Strategy, capabilities, technology: A manifesto for new European defence
To develop a new approach to defence, European states need to bury their longstanding disputes and learn from Ukrainians’ experiences on the battlefield
EU strategic culture
How to defeat Russia and prevent nuclear armageddon with one weird trick
We are not on a path to nuclear war – but strong deterrence measures from the West can help ensure that scenario remains unlikely
Staying power: How the EU can support NATO in eastern Europe
NATO should deter Russia by establishing a truly permanent presence in front-line states. The EU has a major role to play in this effort.
The meaning of victory: How Russia’s war on Ukraine could divide Europeans
Support for Ukraine is both morally correct and in the best interests of the EU. Europeans should use this moment of unity to address several long-term challenges linked to the conflict.
All-out support: The West’s commitments to Ukraine
Ukraine’s Western partners now recognise that it can defeat Russia. Yet they need to provide the guarantees of long-term support that will make this a reality.
Europe’s soft-power problem
Although Europe has begun to make up for years of neglect in terms of defence spending, it remains woefully ill-equipped to win over other countries through the power of attraction and persuasion. Each side in the European culture war is uniquely unappealing to billions of people around the world.
A European Confederation: a common political platform for peace
How could a European Confederation aid greater cross-European integration? And is it a realistic alternative to the EU?
Law or less: Why Orban’s rule threatens the European project
The goal of preserving European unity could hinder the EU’s fight against democratic backsliding in Hungary. To remain a community of values, the union needs to keep up the pressure on the country’s leader.
Life punishes those who come too late
The EU should immediately impose a temporary embargo on Russian energy imports. If the union waits any longer, it will be too late – and the political costs will be huge.
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
Publications
Connectivity Wars
Why migration, finance and trade are the geo-economic battlegrounds of the future
Alternative Futures Asia
Is there a role for Europe in Asia?
Europe’s Neighbourhood: Crisis as the new normal
Europe’s European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) needs drastic reform to deal with a region characterised by conflict, counter-revolution, and extremism
Articles
Strategy, capabilities, technology: A manifesto for new European defence
To develop a new approach to defence, European states need to bury their longstanding disputes and learn from Ukrainians’ experiences on the battlefield
How to defeat Russia and prevent nuclear armageddon with one weird trick
We are not on a path to nuclear war – but strong deterrence measures from the West can help ensure that scenario remains unlikely
Staying power: How the EU can support NATO in eastern Europe
NATO should deter Russia by establishing a truly permanent presence in front-line states. The EU has a major role to play in this effort.
The meaning of victory: How Russia’s war on Ukraine could divide Europeans
Support for Ukraine is both morally correct and in the best interests of the EU. Europeans should use this moment of unity to address several long-term challenges linked to the conflict.
All-out support: The West’s commitments to Ukraine
Ukraine’s Western partners now recognise that it can defeat Russia. Yet they need to provide the guarantees of long-term support that will make this a reality.
Europe’s soft-power problem
Although Europe has begun to make up for years of neglect in terms of defence spending, it remains woefully ill-equipped to win over other countries through the power of attraction and persuasion. Each side in the European culture war is uniquely unappealing to billions of people around the world.
Law or less: Why Orban’s rule threatens the European project
The goal of preserving European unity could hinder the EU’s fight against democratic backsliding in Hungary. To remain a community of values, the union needs to keep up the pressure on the country’s leader.
Life punishes those who come too late
The EU should immediately impose a temporary embargo on Russian energy imports. If the union waits any longer, it will be too late – and the political costs will be huge.
Berlin’s untenable foreign-policy strategic vacuum
Berlin can no longer afford to float ideas that have no practical consequences, and keep muddling through
Courting Nero: Macron, Merkel, and the state of relations with Trump
Trips to Washington by the French and German leaders made barely a dent in Trump’s attitude towards his own close allies
Specials
Britain in Europe Renegotiation Scorecard
The scorecard assesses the support that components of the reform agenda enjoy in Europe’s capitals.
Podcasts
A European Confederation: a common political platform for peace
How could a European Confederation aid greater cross-European integration? And is it a realistic alternative to the EU?
The coronavirus world order
How can we explain the current crisis of the liberal international order?
Events
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
12 Mar
Europäische Außenpolitik gestalten: Gespräch mit EAD Generalsekretär Stefano Sannino
Prioritäten & Herausforderungen Europäischer Außenpolitik, sowie Deutschlands Rolle in diesem Kontext
27 Apr
Dealing with Discontinuity
Foresight seminar on the future of EU policy making
30 Mar
European foreign policy in a new world order
Spring meeting of ECFR's Foreign Policy Strategy Group
12 Jan
Rethinking European Futures
Expert seminar on Europe’s foreign policy challenges 2025
22 Sep
Rethinking the future of European security
This two days seminar reflects on the prospects for security policy in Europe.
9 May
Strategy group on rethinking Europe’s near abroad
Strategic reflection on the assets a more active European policy should prioritize in a changing and challenging regional environment
25 Jan
Berlin launch “Connectivity Wars”
Europe in a geo-economics world. Rethink: Europe launches essay collection in Berlin.
23 Jun
Strategy group on EU policy towards Asia
As part of its analysis of external challenges for Europe’s cohesion and capacity to act, Rethink: Europe hosted an informal scenario workshop in Warsaw on the future of European foreign policy in light of the shifting power balance in Asia
19 May
Strategy group on the future of the European Neighbourhood Policy
As the EU formally reviews its approach to its neighbourhood, Rethink: Europe convened a strategy group in Brussels on the future of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)
In the media
[EU enlargement policy] is a technocratic nightmare and not a political vision
In his latest op-ed, Piotr Buras dissects growing EU membership in the context of Ukraine, Moldovan and Georgian interests
Russia has considered itself to be in an intense security competition with the West for a very long time, but we ignored this reality
The EU must not reject their commitment to Europe