Geo-tech politics: Why technology shapes European power
New technologies are a significant force shaping international relations. If the EU wants to be more than a mediator between the US and China, it will need to change its mindset.
Technology
Featured
Iron net: Digital repression in the Middle East and North Africa
Governments across the world have powerful digital tools to control and repress their populations. The EU should treat this as an urgent security and political concern.
Haters gonna hate in the privatised online world: Time to take it on
No hating any time – except between Facebook and Moscow? Who governs hate online speech sheds light on the long way to go to recreating the internet as a global commons
The geopolitics of technology: How the EU can become a global player
The digital space is a key battleground in today’s global power struggles. For the EU to become a global player in the geopolitics of technology, it needs an ambitious external digital strategy – one that allows it to secure its interests, values, and standing in a world of intensifying geo-technological competition.
The fight for Europe’s digital future
If the West loses the race to gain the economic, security, and social benefits of AI and other advanced technologies, there will be a fundamental shift in the global order
Why Europe’s energy industry is vulnerable to cyber-attacks
Global energy infrastructure is highly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The EU should address this vulnerability as part of its defence against Russian aggression.
The virtual front line: How EU tech power can help Ukraine
The EU cannot play a direct military role in Russia’s hybrid war against Ukraine. But, through its support for Ukraine in the digital realm, the union can establish itself as a leader in global tech geopolitics.
10 Mar
The EU and Japan: Strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific
In collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Madrid, ECFR has organised a public virtual debate to explore how the EU and the Indo-Pacific can build a strategic alliance and how the EU-Japan relationship can drive this process
15 Feb
EU-African Union Summit: making the most of the European Green Deal and Global Gateway
To what extent can the European Green Deal and Global Gateway be shaped to satisfy both European and African interests?
The Age of Unpeace: Therapy for internationalists | Session 1 with Marietje Schaake
Join us on this journey to a more therapeutic approach to international relations. The mini-series brings you five episodes with guests including today’s Marietje Schaake, Thomas Wright, and Anne Marie Slaughter.
14 Dec
Cooperación Tecnológica Transatlántica: Cómo hacer que el Consejo de Comercio y Tecnología sea un éxito
Esta es la primera reunión de nuestra iniciativa en ECFR diseñada para acompañar a las negociaciones oficiales del Consejo de Comercio y Tecnología (TTC) entre…
Publications
Iron net: Digital repression in the Middle East and North Africa
Governments across the world have powerful digital tools to control and repress their populations. The EU should treat this as an urgent security and political concern.
The geopolitics of technology: How the EU can become a global player
The digital space is a key battleground in today’s global power struggles. For the EU to become a global player in the geopolitics of technology, it needs an ambitious external digital strategy – one that allows it to secure its interests, values, and standing in a world of intensifying geo-technological competition.
Geo-tech politics: Why technology shapes European power
New technologies are a significant force shaping international relations. If the EU wants to be more than a mediator between the US and China, it will need to change its mindset.
Network effects: Europe’s digital sovereignty in the Mediterranean
The EU has the ambition and potential to become a sovereign digital power, but it lacks an all-encompassing strategy for the sector, in which individual governments are still the key players
Artificial divide: How Europe and America could clash over AI
Artificial intelligence is a rapidly advancing field that policymakers everywhere are struggling to keep up with
Europe’s digital sovereignty: From rulemaker to superpower in the age of US-China rivalry
The EU cannot continue to rely on its regulatory power but must become a tech superpower in its own right. Referees do not win the game.
Not smart enough: The poverty of European military thinking on artificial intelligence
Failing to coordinate properly in the AI area could threaten future European defence cooperation, including PESCO and the European Defence
Harnessing artificial intelligence
If Europe does not address these difficult questions soon it will find itself surrounded by more powerful rivals deploying AI against it
No middle ground: Moving on from the crypto wars
The ‘second crypto war’ is in full swing; European governments need to stop trying to defeat encryption and get more sophisticated themselves instead
Europe’s digital power: from geo-economics to cybersecurity
This paper puts forward an understanding of digital power which rests on, first, the strength of the digital economy and, second, cyber capability
Articles
Haters gonna hate in the privatised online world: Time to take it on
No hating any time – except between Facebook and Moscow? Who governs hate online speech sheds light on the long way to go to recreating the internet as a global commons
The fight for Europe’s digital future
If the West loses the race to gain the economic, security, and social benefits of AI and other advanced technologies, there will be a fundamental shift in the global order
Why Europe’s energy industry is vulnerable to cyber-attacks
Global energy infrastructure is highly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The EU should address this vulnerability as part of its defence against Russian aggression.
The virtual front line: How EU tech power can help Ukraine
The EU cannot play a direct military role in Russia’s hybrid war against Ukraine. But, through its support for Ukraine in the digital realm, the union can establish itself as a leader in global tech geopolitics.
Europe needs a change in mindset on technology and geopolitics
Technological change is already having far-reaching effects on the international balance of power. If the EU is to become a true geopolitical actor, it cannot shy away from these challenges
A glimpse of the future: The Ever Given and the weaponisation of choke-points
In a future, states will likely become more transactional and try to force changes in behaviour from others in exchange for the use of a platform or supply chain
Why Germany’s investment in Open RAN will not solve its 5G problem
On the path to Germany’s 5G network rollout, Berlin has made a misguided investment in Open RAN, an unproven telecoms industry concept that promises much but has so far produced little
Why cyber security should be a key part of Europe’s Indo-Pacific strategy
Making cyber security an integral part of a European approach to the Indo-Pacific could provide a framework for cooperation with EU partners in the region
Second acts: How Europe can renew the transatlantic partnership
This could be the moment to build a more balanced transatlantic relationship, with Europeans showing the US where we need it to engage, and how – rather than simply waiting for cues from Washington
Broken shield: Privacy versus surveillance in Europe
In striking down the Privacy Shield, the European Court of Justice has halted transatlantic data flows and thrown global digital commerce into disarray
Podcasts
The Age of Unpeace: Therapy for internationalists | Session 1 with Marietje Schaake
Join us on this journey to a more therapeutic approach to international relations. The mini-series brings you five episodes with guests including today’s Marietje Schaake, Thomas Wright, and Anne Marie Slaughter.
Lead time: How Germany should move on from Merkel | Episode 4 – Tech
What are the necessary steps the new German government needs to take to advance and support European tech sovereignty?
The geopolitics of technology
The EU is often described as a “regulatory superpower” benefitting from the so-called “Brussels effect.” But is the bloc also able to set its own rules and standards when it comes to new technologies?
The geopolitics of cybersecurity
Dr Janka Oertel discusses with Dr Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp and Bonji Ohara the cooperation in the field of cybersecurity between two of the US closest allies
A fair, green and digital recovery – brought to you by Portugal
How can the Portuguese presidency strengthen European strategic autonomy?
Events
10 Mar
The EU and Japan: Strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific
In collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Madrid, ECFR has organised a public virtual debate to explore how the EU and the Indo-Pacific can build a strategic alliance and how the EU-Japan relationship can drive this process
15 Feb
EU-African Union Summit: making the most of the European Green Deal and Global Gateway
To what extent can the European Green Deal and Global Gateway be shaped to satisfy both European and African interests?
14 Dec
Cooperación Tecnológica Transatlántica: Cómo hacer que el Consejo de Comercio y Tecnología sea un éxito
Esta es la primera reunión de nuestra iniciativa en ECFR diseñada para acompañar a las negociaciones oficiales del Consejo de Comercio y Tecnología (TTC) entre…
14 Dec
Joining forces with the Indo-Pacific: Kick-starting Europe’s new approach to the region
Over the course of the day, we will discuss how Europe and Asia can redefine the Indo-Pacific in terms compatible with their mutual interests. The 3 sessions will look specifically at trade, connectivity, and the Green Transition.
24 Nov
Digital Challenges in the Great Powers Competition: what geopolitical role for the EU?
Technology is increasingly emerging as a source of geopolitical challenges, but also of geopolitical opportunities. In this framework, the EU has a unique chance to become a trend setter.
6 Sep
Europe and the Indo-Pacific: Boosting Engagement with the Key Global Growth Region
While the European Union is set to present its new strategy for the Indo-Pacific, APA and ECFR have teamed up to provide a timely input to the debate
27 Apr
Digital sovereignty of the European Union in the international arena
First part of a series jointly organised by the European Movement International and ECFR exploring the challenges the European Union is facing
14 Apr
ECFR x Intelligence² Germany – Debate: We must stop big data’s pandemic power grab
An Oxford-style debate in cooperation with Intelligence² Germany
5 Feb
The geopolitics of cybersecurity – and what it means for Europe and Japan
How have Japan and Europe – Poland in particular – been responding to cybersecurity threats? How can they strengthen their cooperation efforts and enhance mutual understanding – also among likeminded democratic partners?
5 Feb
Geopolityka cyberbezpieczeństwa – co oznacza dla Europy i Japonii?
Zapraszamy na debatę o cyberbezpieczeństwie i współpracy UE-Japonia. Debata odbędzie się online z tłumaczeniem symultanicznym. Cyberbezpieczeństwo nie jest już problemem jedynie technicznym, ale stało się…
In the media
The Union has had a late start to thinking of digital technologies within the realm of foreign and security policy
Ukraine seems to be much more successful at using drones than Russia
As the geopolitical environment is changing, these dependencies now are creating real risks
Something has got to give, and right now momentum is on the side of JCPOA spoilers
The U.S. had a military AI strategy long before it had a national AI strategy […] in Europe it is clearly the other way around and even more so in Germany.