Highlights
Featured
From mines to markets: How Africa and Europe can become green industry partners of choice
- Theophilus Acheampong
- Policy Brief
African and European decision-makers can achieve mutual benefit on critical raw materials – but the EU should be clearer about which parts of the value chain it wishes to invest in
The infinite connection: How to make the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor happen
- Alberto Rizzi
- Policy Brief
The India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor is alive, if not yet kicking. Europeans should use the hiatus in the corridor’s development to agree on the next steps, with a focus on reconciling the various goals of all its participants
Proxy battles: Iraq, Iran, and the turmoil in the Middle East
- Hamzeh Hadad
- Policy Brief
The cycle of escalation in the Middle East since 7 October means Iraq has once again found itself a staging ground for Iranian-US conflict. But the relationship between Iraq and Iran is complex and multifaceted – and Europeans can help Iraq build its autonomy
The Gaza crisis: Mapping the Middle East’s shifting battle lines
- Julien Barnes-Dacey, Cinzia Bianco, Hugh Lovatt
- Special
This new ECFR mapping project identifies the spillover effects of the Gaza war in countries across the Middle East
Upcoming events
African Voices: African reforms and priorities for Climate Finance
- Online
- ECFR Berlin
Recent events
Belarus in 2024: Navigating Trajectories of War and Repression
- Lithuanian Embassy in Paris, 22 Boulevard de Courcelles, 75017 Paris
- ECFR Paris
Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
High stakes in the strait: US -China competition and Taiwan’s future
- Podcast
- Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
Mark Leonard welcomes Dmitri Alperovitch to discuss US-China competition and the likelihood of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan
ECFR on air
Under the Overcoat: Russian foreign policy: from a U-Turn over the Atlantic to the zigzags of history
- Podcast
- ECFR on air
- Under the Overcoat
This podcast explores deeper trends beneath the surface of Russia’s daily politics. In this episode, we delve deeper into Russia’s foreign policy, taking a long-term perspective.
Views from the Council
A defeat for Putin in Ukraine will improve the chances for the Other Russia
- Timothy Garton Ash
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 4 minute read
Alexei Navalny’s funeral and this weekend’s so-called election show us two Russias. Support the better one
False economy: Why Europeans should stop slashing development aid to Africa
- Mimi Alemayehou, David McNair
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 4 minute read
The first two months of 2024 have seen the EU and member states redirect billions of euros of development funding away from Africa – but this could come at great cost to their long-term interests on the continent
In the Media - Council
Showing that Ukraine is part of “us” means sending more of “our” air defences to protect Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure
Nathalie Tocci argues for the European defence of Ukraine’s skies
The weekend of Israeli attacks has triggered a new sense of inequality and a lack of prospects in Kyiv
Stefan Kornelius analyses the ongoing missile hail on Ukrainian cities
Featured projects
Charting The Long War
For seven decades, European integration has been driven by the quest for peace. The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point.
Re:shape Global Europe
The project strives to engage citizens across Europe and generate a wide debate about the purpose of European power in the twenty-first century
Multilateral Matchmaker
- Carla Hobbs, Rafael Loss, Jana Puglierin, Pawel Zerka
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
A crisis of one’s own: The politics of trauma in Europe’s election year
- Ivan Krastev, Mark Leonard
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
We will keep you informed about our latest publications and upcoming events.
We will store your email address and gather analytics on how you interact with our mailings. You can unsubscribe or opt-out at any time. Find out more in our privacy notice.
Latest
The Macron moment
- Mark Leonard
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
Underlying all the problems that Europe faces in a new age of geopolitical, economic, and climate insecurity is a crisis in leadership. Judging by his recent speech at the Sorbonne, French president Emmanuel Macron could be the politician to supply it, but only if he abandons his standard political playbook
Lukashenka’s long shadow: Understanding Belarus’s new political architecture
- Pavel Slunkin
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
Belarusian leader, Aliaksandr Lukashenka, has created a new and constitutionally powerful assembly that could secure him a smooth transition of power to his loyalists after his rule. But for now, he will control it himself
The power of a promise: Understanding Ukraine’s bilateral security agreements
- Leo Litra
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
Bilateral security agreements send a clear and important signal of allies’ support for Ukraine. But to avoid hurting Ukraine in the long run, it is important to be clear about their limitations
A cautionary tale: Why the UK’s Rwanda bill is doomed for political failure
- Mireia Faro Sarrats, Tarek Megerisi
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
Finally passed into law, the UK’s bill to process migrants in Rwanda has been a political disaster. European governments should remember that not only does such a policy not work to deter migration, it will politically damage any party that adopts it
Common cause: How Germany’s pro-European parties can stop the rise of the far-right
- Rafael Loss, Angela Mehrer
- Commentary
- Note from Berlin
- 5 minute read
In their campaigns for the European parliament election, Germany’s pro-European parties must unite to effectively mobilise voters against the threat of the far-right party, Alternative for Germany
Hanging in the balance: How to save Bulgaria’s foreign policy from political turmoil
- Maria Simeonova
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
Facing its sixth election in three years, Bulgaria’s political instability risks marginalising Sofia’s role within the EU. To avoid this, the campaigns of pro-European politicians in the country must not lose sight of Bulgaria’s international position
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.
I don’t think there will be another ‘big bang’, that wouldn’t work
[African countries] want to obtain a much bigger share of the mineral resource wealth, so the push now is not just to export these raw materials, but rather add value to them
Theophilus Acheampong on how African and European decision-makers can achieve mutual benefit on critical raw materials
[But now that the aid bill has passed,] there’s a bit more political leverage on the side of the US
It is remarkable that this entire unit of roughly 60 people was completely disbanded
Following the wave of spying threats, Rafael Loss comments on the German intelligence wounding down a unit dedicated to counter-intelligence in 2002
More on Africa
Tricks of the trade: Strengthening EU-African cooperation on trade in services
- Iza Lejarraga
- Policy Brief
Services play an increasingly important role in international trade. Improving EU-African trade in services would have wide-ranging benefits for both sides
The final nail: Niger’s break with the US
- Will Brown
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
Trading bases: The Red Sea tinderbox and the maritime economy
- Theodore Murphy
- Commentary
- 6 minute read
More on Asia
The battle for the Indian Ocean: How the EU and India can strengthen maritime security
- Frédéric Grare, Manisha Reuter
- Policy Brief
China is becoming increasingly assertive in the Indian Ocean. The EU and India should work together to support the smaller states of the region
Risk and reward: Why the EU should develop the Middle Corridor trade route
- Alberto Rizzi
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
Forget about Trump: Why Europeans should start worrying about trade tensions with emerging economies
- Agathe Demarais
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
More on European Power
A new political map: Getting the European Parliament election right
- Ivan Krastev, Mark Leonard
- Policy Brief
Mainstream parties are hoping to prevent an anticipated far-right surge in this year’s European Parliament election. But the results of ECFR’s latest opinion poll suggest their current strategy could backfire – and what they should do instead
Risk and reward: Why the EU should develop the Middle Corridor trade route
- Alberto Rizzi
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
Cultivating enlargement: How a green win in the European Parliament election could help the Western Balkans
- Lea Fanku
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
More on Middle East and North Africa
The Maghreb maze: Harmonising divergent European policies in North Africa
- Anthony Dworkin
- Policy Brief
The Maghreb policies of the four most influential EU member states are diverging – but this fragmentation hinders the EU’s long-term interests in the region
Aid with reform: How the EU-Egypt deal can succeed
- Anthony Dworkin
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
On the brink: Why Europeans need to help save UNRWA from collapse
- Kelly Petillo
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
More on United States
The art of vassalisation: How Russia’s war on Ukraine has transformed transatlantic relations
- Jana Puglierin, Jeremy Shapiro
- Policy Brief
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
Europe must prepare for a Trump presidency
- Mark Leonard
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
Letter from Washington: Why we hate Trump
- Jeremy Shapiro
- Commentary
- Views from the Capitals
- 4 minute read
More on Wider Europe
Life in exile: A new approach to Russian democrats in Europe
- Ksenia Luchenko, Kirill Shamiev
- Policy Brief
European governments need a more coordinated response to Russian democrats in exile – to give them certainty for the future and help guard against Kremlin subversion
Cultivating enlargement: How a green win in the European Parliament election could help the Western Balkans
- Lea Fanku
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
Separate to integrate: EU enlargement and the trouble with bilateral disputes
- Tefta Kelmendi
- Commentary
- 6 minute read