The European Council on Foreign Relations

A crisis of values?

2010-08-18T09:35:20+00:00

The economic crisis has unquestionably dented the credibility of the liberal international order and caused a Europe-wide identity crisis. But, Susi Dennison argues, it would be a dangerous time for the EU to abandon its values, principles and approach to international relations. The economic crisis is already big enough; the last thing Europe needs is an existential one too.

Calling in the EU-Team

2010-08-10T11:11:35+00:00

The EU needs to go beyond the standard "wait, react, peacekeep!" approach to handling looming crises. Instead, Richard Gowan argues, the EU ought to focus on early diplomacy. Given the strains on national budgets, this may be a job for the EU-Team (aka the European External Action Service).

The Gaza prison

2010-08-09T10:45:34+00:00

It's easier to enter a maximum security prison than Gaza. Lord Patten argues that the world – starting with the US administration and the European Union – should tell Israel to take its boot off Gaza's windpipe.

Preventing the next generation of Kosovos

2010-08-03T14:13:13+00:00

At a time of constrained budgets, getting the EU to invest more in conflict prevention and human rights protection in faraway places like Sudan and Kyrgyzstan may be a hard sell. But, as Richard Gowan argues, the alternative is another generation of Kosovos.

Coalitions of the weaklings

2010-07-23T16:19:07+00:00

Before the euro crisis, Europe's leaders talked up the EU's global role. Now they are emphasising Europe's weaknesses and turning their backs on important foreign and security issues. In the meantime, crises continue to bubble in places like Sudan and the Middle East. Richard Gowan argues that weakness is not an excuse for inaction, but a reason to work in coalition.

Kosovo: statehood isn�t the problem

2010-07-22T08:57:30+00:00

In its advisory opinion of 22 July 2010, the International Court of Justice said that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in February 2008 "did not violate general international law". But is statehood the real question hanging over Kosovo? Richard Gowan believes that corruption, rather than statehood, is the biggest issue facing Kosovo.

Embryo states

2010-07-20T11:26:39+00:00

Everyone's talking about the BRICs. But we shouldn't forget about the territories trying to become states. Kosovo, Palestine, Taiwan and East Timor: they're all looking for our attention, and in some cases make better 'states' that the recognised ones.

Happy birthday, Congo!

2010-06-30T14:40:38+00:00

Fifty years after gaining independence, the Democratic Republic of Congo remains deeply unstable. The help of China and the EU is needed to limit the dangers. But one is more likely than the other to lend a hand.

Susi Cuba Spain

2010-06-12T09:17:56+00:00

The EU’s position on Cuba will be discussed at the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council, and the debate is likely to be heated. But beyond the arguments the EU can learn lessons from its relations with Cuba: strong-arm tactics don’t work, realism is important, and the EU’s approach is out of date.

The International Criminal Court: A Time for Consolidation

2010-05-28T18:25:12+00:00

Eight years ago countries across the world backed the launching of a permanent International Criminal Court to bring those who commit mass atrocities to justice. The ICC is up for review, starting on 1 June in Uganda. The biggest question on the table is: should the ICC have jurisdiction over the crime of aggression?

DennisonBurma

2010-04-25T19:14:10+00:00

The EU’s common position on Burma is up for renegotiation. Sanctions might not be effective, but are they the only option the EU has?

Break down these walls

2010-04-21T11:09:58+00:00

The EU should reinvent its crisis management capabilities / An open letter to the 27 Permanent Representatives to the EU.

The making of a strategic shambles

2010-04-19T11:54:42+00:00

The West tried to help in Darfur and Chad. But by having to cooperate with governments responsible for much of the suffering, EU and UN troops ended up pawns in struggles they could not stop.

Sudan, 2011

2010-04-13T10:34:22+00:00

In January 2011 the people of South Sudan will vote on whether to secede from the North. Violence is expected to follow. The EU must start preparing now for an intervention in Sudan if it is to have any chance of being ready to help.

Sudan: the EU�s election problem

2010-04-09T17:17:07+00:00

The EU has had to withdraw its election observers from Darfur before the upcoming Sudanese election. No surprise there: Darfur remains a dangerous place. But what why did the EU get involved in this controversial poll in the first place?

The price of principle

2010-04-06T17:33:49+00:00

Attention turns once again to Sri Lanka this week as the country gears up for its parliamentary elections. The EU recently decided to stop treating Sri Lanka as a preferential trading partner. What does this mean for Sri Lanka, and does it affect the EU�s clout in standing up for human rights around the world?

GowanIgnoretheWorld

2010-03-24T11:27:04+00:00

Does it really matter whether Catherine Ashton’s travel plans include Haiti, Gaza or an erupting Icelandic volcano? There must be more insightful analysis, and less idle gossip, in press coverage of EU attempts to forge a common foreign policy

Europe et op�rations ext�rieures liberation korski gowan

2010-03-02T14:00:15+00:00

Daniel Korski et Richard Gowan sur la strat�gie de s�curit� civilo-militaire de l�UE. L�Europe peut-elle passer de la rh�torique � l�action?

UlrikeMunichconference

2010-02-09T15:54:39+00:00

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? Gowan

2010-01-14T10:16:32+00:00

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 iht patten

2010-01-13T11:49:14+00:00

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 korski

2010-01-04T17:48:34+00:00

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 patten

2009-12-14T11:59:48+00:00

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.

guerot fall of the berlin wall

2009-11-09T23:57:54+00:00

Twenty years on, the chessboard is shaking once again.

Tibor Dessewffy In the mirror of the future

2009-11-05T10:59:34+00:00

No one seems to care about 1989 anymore.

witney europe’s world Nice location, shame about the neighbours

2009-10-23T17:01:02+00:00

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

prospect nutall civilian crisis missions afghanistan

2009-10-16T13:41:47+00:00

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

korksi gowan civilian crisis

2009-10-15T08:00:42+00:00

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.

Demes transitions online No More Low-Hanging Fruit

2009-10-14T11:41:18+00:00

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

Gowan BRANTNER UN human rights

2009-09-17T13:43:14+00:00

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