Economics front and centre: Why the US-EU summit matters
The upcoming US-EU summit highlights a sharp improvement in transatlantic relations. It could bring meaningful progress for the EU in three economic areas
Geoeconomics
What the EU list of critical technologies tells us about its de-risking plans
The recently unveiled EU list of critical technologies highlights the difficulties of de-risking for the bloc. To avoid seeing the process stall, the EU must get the private sector on board, admit that European tech supply chains are still distant, and acknowledge that de-risking is all about China
De-risking in action: How the EU can build on its critical technology list
The EU’s critical technology list signals a shift in economic security thinking, but it is just one piece of the puzzle
15 Sep
30 Años de Mercado Único: Una mirada hacia el futuro
El Consejo Europeo de Relaciones Exteriores (ECFR) tuvo el placer de organizar un debate público que tuvo lugar el 15 de septiembre (09:30 – 14:30h)…
Indispensable leverage: How the EU can build its technological edge
Technology is at the heart of today’s great power struggle. To stand its ground, the EU should not only de-risk its trade ties, but advance its technological edge to build geo-economic leverage
15 Sep
30 years of the Single Market: A look into the future
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) was pleased to invite you to the public debate that took place on September 15 (09:30 – 14:30h)…
20 Sep
Taking stock and the way ahead: Realising the EU-Namibia Partnership
In November 2022 at COP 27 the European Union and Namibia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic partnership to develop raw materials…
22 Jun
Global Gateway Africa: il piano di investimenti europeo per il continente
L’incontro, organizzato dal mensile Africa e Affari, da Confindustria Assafrica e Mediterraneo e da ECFR con il sostegno di Lufthansa Group e di Assolombarda, ha l’obiettivo di analizzare le ragioni politiche dietro il Global Gateway
Rules of the road for the EU’s secondary sanctions
With its 11th sanctions package, the EU will enter the realm of secondary sanctions. It needs to set some ground rules for their use
Multilateral internet: Unplugged and somewhat slightly dazed
To prevent the worldwide web from splintering into regional nets, the EU should safeguard the principles of the current internet governance model while becoming more open to inclusive reform
Publications
The power of control: How the EU can shape the new era of strategic export restrictions
Amid the US-China strategic competition, the EU must develop a new strategic technology doctrine and upgrade its export control policy
Tough trade: The hidden costs of economic coercion
The EU needs to develop an Anti-Coercion Instrument that acts as a powerful economic deterrent, but this alone will not sufficiently protect Europe against economic coercion
Geo-tech politics: Why technology shapes European power
New technologies are a significant force shaping international relations. If the EU wants to be more than a mediator between the US and China, it will need to change its mindset.
Defending Europe’s Economic Sovereignty: new ways to resist economic coercion
The EU should move quickly to consider and adopt a suite of tools to protect and enhance European sovereignty in the geo-economic sphere
The Trump opportunity: Chinese perceptions of the US administration
Four views from our authors on Chinese and Taiwanese views of the roots of Trump’s strategy and trade policy, and Chinese blind spots
Connectivity Wars
Why migration, finance and trade are the geo-economic battlegrounds of the future
A Fresh Start for TTIP
Given public opposition, the EU should make a fresh start in winning support for TTIP
Articles
Economics front and centre: Why the US-EU summit matters
The upcoming US-EU summit highlights a sharp improvement in transatlantic relations. It could bring meaningful progress for the EU in three economic areas
What the EU list of critical technologies tells us about its de-risking plans
The recently unveiled EU list of critical technologies highlights the difficulties of de-risking for the bloc. To avoid seeing the process stall, the EU must get the private sector on board, admit that European tech supply chains are still distant, and acknowledge that de-risking is all about China
De-risking in action: How the EU can build on its critical technology list
The EU’s critical technology list signals a shift in economic security thinking, but it is just one piece of the puzzle
Indispensable leverage: How the EU can build its technological edge
Technology is at the heart of today’s great power struggle. To stand its ground, the EU should not only de-risk its trade ties, but advance its technological edge to build geo-economic leverage
Rules of the road for the EU’s secondary sanctions
With its 11th sanctions package, the EU will enter the realm of secondary sanctions. It needs to set some ground rules for their use
Multilateral internet: Unplugged and somewhat slightly dazed
To prevent the worldwide web from splintering into regional nets, the EU should safeguard the principles of the current internet governance model while becoming more open to inclusive reform
Damage done: Ways to measure European sanctions’ success against Russia
The EU and its member states are applying tools of economic statecraft. Now is the time for a full assessment of how well they have worked
Economic peacefare: Lessons for the future of European sanctions strategy
An effective sanctions campaign in wartime needs to be linked to a strategic industrial policy and technology control agenda in peacetime
Strategy and risk: How to make the Green Deal Industrial Plan a geoeconomic success
‘De-risking’ could ensure the EU’s new strategic industrial policy addresses some of the major global challenges facing the bloc
Caught in the crossfire: Why EU states should discuss strategic export controls
The latest US export controls on semiconductor technologies traded with China mark the beginning of a new era for global technology trade. European states need to urgently discuss strategic export controls in order to participate in it.
Podcasts
The crisis of democratic capitalism with Martin Wolf
Mark Leonard welcomes Martin Wolf to discuss his latest book “The crisis of democratic capitalism”
Agathe Demarais on sanctions as a foreign policy tool
Mark Leonard talks with Agathe Demarais about how sanctions work and how they can be truly effective
Davos world: Alexander Stubb and Mark Leonard live from the WEF
Mark Leonard and Alexander Stubb give us their take on this year’s World Economic Forum
Rethinking global interdependence – Live from the European Forum Alpbach
Mark Leonard, Carl Bildt, Karoline Edtstadler, and Thomas Wieser discuss the future of globalisation and the role of a geopolitical Europe in front of a live audience
The Age of Unpeace: Therapy for internationalists | Session 3 with Dan Drezner
Join us on this journey to a more therapeutic approach to international relations. The mini-series brings you five special episodes with guests including today’s Dan Drezner, Marietje Schaake, and Anne Marie Slaughter.
Jamil Anderlini: Inside scoop on POLITICO Europe
Mark Leonard talks to POLITICO Europe’s Editor-in-Chief Jamil Anderlini to discuss China, and Anderlini’s plans for POLITICO
Lead time: How Germany should move on from Merkel | Episode 3 – Economic Coercion
How can the next German government build up Europe’s strength against economic coercion?
The strike back against economic blackmail
In what circumstances should an Anti-Coercion Tool be triggered? What kind of countermeasures could protect Europe, keep markets open and support a functional global trade order?
How can the EU strike back? The way towards higher economic resilience
European countries are increasingly coming under threat of economic coercion from great powers, as outlined in the latest ECFR’s policy brief. But what do we…
Events
20 Sep
Taking stock and the way ahead: Realising the EU-Namibia Partnership
In November 2022 at COP 27 the European Union and Namibia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic partnership to develop raw materials…
15 Sep
30 years of the Single Market: A look into the future
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) was pleased to invite you to the public debate that took place on September 15 (09:30 – 14:30h)…
15 Sep
30 Años de Mercado Único: Una mirada hacia el futuro
El Consejo Europeo de Relaciones Exteriores (ECFR) tuvo el placer de organizar un debate público que tuvo lugar el 15 de septiembre (09:30 – 14:30h)…
22 Jun
Global Gateway Africa: il piano di investimenti europeo per il continente
L’incontro, organizzato dal mensile Africa e Affari, da Confindustria Assafrica e Mediterraneo e da ECFR con il sostegno di Lufthansa Group e di Assolombarda, ha l’obiettivo di analizzare le ragioni politiche dietro il Global Gateway
27 Jun
Balance of interests: keeping decarbonisation on course through the energy crisis
How can member states co-operate concretely to build European energy and climate sovereignty? What role for the new French government and other member states? And what is the role of the financial development institutions such as the EIB?
29 Mar
The birth of geopolitical Europe: In conversation with Josep Borrell
With the EU’s High Representative as our honoured guest, the panel will explore the birth of a geopolitical Europe and the new dimensions of European power with a focus on the tech, economic, and security terrains
21 Feb
Can Europe stand up to Chinese and Russian economic coercion?
The European Council on Foreign Relations in the context of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU is delighted to invite you to a debate on the principles that should guide Europe’s quest for economic sovereignty
17 Feb
Europe Debates | Should Lithuania expect more European solidarity vis-à-vis China?
This Oxford-style debate is part of ECFR’s Re:shape Global Europe project supported by Stiftung Mercator
17 Dec
Europe’s answer to economic warfare: The EU’s anti-coercion instrument and building sovereignty in a networked world
Join ECFR in this two-part event on the EU’s potentially game-changing geopolitical instrument against economic blackmail from great powers, and the principles that should guide Europe’s quest for economic sovereignty
2 Dec
Chinese and Russian economic pressure games – what policy for Sweden and Europe?
How should Sweden and Europe adapt to the rise of geo-economics, keeping their markets open but minimizing their vulnerabilities?
In the media
For Italy, for long a middle power working as a bridge in the Wider Mediterranean, this is about retrieving that connecting capability and use it towards the Global South
In light of ECFR’s new polling, Arturo Varvelli assesses the role Italy can play in the Global South
Sanctions fill the gap between diplomatic declarations and military interventions, which are particularly costly in humanitarian and financial terms
Agathe Demarais on the use of trade as a tool of foreign policy, as well as on the deployment of sanctions and their possible effects on global markets
The Biden-Xi Summit in San Francisco doesn’t evoke the birth of a new G-2, yet it shows that the two biggest rivals in the world of today are trying to contain risks and manage their competition
U.S. calls that China clamp down on the export of high-tech goods to Russia are wishful thinking and the American side should probably not spend too much time on making such demands