose Ignacio Torreblanca on the significance of ETA's call for a cease-fire.

Les Echos - 01 Sep 10

Thomas Klau on Germany’s linchpin role in the eurozone governance debate.

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