The European Council on Foreign Relations

ECFR podcasts

2012-05-07T09:11:35+00:00

ECFR español: ¿Hacia dónde va Europa?

ECFR reports special: Brazil's view of Europe

ECFR Deutsch: Armin von Bogdandy zu mehr Europa

ECFR agenda: Russia's presidential election

ECFR français: Scorecard 2012 en Français

ECFR italiano: se cade l'Italia cade l'Euro

Is it time for Kofi Annan to give up in Syria?

2012-05-21T11:38:39+00:00

A growing number of diplomats are arguing Kofi Annan's peace plan is failing. But is it better for the U.N. to oversee, and arguably provide cover for, the current violence or retreat and open the way for something potentially worse?

Not your Serbian déjà vu

2012-05-18T09:30:44+00:00

The Serbian presidential elections this weekend look familiar - but Serbia is a very different place to how it was in 2004 and 2008. It is normalising fast and its core concerns are far more similar to other European countries than they were before.

A European goal for Ukraine

2012-05-18T09:47:00+00:00

The question whether to boycott the European Championships in Ukraine has become a hotly debated issue. But there are a number of other steps the EU and Member States can and should take to link the “Euros” with European values.

Two dangerous myths about a ‘Grexit’

2012-05-17T13:31:31+00:00

Two myths about a Greek exit from the euro have recently gained traction. Both are misguided and both are extremely dangerous. Here are the reasons why.

Beware the new Beijing-Berlin bond

2012-05-16T08:07:40+00:00

Europe’s relationship with Beijing will largely be determined by the emerging “special relationship” between China and Germany. However, the rest of Europe must find ways to help Germany be a good European in its relationship with China – or risk being cut out of the loop.

Netanyahu’s Big Fat Israeli Coalition

2012-05-09T11:49:09+00:00

Israel’s largest opposition party has joined the Prime Minister’s coalition rather than go to elections. Most of this was about raw political calculations - but it also offered an insight into the thinking of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hollande has reinvented politics in Europe

2012-05-08T13:09:29+00:00

The implosion of Greece's party political landscape and the victory of François Hollande in France transformed the political debate in Europe. Moreover, both events act as a catalyst for a political reinvention of the eurozone and an emergence of a transnational political space.

Germany: What Hegemon?

2012-05-08T11:48:47+00:00

Since the beginning of the euro crisis, there has been much discussion of actual or potential German “hegemony” in Europe. But Germany's self-centeredness and short-term thinking disqualify it as a hegemon.

Making the case for a ‘federation lite’

2012-05-03T11:05:01+00:00

The European financial crisis has refocused the debate on the nature of Europe’s political union. Emma Bonino and Marco de Andreis make the case that a ‘lite’ version of federation may provide a viable and practical solution to the euro crisis.

Summit-time blues

2012-05-02T14:51:16+00:00

The coming season of grand international summits means the problems of the Eurozone will once again be thrust upon the global stage. But at least this time European leaders don't have to worry about Silvio Berlusconi.

Reinventing Europe: Explaining the Fiscal Compact

2012-05-01T14:00:07+00:00

How does the Fiscal Compact shape fiscal policy and austerity in the euro area and what can be done to make austerity in Europe less brutal? The development of a meaningful 'Growth Compact' may provide the best way forward.

Time to say basta to the nonsense of austerity

2012-05-01T07:55:34+00:00

Citizens across Europe are being asked to replace politics and economics with a sheer act of faith in austerity. But it's clear that they are starting to feel the need to stop this nonsense, and European leaders need to take this seriously.

China and New Europe

2012-04-30T09:23:54+00:00

Premier Wen Jiabao's latest visit to Europe demonstrated that Beijing has great hopes for its relationship with 'New Europe'. But this is risky for the European Union, as it undermines its ability to present a united front to China.

Preparing for President Hollande

2012-04-24T08:56:05+00:00

The prospect of a victory by François Hollande may be causing nervousness in Berlin and elsewhere, but the socialist candidate in the French presidential elections is a natural compromise-builder, and Europe should have no real reason to fear his victory.

France deserves better than this

2012-04-20T10:11:58+00:00

As France votes in the first round of its presidential elections, the French people have been denied an analytically, politically honest and comprehensive engagement by the politicians with the real issues at hand in France and Europe.

How to extend Burma’s Spring

2012-04-20T09:05:20+00:00

The EU is due to decide on Monday whether to lift sanctions against Burma. Instead of lifting all sanctions the EU should follow a gradual approach and focus on targeted assistance and an ambitious social-responsibility framework for European companies.

Poland: fully engaged in Europe

2012-04-17T09:03:05+00:00

Deeper EU integration is a sensible way forward but Poland will not support the institutionalisation of a two-speed Europe. The imperative for closer cooperation between the euro zone members should not be a means of dismantling the EU.

Europe struggling to play meaningful role in Syria crisis

2012-04-02T10:37:55+00:00

The case of Syria shows that Europe maintains a limited ability to shape its Southern neighbourhood. For the time being it remains a fairly insignificant political actor in the unfolding Syrian crisis.

Kofi Annan and Syria - the case for deliberate caution

2012-04-02T08:37:23+00:00

Kofi Annan has created a diplomatic framework for dealing with the Syrian crisis. However, the security situation has changed and Annan must move with deliberate caution to make the 'Syrian-led political process' a success.

BRICS may find common ground, but India must stand up for itself

2012-03-29T08:40:12+00:00

This week's BRICS summit may be a shop window for the potency of the world's rapidly rising global powers, but on closer inspection there is a startling lack of unity between them.

Reinventing Europe: Czech lessons for small countries

2012-03-28T14:17:53+00:00

As part of the ‘Reinvention of Europe’ project, ECFR is publishing a series of papers on the national debates within EU member states about the crisis and the future direction of Europe. The second paper in the series examines the Czech situation.

Fog in Moscow

2012-03-22T09:59:43+00:00

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?

The Americanisation of Turkey

2012-03-21T11:15:18+00:00

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.

What the rise and fall of Bo Xilai tells us about China’s future

2012-03-20T12:36:14+00:00

Bo Xilai, a colourful politician who brought prosperity to a Chinese backwater, was too ambitious for the Politburo's grey men.

Syria’s rebels will have to deal with Assad

2012-03-16T07:46:38+00:00

No one wants to deal with dictators. But one year after the Syrian uprising began, the harsh truth is that Bashar al-Assad maintains the upper hand and the opposition – with its international backers – may have little choice but to cut a deal with him if they want to ease the Syrian people’s suffering.

Power and Weakness in Putin’s Russia

2012-03-15T10:07:34+00:00

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.

Europe’s role in fighting corruption in Russia

2012-03-09T08:14:57+00:00

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.

Why Berlin is fixed on a German solution to the eurozone crisis

2012-03-06T11:51:40+00:00

Understanding how Berlin thinks is now more important than ever. If EU leaders want Angela Merkel to listen to calls for growth, they first need to understand her economic mindset which is deeply rooted in a concept known as 'ordoliberalism'.

How Putin ran out of ideas and won

2012-03-01T13:44:49+00:00

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.