Zapatero: what next?
With a good international image and a key position in Europe, Latin America and the Mediterranean, there is an opportunity for Spain to play a more prominent global role which the new government should explore
ECFR
Franco-British defence cooperation – a historic crossroads?
The Brown-Sarkozy summit in late March will offer a great opportunity to boost defence cooperation between the UK and France. But real progress will require a determined exercise of will by the two leaders.
France’s Shakespearean defence review
There are two sure signs that France’s defence review is entering its end-game: a new imprecision has crept into forecasts of when the outcome will be published (“spring”); and interesting disclosures are beginning to appear
Challenging the myths of energy security
The truth is that the global oil market isn’t falling apart. It continues to be globally integrated and highly liquid, and access to it requires no diplomatic or military capacity.
Poland?s latest challenge
The new Polish PM wants to bring Poland back to the heart of Europe and make the country a genuine player in European foreign policy. But the task is enormous.
More wisdom for Europe
Compared to its original formulation, the mandate given to Felipe Gonz?lez to chair an “Independent Reflection Group” amounts to a substantial shift
The Comit? des Sages: a wise idea?
European leaders are set to examine Nikolas Sarkozy’s proposal to launch a “Comit? des Sages” but the proposal has so far been received with scepticism by most stakeholders
A cool response to Sarkozy’s EU agenda
Since it was first mooted in the summer, the Sarkozy proposal for a new round of arguments about the future of Europe has been met with growing consternation
Two cheers for Gordon Brown’s speech
Gordon Brown has laid out his foreign policy vision, including on Europe. But he missed two key elements: a strong, positive case for enlargement and arguments for the Lisbon Treaty
Rebuilding a house divided
The EU is more divided on foreign policy now than during the Iraq War. But a house divided against itself cannot stand.