The current truce in Yemen could lead to negotiations on a long-term ceasefire. But this would require greater concessions by the Houthis and sustained diplomatic engagement from regional powers such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran.
If Turkey and other countries begin deporting more Syrians back to Syria, Europe could experience a new wave of arrivals. European policymakers need to devise a more sustainable, longer-term approach to the issue.
This open letter has been signed by members of the European Leadership Network, board members of the International Crisis Group, and council members of the European Council on Foreign Relations
Iraq’s recent election upended the informal political agreement that had dominated its politics since 2003. European countries should press Iraqi leaders to break the current deadlock in parliament.
Tehran and Washington are close to a deal – but both sides need to give and take to achieve the wider benefits of a renewed Joint Comprehensive plan of Action (JCPOA)
Tunisia’s president seems unwilling to compromise with his political opponents. But the EU can help set limits on his behaviour through a combination of financial assistance and public statements.
The UAE’s embrace of Assad is central to the construction of a new regional order that preserves Emirati influence
Spain’s recent move has little to do with peace in Western Sahara and everything to do with its desire to mend ties with Morocco. But, ultimately, Spain has only made itself more vulnerable to Moroccan pressure.
Europe needs to prepare for a breakdown of multilateral cooperation with Russia. Yet, in doing so, it should be careful not to provide space for Moscow to justify unilateral action of its own.
In an unstable world, Western policymakers need a new approach to Iran. They should think beyond non-proliferation to account for the country’s attempts at strategic balancing.
Europeans need to deal with the Middle East as it is rather than as they want it to be, while staying focused on the principles needed to secure longer-term stability
Europeans should pay closer attention to rising tensions between Morocco and Algeria. A more balanced European approach to both countries could help stave off instability in north-west Africa and the Mediterranean.
Europeans can play a meaningful role in the reform of Libya’s security sector if they adopt a shared strategy and operational principles
If the EU is to achieve its climate and geopolitical goals, it will need to substantially increase its engagement with Gulf states on the European Green Deal
The Egyptian regime has become somewhat more open to discussing matters such as human rights than Western capitals sometimes assume
ECFR’s policy experts examine what the Taliban takeover means for countries and regions around the world: Europe, the US, the Middle East, Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, and the Sahel
Lebanon is home to key strategic interests for the EU, which does not want another failed state on the Mediterranean
The EU and its member states can assist Tunisian leaders by providing new investment – and thereby reboot the democratic transition
The UN should pursue a “free association” option for Western Sahara – a third way that offers a realistic means of fulfilling Sahrawi self-determination
An Iraq that has diverse regional relationships is more likely to be stable and secure, in line with European interests in the Middle East
The current truce in Yemen could lead to negotiations on a long-term ceasefire. But this would require greater concessions by the Houthis and sustained diplomatic engagement from regional powers such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran.
If Turkey and other countries begin deporting more Syrians back to Syria, Europe could experience a new wave of arrivals. European policymakers need to devise a more sustainable, longer-term approach to the issue.
This open letter has been signed by members of the European Leadership Network, board members of the International Crisis Group, and council members of the European Council on Foreign Relations
Iraq’s recent election upended the informal political agreement that had dominated its politics since 2003. European countries should press Iraqi leaders to break the current deadlock in parliament.
Tehran and Washington are close to a deal – but both sides need to give and take to achieve the wider benefits of a renewed Joint Comprehensive plan of Action (JCPOA)
Tunisia’s president seems unwilling to compromise with his political opponents. But the EU can help set limits on his behaviour through a combination of financial assistance and public statements.
The UAE’s embrace of Assad is central to the construction of a new regional order that preserves Emirati influence
Spain’s recent move has little to do with peace in Western Sahara and everything to do with its desire to mend ties with Morocco. But, ultimately, Spain has only made itself more vulnerable to Moroccan pressure.
Europe needs to prepare for a breakdown of multilateral cooperation with Russia. Yet, in doing so, it should be careful not to provide space for Moscow to justify unilateral action of its own.
In an unstable world, Western policymakers need a new approach to Iran. They should think beyond non-proliferation to account for the country’s attempts at strategic balancing.
The conversation around achieving peace and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa needs to become more inclusive and diverse, through an injection of fresh ideas and perspectives from regional voices
European states face accusations of neglecting the matter of human rights in their southern neighbourhood, and even of being complicit. Yet they are failing to maximise the influence they could bring to bear.
European governments need a deeper engagement strategy to draw these powerful actors into inclusive political processes and power-sharing structures that can help stabilise the region
The eastern Mediterranean is becoming ever more perilous as geopolitical fault lines steadily enmesh the region. These rifts emerge from the Cyprus ‘frozen conflict’, competition for valuable gas fields, and the increasingly entangled wars in Libya and Syria.
Turmoil in the Middle East and north Africa directly affects Europeans. Yet their influence in the region has never been weaker. This project maps Europe’s role across the Middle East and north Africa, making the case that Europeans can do more to leverage their influence in pursuit of core interests
ECFR’s Differentiation Tracker provides a snapshot of third state relations with Israel – and the extent to which these contain a clearly defined territorial definition that explicitly excludes Israeli settlements constructed on occupied territory in line with UNSCR 2334
Violence is tearing Mali and the Sahel apart. But who are the armed groups behind the bloodshed? Where are international actors stationed in the region? And what motivates them all?
An ECFR guide to the key disputes threatening to spark a wider Middle Eastern war
This interactive web project charts the constellation of political players as Palestinians approach a period of political change. Over 100 pen portraits reveal new insights into the personalities and power structures that will shape the future of Palestinian politics.
In Libya there are very few truly national actors, the vast majority are local players. This guide explains who the players are and what they control.
On location at the Doha Forum 2022, Mark Leonard and his guests discuss Western energy sanctions on Russia and why is there a reluctance in the Gulf states and the West to cooperate on energy supplies
Humanitarian crises in places like Afghanistan, Yemen or Ethiopia are not only a reflection of internal turmoil – but mirror a much grander development: system failure
What does the re-engagement of regional actors mean for the future of Syria? And what role can Europe play to create breathing space in the country?
Who is filling the vacuum which the US is increasingly leaving behind in the MENA region? How are regional actors reacting to US disengagement?
What does the end of Operation Barkhane in its current form mean for the Sahel?
Does the election of Raisi represent a significant change of direction following the term of President Rouhani?
What is the Western Sahara conflict is all about, and how will the most recent developments between Morocco and Spain influence this conflict?
Discussion about the political shifts from the March Israeli elections and dynamics surrounding the upcoming Palestinian elections
How can the EU prevent the Turkey-UAE rivalry from destabilising European security and foreign policy?
Mark Leonard and Jeremy Shapiro predict ten bright and bold policy projections for the year to come
How can Europeans more effectively advance their human rights agenda as part of, and while maintaining, their broader relationships with regional states?
The Youth Forum is part of the one-day conference “The future of popular mobilization in the Middle East and North Africa: Insights from 10 years of struggle” jointly organized by the Rome office of ECFR, Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale (CeSPI) and Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI)
This event will consider how women peace-builders in Yemen are providing essential gender-responsive humanitarian and peacemaking support
The EU’s lack of strategic sovereignty in the MENA region need not be permanent
Il recente insediamento dell’amministrazione Biden a Washington e il percepito disimpegno degli Stati Uniti nella regione offrono agli europei l’opportunità di contribuire ad allentare le tensioni tra gli Stati del Consiglio di Cooperazione del Golfo (CCG) e l’Iran
Proces oparty na porozumieniach z Oslo wyczerpał się, a szanse na realizację rozwiązania opartego na dwóch państwach są coraz mniejsze. Europie nie udaje się zmienić…
The EU’s High Representative, Josep Borrell, and Mark Leonard discussed why strategic autonomy matters
Zoom registration required, see link below. After President-elect Joe Biden’s victory at the US elections, the ECFR MENA team will host a fireside chat…
A conversation with Ibrahim Kalin to discuss Turkey’s assertive policy, prospects of dialogue, and implications for Turkish-European relations
Questo scacchiere richiede concrete decisioni da parte dei decisori politici europei e atlantici ed attenzione costante dei media
The fact that you have a democratic mechanism and the voter pool is seen to be representative of Palestinian dynamics — that’s why it matters
Hugh Lovatt said the Birzeit polls were perceived as a type of bellwether because the make-up of the student body was “seen as more representative of Palestinian society”
The UAE and other Gulf monarchies are re-evaluating relations with the US who, in their strong view, reneged on its end of the bargain: providing security
Cinzia Bianco weighs in on the latest updates between the US and the Gulf as disappointment with the Biden administration grows
Biden must seriously consider the costs of his passivity vis-a-vis Iran and find a way forward — or we may find ourselves in another conflict that no one asked for
ECFR Board Members Carl Bildt and Javier Solana remind that we should not forget about Iran and its expanding nuclear program
[An Iran deal] is going to receive major political blowback for any U.S. president.
Ellie Geranmayeh says the Biden administration’s reluctance to rescind the designation is largely a matter of politics, not policy
Relying on a variety of sources and multiple answers, not on a single renewable source (…). The key is diversification, also in terms of fossil fuels and providers.
Cinzia Bianco outlines the essential elements for achieving the European energy transition within the changed geopolitical and energy context