Scorecard 2015: The Dutch remain pragmatic in an emotional year
The Netherlands got things done in 2014, but remained careful to protect their economy and relations with powerful allies
The Netherlands got things done in 2014, but remained careful to protect their economy and relations with powerful allies
Despite renewed leadership in some areas, Spain failed to engage fully on some of the defining foreign policy issues of 2014
France did not seem inclined to build coalitions on foreign policy in 2014, preferring to go it alone – which made it less effective as a foreign policy leader
ISDS measures could sink TTIP and their benefits are insufficient to warrant the risk – so free-traders should advocate dropping them from negotiations
Governmental upheaval limited Italy’s ability to lead on foreign policy, but it remained engaged in the southern neighbourhood and moved forward the debate on privacy and security.
In spite of the rising tide of anti-European rhetoric, the UK’s diplomats are still cooperating with Europe and driving foreign policy initiatives within the EU framework
As opposition to the TTIP increases, supporters increasingly fall back on the “strategic” case for the deal – no matter how flawed the logic is
Driven by a new sense of its own responsibility, Germany has stepped up to take the lead in European foreign policy
Germany became the leader of Europe’s foreign policy because of circumstance, not through its own design.
The Ukraine crisis pushed Poland to the forefront of EU diplomacy, but as Germany stepped up, Poland’s leadership was sidelined