Putin’s new world order: Ukraine after the referendum
Three pieces by ECFR's leading Wider Europe experts on the current situation in Ukraine, Putin's appeal for a new world order, and Germany's crucial role within the EU
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The Two-State Stress Test
ECFR's new innovative project – the Two-State Stress Test – provides an annual health-check on whether developments across seven different areas are serving to strain or sustain a possible two-state outcome for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
ECFR podcasts – experts and big names talking about Europe’s place in the world – in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian
ECFR reports: Gulnur Aybet on Turkey & NATO ECFR agenda: Kosovo's elections & the Balkans ECFR español: José Ignacio Torreblanca presenta “La fragmentación del poder europeo” ECFR italiano: le missioni civili all'estero funzionano? ECFR français: les implications de la crise monétaire ECFR deutsch: zu Deutschlands Rolle in Europa
India and Europe still need each other
A shift in the power balance between the EU and India has changed the two powers' attitudes to each other, but there will still be plenty to talk about at their summit this week. Concluding a free trade agreement, and greater strategic cooperation on a range of security issues, is in the interests of both.
The euro will be saved only if Europe exists
Europe needs to convince the world that its political unity is not in question. Only “federation light,” and a functional federal budget big enough to make macroeconomic stability part of its normal functioning, will convince the markets and everybody else that the EU and the eurozone have a stable, prosperous future.
No more heroes?
David Cameron, the British prime minister, says that the G20 has passed its “heroic phase.” Certainly the last leaders’ meeting in Seoul lacked the high drama of those during the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009. But perhaps we need to redefine heroic leadership: what the world needs now is politicians who are ready to make complex multilateral compromises for the common good.
Model, partner, rival
Germany was a model for the post-Franco rebuilding of Spanish democracy, and for a time was perhaps Spain’s most important ever partner. The switch to rivalry in recent years, and Spain’s failure to support Germany while it struggled with the financial implications of reunification, has meant that Madrid’s erstwhile allies in Berlin are distant at this hour of crisis.
Europe’s only hope: the Federation Light
We should not demand more from political collaboration within the EU than we demand as citizens from our own countries. We are already demanding of ourselves and our politicians that we work together to ensure our freedom, safety, security, prosperity and welfare. If we want an EU that works, the demands must be the same – no more, no less.
NATO self-cancelling summit
The Lisbon summit has drawn a line under a fractious period for NATO. But as it reaches out to Russia and withdraws from Afghanistan, the alliance is still struggling to find a new purpose.
After Lisbon, what next?
NATO leaders are meeting in Lisbon to approve a new strategic blueprint aimed at enhancing the security of Europe. But what about managing security within Europe? Who is responsible for that, and how should it be organised?