Highlights
Featured
The Gaza crisis: Mapping the Middle East’s shifting battle lines
This new ECFR mapping project identifies the spillover effects of the Gaza war in countries across the Middle East
Power to the people: How the EU’s energy transition can help fight the “greenlash”
The EU’s energy transition is a pragmatic political choice – one that can even help the new European Commission and member state governments fight the “greenlash”
Mending fences: Europe’s stake in the Saudi-Iran detente
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
Welcome to Barbieland: European sentiment in the year of wars and elections
Like the titular character in the movie “Barbie”, the EU is prone to regarding itself as more perfect than it really is. This year’s European Sentiment Compass lays bare the EU’s blind spots – and explains why ignoring them could have long-term repercussions for democracy inside the bloc
Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
Kamala Harris and the future of US foreign policy
Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin and Jeremy Shapiro to discuss Kamala Harris’s foreign policy
Swamp Chronicles
Swamp Chronicles: Ken Weinstein on Trump and the Indo-Pacific
Aslı Aydıntaşbaş and Jeremy Shapiro welcome Ken Weinstein to discuss why and how Trump’s negotiating tactics could strengthen the US foreign policy position, and help forge alliances against China
Views from the Council
Zelensky has a game-changing plan to win peace. For it to work, Biden must back it – fast
In besieged Kharkiv, I saw how Ukraine is approaching a perilous moment. To turn the tide, it first needs to decisively knock back Russia
The future of the world may depend on what a few thousand Pennsylvania voters think about their grocery bills
The Harris-Walz ticket has transformed the presidential race. But on the ground it’s clear: Trump could still win
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 projects
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.
Featured
Re:Order
Re:Order project explores emerging visions of the global order, as well as the interplay between economic might and geopolitical influence.
Featured
Public opinion polling
Through polling in EU member states, ECFR’s analysis seeks to unlock shifting coalitions in Europe that favour a more internationally engaged union
Featured
Latest
Value-added and value lost: The macroeconomic limits of China’s Africa strategy
China’s overcapacity has hit Europe’s economies hard, but it is also damaging Africa’s. With both continents suffering, Africa and Europe can make common cause in confronting this mutual challenge
Summit of ambition: How European and Gulf states can build a newly strategic relationship
From trade, to Ukraine, to Middle East conflicts, the EU and the GCC should finally grip the possibility of enhancing their relations at this month’s major summit
Breaking tradition: Why Russia’s war is making Switzerland question its neutrality
Europe’s rapidly changing geopolitical position is causing Switzerland to rethink elements of its neutrality. This dramatic break in tradition should be a warning to other European countries that the continent’s security context is less safe and less certain
Victory foretold: How Europeans should respond to Tunisia’s unfair presidential election
Tunisia’s authoritarian president is not as secure as he seems. European leaders should refrain from rushing to congratulate his inevitable, imminent re-election
Inventing NATO 3.0: Why Rutte should bridge the EU and the US for a stronger alliance
NATO’s changing of the guard takes place while war rages in Ukraine and as the future of transatlantic relations remains uncertain. It will take all of new secretary general Mark Rutte’s skill to establish a stable NATO 3.0
After Nasrallah: Ways to de-escalate the burgeoning Middle East conflict
Europeans should use their leverage with Israel and Iran to work towards regional peace
Julien Barnes-Dacey and Hugh Lovatt analyse Israel’s lack of a clear strategy to de-escalate the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon
Julien Barnes-Dacey and Cinzia Bianco on the Saudi-Iran detente
Janka Oertel argues that EU member states should vote in favour of imposing definitive trade tariffs on China-made electric vehicles
More on Africa
Beyond competition: How Europe can harness the UAE’s energy ambitions in Africa
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
More on Asia
The idea of China
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
More on European Power
Hard, fast, and where it hurts: Lessons from Ukraine-related sanctions for a Taiwan conflict scenario
In the coming years, China’s leaders could make good on their pledges to “reunify” Taiwan and the Chinese mainland by force. European policymakers need to begin preparing economic statecraft options for such a scenario – and they need to do so now
More on Middle East and North Africa
Value for money: Why and how Europeans should support the failing economies of Egypt and Tunisia
Severe weaknesses in the Egyptian and Tunisian economies provoke recurrent crises. There is a better way for Europeans to support Cairo and Tunis
More on United States
Imagining Trump 2.0: Six scary policy scenarios for a second term
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
More on Wider Europe
The interest of values: The EU’s democracy promotion in the Western Balkans and the eastern neighbourhood
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