An interview with Anne Applebaum and José Ignacio Torreblanca
Head of ECFR’s Madrid Office, Jose Ignacio Torreblanca talks to the American historian, a Pulitzer Prize winner for Gulag, and expert on authoritarian populism about…
National Politics
How the frugal four could grow in number and influence
Brexit has denied Denmark a regular ally in EU negotiations. Copenhagen can find new friends – but it should start the hard yards now.
Why Finland never joined the frugal four
Recent signs that Finland has joined the “frugal four” are overstated, but one member of the group may well be its closest coalition partner.
The limits of “no, no, no”: Why the Dutch are so ambivalent about Europe
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is stuck between European partners urging him to engage in Europe at this critical moment and a growing chorus at home threatening to punish him if he does so
Bulgaria’s anti-corruption protests explained – and why they matter for the EU
European leaders have stood by as Bulgarians demand real reform on corruption. But such silence will only harm the EU in the long run
The proof of the European Council pudding will be in the eating
EU leaders need to show that they are not only capable of reaching an agreement between themselves, but also of shaping the post-coronavirus world
A Schuman plan for the eastern Mediterranean
The EU should look to its own history as it aims to secure its own interests and resolve tensions in the eastern Mediterranean
A country under the influence: Russian interference in British politics
The UK’s ostensible new “ethical foreign policy” stands up to little scrutiny – not least as the government’s preferred form of Brexit limits chances it will ever enact such a policy.
An election in Belarus: How the West could support a marginalised opposition
In the run-up to a difficult election for President Alexander Lukashenka, the three main opposition candidates have been excluded from the vote and there have been mass arrests. Western countries should try to deter further repression in Belarus without isolating the country
Germany’s belated debate on colonialism
Initiatives designed to change German attitudes towards colonial history will be important in improving Germany’s relations with African countries