Highlights
Latest
Anatomy of a close call: The aftermath of Macron’s great gamble
- Célia Belin, Camille Grand, Camille Lons
Featured
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
Eco-nomics: A green industrial policy for the next European Commission
- Susi Dennison, Mats Engström
- Policy Brief
The EU cannot afford to stay divided on its green industrial policy. Instead, the next European Commission should spearhead a common and credible approach to ensure the bloc catches the next green technology wave
The meaning of sovereignty: Ukrainian and European views of Russia’s war on Ukraine
- Ivan Krastev, Mark Leonard
- Policy Brief
New research confirms Ukrainians’ determination to fight and Europeans’ steady support for Kyiv. But a major divide lurks beneath this appearance of unity
Defending Europe with less America
- Camille Grand
- Policy Brief
Shifting US priorities and a degrading security environment – not to mention the possibility of a second Trump presidency – mean Europeans finally have to take more responsibility for their own security
Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
NATO at 75: The future of European defence
- Podcast
- Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
Vessela Tcherneva welcomes Camille Grand, Camille Lons, Marta Prochwicz Jazowska, and Jana Puglierin to discuss the 75th NATO summit, and how Europe can defend itself with less America
ECFR on air
Africa: Not just about migration
- Podcast
- ECFR on air
- Meloni goes multilateral
In the first big multilateral test for prime minister Giorgia Meloni, this mini-series will explore the four main priorities of Italy’s 2024 G7 presidency: Ukraine, AI, infrastructure, and Africa
Views from the Council
Britain is suddenly a beacon of stability in Europe – now it’s France that’s in turmoil
- Timothy Garton Ash
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 4 minute read
Sunday’s surprising election result prompted an international sigh of relief, but Emmanuel Macron’s gamble has weakened him and Europe
A star in the storm: The rise of Peter Magyar
- Tibor Dessewffy
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 4 minute read
There is a new kid on the block in Budapest, but it remains to be seen whether Peter Magyar can break 14 years of Orban rule
In the Media - Council
Douglas Alexander comments on Scottish independence ahead of the UK general election on July 4
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb talks about the Russian threat and explains why he sleeps soundly at night
Anand Menon suggests that the EU is evolving in a direction that will make deeper cooperation with the UK harder
EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen cautions against cutting social funds in favour of defence
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:Order
Re:Order project explores emerging visions of the global order, as well as the interplay between economic might and geopolitical influence.
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
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Cold rush: How a transatlantic ship pact can win the race for the Arctic
- Alberto Rizzi
- Policy Alert
- 1 minute read
Icebreaker ships are critical in the competition for Arctic resources. A new initiative aims to strengthen transatlantic capabilities in building and deploying these ships, but more should be done if the pact is to counter Russian and Chinese ambitions
Anatomy of a close call: The aftermath of Macron’s great gamble
- Célia Belin, Camille Grand, Camille Lons
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
To form a workable government after the snap election, French parties will need to make coalitions and concessions. But such cooperation runs contrary to French political culture, and the likely divisions risk weakening France’s voice on the international and European stage
Managed reform: What Iran’s new president means for European diplomacy
- Ellie Geranmayeh
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
Under new president Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran will have a reform-minded government. Given the grave concern over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional posture, the West should seize the opportunity to pursue principled diplomacy with Tehran
Deserted: Europe’s dilemma in the Sahel
- Will Brown
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
On Saturday, Germany became the latest European country to withdraw military forces from the Sahel. Other states may go further, closing embassies. But walking away, wagging a patronising white finger at states facing existential threats will do nothing to stabilise the region
Britain is suddenly a beacon of stability in Europe – now it’s France that’s in turmoil
- Timothy Garton Ash
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 4 minute read
Sunday’s surprising election result prompted an international sigh of relief, but Emmanuel Macron’s gamble has weakened him and Europe
Starmer’s priorities: Fixing Britain will come first
- Nick Witney
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
As Keir Starmer assumes office, myriad international questions will land on his desk – but don’t expect these to be his immediate focus
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.
Maria Simeonova commented on the latest news from America and the main messages from the NATO summit
More on Africa
Beyond competition: How Europe can harness the UAE’s energy ambitions in Africa
- Maddalena Procopio, Corrado Čok
- 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
Out of focus: Making progress on climate financing for Africa
- Ameer Chughtai
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
The final nail: Niger’s break with the US
- Will Brown
- Policy Alert
- 2 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
In the same boat: Why Taiwan is strengthening ties with central and eastern Europe
- Alicja Bachulska
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
Ahead of the curve: Why the EU and US risk falling behind China in Latin America
- Ángel Melguizo, Margaret Myers
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
More on European Power
Fortune favours the bold: Upgrading the EU’s geoeconomic strategy
- Tobias Gehrke, Filip Medunic
- Policy Brief
The EU has started to join the dots between its economic and security policies. But as other powers reshape the geoeconomic landscape, it needs to upgrade its strategy beyond risk mitigation and competitiveness
Europe’s coming paralysis
- Mark Leonard
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
Innovate, protect, and influence: The EU’s technology trilemma and how to solve it
- José Ignacio Torreblanca, Giorgos Verdi
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
More on Middle East and North Africa
Beyond proxies: Iran’s deeper strategy in Syria and Lebanon
- Hamidreza Azizi, Julien Barnes-Dacey
- Policy Brief
Iran has spent decades building up its influence in the Levant as part of its deterrence posture against Israel (and the US). The war in Gaza is now pushing the longstanding Israeli-Iranian conflict out into the open – and Lebanon and Syria are potential flashpoints for further escalation
Why Europeans should support the International Criminal Court over the Gaza war
- Anthony Dworkin
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
Strategic aid: How the EU-Lebanon migration deal can work
- Kelly Petillo
- Policy Alert
- 2 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
Letter from Washington: All-knowing America and US intelligence diplomacy
- Jeremy Shapiro
- Commentary
- Views from the Capitals
- 4 minute read
Europe must prepare for a Trump presidency
- Mark Leonard
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
More on Wider Europe
Late-stage Putinism: The war in Ukraine and Russia’s shifting ideology
- Mikhail Komin
- Policy Brief
The Kremlin is creating a new, more unified ideology, which it is disseminating among the Russian population and using to attract global south countries to a new conservative alliance
Dreaming of EU: The challenges ahead for Ukraine’s and Moldova’s accession
- Leo Litra
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
Growing pains: The future of EU enlargement after the European Parliament election
- Engjellushe Morina
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read