Culture clash: Russia, Ukraine, and the fight for the European public
Russia’s war on Ukraine is a test of European values. The way European governments respond is critical for European sentiment, unity, and solidarity with Ukraine
European Power
Featured
Keeping the lights on: The EU’s energy relationships since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
The EU’s ‘friends in need’ have supported it through the energy crisis. The bloc must now balance buying more gas with helping supplier states develop clean energy.
Onwards and outwards: Why the EU needs to move from strategic autonomy to strategic interdependence
Strategic autonomy is a defensive strategy that sends the wrong message to the world. The EU should instead accept that interdependencies are not only inevitable but desirable, and cultivate them with its allies and partners
The BRICS summit and Europe’s China challenge: A better EU offer for the global south
The EU and its member states have not kept pace with China’s advancing investment in global south states. Leaders’ messages from this year’s BRICS summit should prompt Europeans to upgrade their offer.
Primary concern: Trump, Ukraine, and the Republicans’ foreign policy divisions
The candidates for the Republican primaries hold diverging views on the future of US foreign policy. In the event of a Republican victory, Europeans must prepare for an end to American support to Ukraine.
Drones in Ukraine and beyond: Everything you need to know
The Ukrainian battlespace features the most intensive use of drones in a military conflict in history, marking a shift in warfare tactics and technology
The tech standards that shape the future: How Europeans should respond to China’s rising influence
Europeans should avoid escalating matters with China in the world of international technology standards – but they should nevertheless remain watchful and establish a platform to monitor developments in this crucial arena
Three lessons from Europe’s response to Ukrainian migration
Europe’s response to Ukrainian migration has shown the benefits of a humane approach towards refugees. It should set a precedent for a more compassionate European migration policy
In balance: How Italy can solve its China problem
Italy’s membership of the BRI risks harming its relations with G7 partners. It is time for it to carefully disentangle itself from the initiative
Give and take: How the EU’s friend-shoring can improve its relations with the global south
To propel the green transition, the EU and its member states need to intensify their ‘friend-shoring’ with non-rivals in the global south. Three promising areas are critical raw materials, sustainable agriculture, and mature renewables technology
Own goal: How Russia’s gas war has backfired
When Russia drastically reduced gas supplies to Europe in 2022, European countries scrambled to find new suppliers. Paradoxically, the biggest victim of the Kremlin’s gas war seems to be Russia itself
Spirit of ambition: The Ukraine war and European defence integration
Europeans should look to the success of the automotive sector for inspiration on uniting their defence efforts across the whole continent
Publications
Democratic defence: How Italy can lead the fight against Russian disinformation
Italy’s politics and social media remain vulnerable to Russian influence. But opportunities exist to strengthen itself for the future.
Keeping America close, Russia down, and China far away: How Europeans navigate a competitive world
European citizens are adapting slowly to the new geopolitical landscape. But leaders have an opportunity to build public consensus on Europe’s approach to China, the US, and Russia
Brace yourself: How the 2024 US presidential election could affect Europe
Fierce debates are raging among both Republicans and Democrats about America’s future foreign policy orientation. Europeans should take note and prepare
The power of control: How the EU can shape the new era of strategic export restrictions
Amid the US-China strategic competition, the EU must develop a new strategic technology doctrine and upgrade its export control policy
Culture clash: Russia, Ukraine, and the fight for the European public
Russia’s war on Ukraine is a test of European values. The way European governments respond is critical for European sentiment, unity, and solidarity with Ukraine
Decarbonisation nations: How EU climate diplomacy can save the world
The EU’s status as a global leader on decarbonisation is in uncertain territory. It needs a new approach to climate diplomacy, centred in a broader political and economic relationship with its partners worldwide
Keeping the lights on: The EU’s energy relationships since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
The EU’s ‘friends in need’ have supported it through the energy crisis. The bloc must now balance buying more gas with helping supplier states develop clean energy.
The art of vassalisation: How Russia’s war on Ukraine has transformed transatlantic relations
Europeans’ response to Russia’s war on Ukraine confirms their profound dependence on the US – an unwise position given the security challenge in Europe and coming geopolitical competition with China
Fragile unity: Why Europeans are coming together on Ukraine (and what might drive them apart)
Recent polling for ECFR suggests that Europeans have come closer together in their support for Ukraine. But the factors driving this unity are fragile, contingent, and may not last
United West, divided from the rest: Global public opinion one year into Russia’s war on Ukraine
New polling for ECFR reveals the West is consolidating – while facing an increasingly post-Western world, in which powers such as India and Turkiye are readier than ever to act independently
Articles
Onwards and outwards: Why the EU needs to move from strategic autonomy to strategic interdependence
Strategic autonomy is a defensive strategy that sends the wrong message to the world. The EU should instead accept that interdependencies are not only inevitable but desirable, and cultivate them with its allies and partners
The BRICS summit and Europe’s China challenge: A better EU offer for the global south
The EU and its member states have not kept pace with China’s advancing investment in global south states. Leaders’ messages from this year’s BRICS summit should prompt Europeans to upgrade their offer.
Primary concern: Trump, Ukraine, and the Republicans’ foreign policy divisions
The candidates for the Republican primaries hold diverging views on the future of US foreign policy. In the event of a Republican victory, Europeans must prepare for an end to American support to Ukraine.
Drones in Ukraine and beyond: Everything you need to know
The Ukrainian battlespace features the most intensive use of drones in a military conflict in history, marking a shift in warfare tactics and technology
The tech standards that shape the future: How Europeans should respond to China’s rising influence
Europeans should avoid escalating matters with China in the world of international technology standards – but they should nevertheless remain watchful and establish a platform to monitor developments in this crucial arena
Three lessons from Europe’s response to Ukrainian migration
Europe’s response to Ukrainian migration has shown the benefits of a humane approach towards refugees. It should set a precedent for a more compassionate European migration policy
In balance: How Italy can solve its China problem
Italy’s membership of the BRI risks harming its relations with G7 partners. It is time for it to carefully disentangle itself from the initiative
Give and take: How the EU’s friend-shoring can improve its relations with the global south
To propel the green transition, the EU and its member states need to intensify their ‘friend-shoring’ with non-rivals in the global south. Three promising areas are critical raw materials, sustainable agriculture, and mature renewables technology
Own goal: How Russia’s gas war has backfired
When Russia drastically reduced gas supplies to Europe in 2022, European countries scrambled to find new suppliers. Paradoxically, the biggest victim of the Kremlin’s gas war seems to be Russia itself
Spirit of ambition: The Ukraine war and European defence integration
Europeans should look to the success of the automotive sector for inspiration on uniting their defence efforts across the whole continent
Specials
EU Energy Deals Tracker
The energy deals the EU and its member states are now making with third countries will shape Europeans’ ability to protect their energy security in the long term. The EU Energy Deals Tracker provides a comprehensive overview of these agreements, including their implications for the sustainable transition.
European Sovereignty Index
The EU can overcome the new challenges it faces and can shape the global order. To achieve this, Europeans will need to improve their joint capacity to act.
The European Sentiment Compass 2022
In the wake of pandemic and war, the Sentiment Compass assesses the changing expectations of the EU across its member states. It finds that EU should harness the power of culture and the free media to nurture a stronger European sentiment – helping it to address the major challenges facing the continent.
The Power Atlas
Power is now defined by control over flows of people, goods, money, and data, and via the connections they establish. Only states that see the new map of geopolitical power clearly will be able to control the modern world.
EU Cohesion Monitor
European cohesion is bouncing back after crisis years. The EU Cohesion Monitor presents new insights on cohesion as an underestimated source of strength and collective action in the EU.
EU Coalition Explorer
The Coalition Explorer illustrates the expert opinions of more than 800 respondents who work on European policy and creates a visual understanding of the views held by Europe’s professional political class
European Solidarity Tracker
The European Solidarity Tracker collects and displays instances of pan-European solidarity throughout the coronavirus crisis
Independence play: Europe’s pursuit of strategic autonomy
To fulfil its true potential, the EU needs to end its strategic cacophony and focus on capability building
What Europeans really want: Five myths debunked
New ECFR/YouGov research reveals huge fluidity in current voting intentions: 70 percent of Europeans certain to vote are yet to make their choice. Nearly 100m swing voters are up for grabs.
The 2019 European election: How anti-Europeans plan to wreck Europe and what can be done to stop it
Summary With anti-Europeans on their way to winning more than one-third of seats in the next European Parliament, the stakes in the May 2019 election…
Podcasts
The Great Reset? How the EU and the UK can rethink their economic cooperation with Ivan Rogers
In this fifth episode of our new mini-series, Mark Leonard and Susi Dennison talk to Ivan Rogers about the potential for a great reset in UK-EU relations
The Great Reset? How the EU and the UK can rethink their cooperation on climate and energy with Nick Butler
In this fourth episode of our new mini-series, Mark Leonard and Susi Dennison talk to Nick Butler about the potential for a great reset in UK-EU relations
The Great Reset? The view from Brussels with Mujtaba Rahman
In this third episode of our new mini-series, Mark Leonard and Susi Dennison talk to Mujtaba Rahman about the potential for a great reset in UK-EU relations
The great reset? How the EU and the UK can rethink their cooperation on foreign policy with David Lidington
In this second episode of our new mini-series, Mark Leonard and Susi Dennison talk to David Lidington about the potential for a great reset in UK-EU relations
Climate and geopolitics: What role for the EU?
Mark Leonard is joined by Kate Hampton to discuss climate and development cooperation in competition
NATO’s Vilnius summit: The highlights and the future challenges
Mark Leonard is joined by Alex Stubb, Lykke Friis, and Camille Grand, to discuss the outcomes of the NATO summit in Vilnius.
Immigration, identity, and Europe: Lessons from post-Brexit Britain
Mark Leonard welcomes Sunder Katwala to discuss integration and identity in the UK
The great reset? How the EU and UK can rethink their cooperation on foreign policy
In the first episode of our new mini-series, Mark Leonard and Susi Dennison talk to Anand Menon about the potential for a great reset in UK-EU relations
Keeping America close, Russia down, and China far away: How Europeans navigate a competitive world
Mark Leonard welcomes Jana Puglierin and Pawel Zerka to analyse the results of the latest polling report
Democracy in the age of polycrisis with Adam Tooze
During the Annual Council Meeting, Mark Leaonard and Adam Tooze discussed about the polycrisis
Events
20 Jul
La Cumbre UE-CELAC y la Presidencia Española: Próximos pasos
El 20 de julio ECFR celebró una reunión virtual a puerta cerrada para intercambiar perspectivas sobre los resultados alcanzados en la Cumbre UE-CELAC del 17-18 julio y la posterior hoja de ruta durante la Presidencia española del Consejo de la UE
13 Jul
Democratic defence: Dibattito su Italia, Europa e disinformazione
Cosa possono fare Italia ed Europa sul tema della disinformazione e delle interferenze esterne in vista delle elezioni europee del 2024?
28 Jun
Building Connections: A 2024 Mediterranean Agenda for the Next European Commission
Expert workshop on a new Mediterranean agenda for the EU, organized by the Rome office of ECFR and the Regional Program Political Dialogue South Mediterranean of the Konrad-Adenauer- Stiftung (KAS PolDiMed)
14 Jun
Who controls the Russian military?
What are the political dynamics surrounding the Russian military? Exploring potential scenarios for Russia’s civil-military development and implications for NATO and Europe
13 Jun
Europe’s global role in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine: The public perspective
What do Europeans think about Russia, China, and the war in Ukraine? Join a panel of policymakers and expert observers to analyse ECFR’s latest public opinion…
25 May
Battle of narratives: Europe in the face of Russian cultural war
The discussion, organized by the Rome Office of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and LUISS School of Government, features the presentation of ECFR’s 2023 European Sentiment Compass
23 May
Russia’s war in Ukraine as a challenge to European values
“When Russia invaded, it wasn’t just Ukraine being tested”, President Joe Biden declared during his visit to Warsaw in February. He was right in recognising…
22 May
European defence: Expectations and demands of non-EU partners
This event is part of the German Forum on Security Policy, organised by the Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS).
4 May
Climate Diplomacy: Designed to Deliver?
Against a backdrop of worldwide concern about energy and food insecurity in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, COP27 took place, bringing attention to…
4 May
Embracing the Long War: Scenari per Europa & Italia
La conferenza è l’evento finale del progetto “Rome Foreign Policy Club: Gruppo di riflessione strategica su Italia, multilateralismo e interconnessioni”, con focus sugli scenari globali e per il Mediterraneo allargato dopo l’invasione dell’Ucraina
In the media
Ulrike Franke assesses Ukraine as a serious player in the drone sector once the war is over
The question is whether a delivery happens in time to support the current counter offensive
Rafael Loss doubts whether Germany will provide Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles anytime soon
The war will last until 2025 in any case
The city is primarily an opportunistic target
The elections to the European Parliament next year will be very decisive if one looks further ahead, because the centre right group is turning more negative to green policies
Mats Engström talks about the growing “greenlash” in Europe and the difficulties of pushing through environmental reforms in the EU