Highlights
Featured
Trump’s tinderbox: US politics and the next war in the Balkans
- Adnan Ćerimagić, Majda Ruge
- Policy Brief
Serbian revisionism is on the march and would be greatly strengthened by a Trump win. The EU must prepare a deterrence plan — and take greater responsibility for Western Balkan security
Aligned in the sand: How Europeans can help stabilise the Sahel
- Will Brown
- Policy Brief
Rather than disengaging from the coup belt, European governments should stay present and work to curb the worst of the chaos engulfing the region — and prevent rival powers from gaining the upper hand
The idea of China
- Alicja Bachulska, Mark Leonard, Janka Oertel
- Book
China’s ideas could become the country’s next big export. The Idea of China examines Chinese thinking about global order, AI, demographic change, and more – and considers how these ideas could influence the world
The Orbanisation of America: Hungary’s lessons for Donald Trump
- Jeremy Shapiro, Zsuzsanna Végh
- Policy Brief
If Trump wins the US presidency, Republicans will likely adapt techniques refined in Viktor Orban’s Hungary as they return to power – with profound implications for both America and Europe
Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
China’s trade challenges for the European economy
- Podcast
- Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
Mark Leonard welcomes Agathe Demarais and Janka Oertel to discuss EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and the potential for future economic sanctions
Swamp Chronicles
Swamp Chronicles: Fiona Hill on US leadership, Ukraine’s future, and the post-election world
- Podcast
- Swamp Chronicles
Aslı Aydıntaşbaş and Jeremy Shapiro talk to Fiona Hill about the future of transatlantic relations and the war in Ukraine after the election
Views from the Council
Transatlantic uncertainty demands European resolve and German initiative
- Norbert Röttgen
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 5 minute read
Whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump wins the election, Europeans must take greater responsibility for their own security
Zelensky has a game-changing plan to win peace. For it to work, Biden must back it – fast
- Timothy Garton Ash
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 4 minute read
In besieged Kharkiv, I saw how Ukraine is approaching a perilous moment. To turn the tide, it first needs to decisively knock back Russia
In the Media - Council
Karolina Wigura on the German government’s decision to reimpose checks at its borders
Lea Ypi on British interest in the migrant pact struck between Italy and Albania
Daniela Schwarzer discusses lessons Draghi’s report on competitiveness holds for Germany
Gerald Knaus criticises plans to turn away refugees at the German border
Featured and flagship projects
US election
What would a Trump win mean for transatlantic relations? Would a Harris presidency mark another, different sort of turning point? What can – and should – a Europe with less US mean?
Defending Europe with less America
- Camille Grand
Re:Engage
This project helps the EU in refining its foreign policy, re-engaging neighbours post-Russia's invasion of Ukraine to bolster regional resilience and advance enlargement policies.
The interest of values: The EU’s democracy promotion in the Western Balkans and the eastern neighbourhood
- Piotr Buras, Marie Dumoulin, Tefta Kelmendi, Marlene Marx
Re:Order
Re:Order project explores emerging visions of the global order, as well as the interplay between economic might and geopolitical influence.
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The emergency lane: How the EU can speed up its crisis responses
- Jeremy Cliffe, Nicu Popescu
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
In times of crisis the EU can no longer rely on its standard, slow procedures. A European Defence Production Act could transform its ability to deal with shocks
Only NATO can secure a ‘West German’ future for Ukraine
- Timothy Garton Ash
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
Accession to the EU needs to be complemented by the security alliance
Tusk’s asylum coup: Breaking away from populist narratives
- Piotr Buras
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
Donald Tusk’s announcement of a temporary suspension of the right to asylum is primarily a PR move that will yield limited impact in Poland. But it may encourage the EU to rethink the unsustainable current asylum system
Warming up: How the EU can prepare for COP29 in the wake of the US election
- Susi Dennison
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
To keep climate cooperation from icing over, European policymakers should be ready to show leadership at COP and take the reins from the US, regardless of its president-elect
From Brussels with leverage: How the EU is recalibrating its China strategy
- Janka Oertel
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
By imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, the European Commission has turned a corner on its relations with Beijing. To push back against an emboldened Brussels, Beijing will have to change tactics
A united front: Why Meloni should form a ‘Harris plan’ to secure US-Italy relations
- Teresa Coratella
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
The potential return of Donald Trump to the White House could affect US support for key Italian priorities. Giorgia Meloni should drop the political chameleon act and prepare for the possibility of a Democratic president
Our experts are available for media requests. Our work involves many issues relating to Europe and foreign policy, and our programmes focus on Africa, Asia, the Middle East & North Africa, and Wider Europe.
More on Africa
Beyond competition: How Europe can harness the UAE’s energy ambitions in Africa
- Maddalena Procopio, Corrado ÄŒok
- Policy Brief
The UAE has invested heavily in Africa’s energy sectors in recent years, expanding its stakes in oil and gas, and renewables. Rather than viewing the UAE as solely a rival, Europeans should pursue a strategy of “co-opetition”, balancing competition with cooperation in areas of mutual interest, to fast-track green initiatives
Island hopping: Why Azerbaijan’s meddling in the Comoros should worry the EU
- Daria Jankiel
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
Sudan’s humanitarian catastrophe demands a surge in European support for its civil society
- Jonas Horner
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
More on Asia
Trust and trade-offs: How to manage Europe’s green technology dependence on China
- Alexander Lipke, Janka Oertel, Daniel O’Sullivan
- Policy Brief
European policymakers need to answer the ‘trust question’ of how far they want Chinese companies involved in green industries such as solar energy, batteries, and electric vehicles
Russia, Ukraine, and the two Koreas: How east Asian powers are influencing Europe’s security
- James Crabtree, Alexander Lipke
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
Forget the bear hug: India’s gradual turn from Russia, towards the West
- James Crabtree
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
More on European Power
Control-Alt-Deliver: A digital grand strategy for the European Union
- José Ignacio Torreblanca, Giorgos Verdi
- Policy Brief
The EU is falling behind the US and China in the digital realm. It urgently needs a new agenda combining innovation, security, and influence for an age of geopoliticised technology
Transatlantic uncertainty demands European resolve and German initiative
- Norbert Röttgen
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 5 minute read
Divided we stand: The EU votes on Chinese electric vehicle tariffs
- Agathe Demarais
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
More on Middle East and North Africa
Mending fences: Europe’s stake in the Saudi-Iran detente
- Julien Barnes-Dacey, Cinzia Bianco
- Policy Brief
Saudi-Iran diplomacy offers a rare path to prevent deepening conflict in the Middle East and support regional stability. Europeans should see this diplomacy as a chance to address their core interests, and not just as Iran’s attempt to bypass Western pressure
The point of no return: Why the EU must not send Syrians refugees back
- Julien Barnes-Dacey
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
Still free to choose: What Polisario’s legal win means for EU ties with Morocco and Western Sahara
- Hugh Lovatt
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
More on United States
Imagining Trump 2.0: Six scary policy scenarios for a second term
- Célia Belin, Majda Ruge, Jeremy Shapiro
- Policy Brief
The potential return of Donald Trump to the White House is a matter of months away. Here are six scary policy scenarios to give Europeans sleepless nights and prepare them for what could be to come
Transatlantic uncertainty demands European resolve and German initiative
- Norbert Röttgen
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 5 minute read
Letter from Washington: The unbearable lightness of policy
- Jeremy Shapiro
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
More on Wider Europe
The interest of values: The EU’s democracy promotion in the Western Balkans and the eastern neighbourhood
- Piotr Buras, Marie Dumoulin, Tefta Kelmendi, Marlene Marx
- Policy Brief
With EU enlargement back on the agenda, democracy promotion in candidate countries is a key geopolitical interest for the bloc. The EU’s previous efforts to promote democracy in the Western Balkans and eastern neighbourhood may hold valuable lessons for the years ahead
Staying afloat: How the EU can navigate the Black Sea to counter Russian aggression
- Maria Simeonova
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
Building BRICS: What Erdogan’s geopolitical gamble could mean for the West
- Aslı Aydıntaşbaş
- Commentary
- 4 minute read