Culture clash: Russia, Ukraine, and the fight for the European public
Russia’s war on Ukraine is a test of European values. The way European governments respond is critical for European sentiment, unity, and solidarity with Ukraine
European Power
Featured
Keeping the lights on: The EU’s energy relationships since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
The EU’s ‘friends in need’ have supported it through the energy crisis. The bloc must now balance buying more gas with helping supplier states develop clean energy
Cards on the table: Why the EU should negotiate Trump’s tariffs in three phases
Trump’s tariff suspension gives the EU space to create clear negotiating terms, covering not only the next 90 days but also the next 90 weeks and 90 months. Only by establishing firm mid- and long-term targets can Europe hope to make the right calls in the short term
Early warning sign: This week’s energy summit presages a difficult COP30
With the US and China disengaged from climate diplomacy, Europeans must step forward to fill the gap
Pendulum policy: Why Meloni keeps swinging between Brussels and Washington
Giorgia Meloni is walking a diplomatic tightrope between Brussels and a resurgent, Trump-led Washington. Her White House visit reveals a prime minister striving to keep doors open on both sides of the Atlantic—while navigating domestic pressure, transatlantic trade friction and ideological fault lines within the EU
Europe after the end of the liberal international order
As Europeans rearm to confront Russian aggression, they also need to figure out how to survive in the age of “unpeace” that Donald Trump and other strongmen are ushering in. The old interdependencies that liberals took for granted no longer ensure peace, prosperity or stability
No time to drift: Trump, China, and the urgency of a stronger EU-Japan alignment
With an unpredictable US and a defiant China, the EU and Japan must deepen their alignment—fast. Strategic cooperation in defence, economic security and diplomacy is no longer optional; it’s essential to shaping, not just surviving, the new global order
Back to the future: How the EU can upgrade its AI Continent Action Plan
Europe has launched its bid to be a global leader in artificial intelligence. But the EU will need a more ambitious AI Continent Action Plan to catch up to its tech rivals
Shallow seas and “shadow fleets”: Europe’s undersea infrastructure is dangerously vulnerable
Moscow’s latest disruptive measures against Europe involve targeting cables traversing the Baltic Sea. The EU needs to bolster its deterrence posture and secure its infrastructure against such sabotage
Why Europe’s withdrawal from humanitarian disarmament treaties could be a win for Russia
Several EU countries are withdrawing from, or considering withdrawing from, humanitarian disarmament treaties. While Europe must urgently strengthen its defence capabilities, it should not lose its foreign policy identity to Russia in the process
Discretion or disruption: The RN cannot remain so ambivalent about its foreign policy path
Marine Le Pen’s conviction for embezzlement has thrust France’s National Rally into the spotlight. But beyond the party’s internal upheaval, the judgment has entirely disrupted RN’s strategy of discretion on international policy positions
Taiwan’s balancing act: Keeping the US in, China out, and domestic technology superior
Amid the global political turmoil, Taipei is aiming to keep Washington onside. But the arrival of the second Trump administration presents a parallel opportunity for Europe and Taiwan to deepen their cooperation in areas of mutual interest
Publications
Strength in members: How to rally EU enlargement for defence
The EU’s accession process ignores defence while NATO cannot cover all the candidates. Tailored defence cooperation roadmaps offer a promising path to protect Europe’s periphery without NATO membership
Brussels hold’em: European cards against Trumpian coercion
Faced with an aggressive United States, Europe has more leverage than it realises. Across trade, technology, infrastructure, finance and people-to-people relations it has ways of retaliating
No brain, no brawn: Trump 2.0 makes an EU Economic Security Network essential
The EU lacks cohesive governance to deploy economic statecraft tools, such as sanctions and export controls, undermining their impact and the bloc’s global credibility. The creation of an EU network focused on the design and implementation of these tools could help fix this
Transatlantic twilight: European public opinion and the long shadow of Trump
A new ECFR poll points to Europeans’ widespread (but not universal) reassessment of the transatlantic relationship, and extensive opportunities for the new US president to divide them if they do not work together
Alone in a Trumpian world: The EU and global public opinion after the US elections
Citizens of global powers are upbeat about a second Trump presidency – but this is by no means universal, particularly among traditional US allies
Empowering Poland: The role of international partnerships
To effectively transition to a low-carbon economy while bolstering energy security and economic stability, Poland is betting on cooperation with international partners
The cross-Channel reset: Trump, Putin, and shifting EU-UK opinion
Voters in both the UK and major EU states are open to compromise. Leaders on both sides of the Channel should use this political space for an ambitious reset
Brazil: Europe’s bridge to the global south
Brazil and Europe share many similarities: both seek autonomy amid escalating US-China tensions – while championing multilateralism and navigating democratic pressures for a values-based foreign policy. However, their potential for collaboration remains largely untapped
Better firefighting: Readying Europe for an age between war and peace
Facing wars and crises, the EU can no longer rely on slow peacetime processes. It needs a plan for faster industrial and infrastructural adaptation
Control-Alt-Deliver: A digital grand strategy for the European Union
The EU is falling behind the US and China in the digital realm. It urgently needs a new agenda combining innovation, security, and influence for an age of geopoliticised technology
Articles
Cards on the table: Why the EU should negotiate Trump’s tariffs in three phases
Trump’s tariff suspension gives the EU space to create clear negotiating terms, covering not only the next 90 days but also the next 90 weeks and 90 months. Only by establishing firm mid- and long-term targets can Europe hope to make the right calls in the short term
Early warning sign: This week’s energy summit presages a difficult COP30
With the US and China disengaged from climate diplomacy, Europeans must step forward to fill the gap
Pendulum policy: Why Meloni keeps swinging between Brussels and Washington
Giorgia Meloni is walking a diplomatic tightrope between Brussels and a resurgent, Trump-led Washington. Her White House visit reveals a prime minister striving to keep doors open on both sides of the Atlantic—while navigating domestic pressure, transatlantic trade friction and ideological fault lines within the EU
Europe after the end of the liberal international order
As Europeans rearm to confront Russian aggression, they also need to figure out how to survive in the age of “unpeace” that Donald Trump and other strongmen are ushering in. The old interdependencies that liberals took for granted no longer ensure peace, prosperity or stability
No time to drift: Trump, China, and the urgency of a stronger EU-Japan alignment
With an unpredictable US and a defiant China, the EU and Japan must deepen their alignment—fast. Strategic cooperation in defence, economic security and diplomacy is no longer optional; it’s essential to shaping, not just surviving, the new global order
Back to the future: How the EU can upgrade its AI Continent Action Plan
Europe has launched its bid to be a global leader in artificial intelligence. But the EU will need a more ambitious AI Continent Action Plan to catch up to its tech rivals
Shallow seas and “shadow fleets”: Europe’s undersea infrastructure is dangerously vulnerable
Moscow’s latest disruptive measures against Europe involve targeting cables traversing the Baltic Sea. The EU needs to bolster its deterrence posture and secure its infrastructure against such sabotage
Why Europe’s withdrawal from humanitarian disarmament treaties could be a win for Russia
Several EU countries are withdrawing from, or considering withdrawing from, humanitarian disarmament treaties. While Europe must urgently strengthen its defence capabilities, it should not lose its foreign policy identity to Russia in the process
Discretion or disruption: The RN cannot remain so ambivalent about its foreign policy path
Marine Le Pen’s conviction for embezzlement has thrust France’s National Rally into the spotlight. But beyond the party’s internal upheaval, the judgment has entirely disrupted RN’s strategy of discretion on international policy positions
Taiwan’s balancing act: Keeping the US in, China out, and domestic technology superior
Amid the global political turmoil, Taipei is aiming to keep Washington onside. But the arrival of the second Trump administration presents a parallel opportunity for Europe and Taiwan to deepen their cooperation in areas of mutual interest
Specials
Energy Sovereignty Index: Gains, gaps, and the road ahead
ECFR’s 2024 Energy Sovereignty Index shows both progress and persistent pitfalls on the EU’s path to energy independence, efficiency, and cleanness. While gains in renewable energy and efficiency are notable, the bloc’s heavy reliance on energy imports is a critical vulnerability
Multilateral Matchmaker
Multilateral coalitions are increasingly important for combatting global challenges. Europeans have many eligible – and untapped – potential partner countries, but to stand out they need to ensure their offer is as grounded in these partners’ interests as their own
Energy Sovereignty Index
ECFR presents an innovative new way to assess the energy sovereignty of EU member states in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
EU Energy Deals Tracker
The energy deals the EU and its member states are now making with third countries will shape Europeans’ ability to protect their energy security in the long term. The EU Energy Deals Tracker provides a comprehensive overview of these agreements, including their implications for the sustainable transition
European Sovereignty Index
The EU can overcome the new challenges it faces and can shape the global order. To achieve this, Europeans will need to improve their joint capacity to act
The European Sentiment Compass 2022
In the wake of pandemic and war, the Sentiment Compass assesses the changing expectations of the EU across its member states. It finds that EU should harness the power of culture and the free media to nurture a stronger European sentiment – helping it to address the major challenges facing the continent
The Power Atlas
Power is now defined by control over flows of people, goods, money, and data, and via the connections they establish. Only states that see the new map of geopolitical power clearly will be able to control the modern world
EU Cohesion Monitor
European cohesion is bouncing back after crisis years. The EU Cohesion Monitor presents new insights on cohesion as an underestimated source of strength and collective action in the EU
EU Coalition Explorer
The Coalition Explorer illustrates the expert opinions of more than 800 respondents who work on European policy and creates a visual understanding of the views held by Europe’s professional political class
European Solidarity Tracker
The European Solidarity Tracker collects and displays instances of pan-European solidarity throughout the coronavirus crisis
Podcasts
Tariffs, tensions, and trade: Trump’s gamble on China
Mark Leonard welcomes Agathe Demarais and Janka Oertel to examine the diverse perspectives on US-China relations and how Europe can navigate this changing geopolitical landscape
From Brexit to breakthrough? The future of EU-UK cooperation
Mark Leonard welcomes Mujtaba Rahman to unpack the evolving EU-UK relationship and explore what’s at stake for security, trade, and Europe’s future
Porcupine play: How Taiwan defends its democracy
Mark Leonard welcomes Camille Grand and Janka Oertel to unpack Taiwan’s strategic calculus amid rising global tensions, and Europe’s role in the Indo-Pacific
Trump’s tariff bombshell: Rewriting the rules of global trade
Mark Leonard welcomes Agathe Demarais to unpack Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs and their seismic impact on the global economy
Le Pen’s fall: Europe’s far-right faces a reckoning
Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin to unpack what the conviction of Marine Le Pen means for French politics and European democracy
Europe vs. Trump: Deterrence or escalation?
Mark Leonard welcomes Tobias Gehrke and José Ignacio Torreblanca to explore Europe’s leverage against Donald Trump’s economic and technological coercion
Trump’s shadow: Reshaping politics and policy across Europe
Mark Leonard welcomes ECFR experts to unpack how Donald Trump’s presidency is reshaping Europe’s domestic politics and foreign policy
Nuclear rhetoric: Merz, Tusk and the future of deterrence
Mark Leonard welcomes Piotr Buras to unpack a weekend of geopolitical developments and controversies on Europe’s defence and nuclear dependence on the US
ECFR’s Emergency Room: What America’s aid pause means for Ukraine and Europe
Mark Leonard welcomes Nicu Popescu, an ECFR distinguished policy fellow leading our work on the European security initiative, to discuss America’s decision to pause aid shipments to Ukraine—and how European countries are trying to turn this around
German elections: Impact and implications for Europe
Mark Leonard welcomes Searching for Deutschland co-hosts Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin, and ECFR colleagues Piotr Buras and Marie Dumoulin, to discuss the impact of Germany’s federal election on the country and beyond
Events
11 Jun
Die USA am Scheideweg: Zwischen globaler Führung und nationaler Abschottung
Die transatlantischen Beziehungen, lange Zeit ein stabiles Fundament gemeinsamer Werte und Sicherheit, sind ins Wanken geraten. Spätestens seit der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz zeigt sich: Das Bild…
4 Jun
Das Imperium schlägt zurück? Russlands Großmachtansprüche und mitteleuropäische Bedrohungswahrnehmungen
Der Zerfall der Sowjetunion im Jahr 1991 nährte die Hoffnung auf eine friedlichere europäische Ordnung. Doch diese Hoffnung erwies sich als trügerisch. Unter Wladimir Putin…
21 May
China im Fokus – Partner, Rivale, Bedrohung?
Die Beziehungen zur Volksrepublik China prägen maßgeblich die Außenpolitik der EU. Trotz strategischer Kooperationsansätze und Chinas Rolle als wichtigster Handelspartner der EU bestehen erhebliche Ungleichgewichte…
6 May
Europa auf sich gestellt? Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik in Umbruchszeiten
Die europäische Sicherheitspolitik befindet sich in einem fundamentalen Wandel. Die transatlantische Partnerschaft, einst Eckpfeiler europäischer Sicherheit, gerät durch eine veränderte US-amerikanische Außenpolitik zunehmend unter Druck
6 May
No brain, no brawn: How Trump 2.0 makes an EU Economic Security Network essential
The EU lacks cohesive governance to deploy economic statecraft tools, such as sanctions and export controls, undermining their impact and the bloc’s global credibility. In…
14 Apr
Transatlantic Forum, 8th Edition – La competizione USA-Cina per la sicurezza tecnologica
Questa edizione del Transatlantic Forum vedrà il contributo di voci dal mondo accademico, dei think tank e del settore strategico, per discutere delle tensioni tra…
2 Apr
Tech Summit, 4th Edition – EU Tech Power and Diplomacy: Searching for Political Consensus
The 2025 Tech Summit will explore the upcoming challenges and the necessary actions for the EU to bolster its technological sovereignty while enhancing its competitive…
28 Mar
Il Circolo dell’ECFR – L’Europa in scena: attore non protagonista del nuovo scenario internazionale?
Questa edizione de Il Circolo dell’ECFR sarà focalizzata sulla risposta dell’Europa alla seconda presidenza Trump. Le tensioni tra gli Stati Uniti di Donald Trump e…
18 Mar
Riders on the storm: Trump, Europe and the future of Ukraine
Il dinner, in forma riservata e organizzato con il gentile sostegno della Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, avrà luogo in inglese (no traduzione simultanea), secondo…
14 Mar
Warsaw European Conversation
Polityka Insight and ECFR invite you to join us for the livestream of this year’s Warsaw European Conversation. At Polityka Insight and ECFR, we believe there is…
In the media
Meloni acts as a bridge between the European Commission and the US, seeking to reintroduce Von der Leyen’s zero-tariff also to protect the Italian economy, harhly hit by the tariffs
The truth is that the American market will become even more complex for European players. Therefore, securing alternatives and multiple options will facilitate European trade
These two meetings have been important. Meloni wants to maintain strong ties with Brussels, but also invest in closer relations with Washington
Arturo Varvelli on Giorgia Meloni’s visit to the White House and J.D. Vance’s visit to Rome
It was a completely different meeting than the one with Zelensky, and also, all things considered, than the one with Macron. Meloni proposed herself as a bridge between the shores of the Atlantic
Arturo Varvelli on Giorgia Meloni’s meetings with Trump at the White House and J.D. Vance in Rome