Violence in northern Kosovo: The United States’ failed bet on Serbia
Western sponsors of the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade are wrong to believe Serbia will work to make a success of diplomacy
Eastern Partnership
Escalating dependence: Russia’s nuclear plans for Belarus
Putin may be bluffing about the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. But if he follows through, the chance of a democratic transition for Belarus could all but vanish
Population-centric: Lessons from Russia’s hybrid war in Moldova
Russian political proxies are weaponising protests in Moldova, escalating Russia’s hybrid war in the country. Despite optimistic appearances, Moldovan authorities are ill-prepared to face this crisis.
Coming of age: How young diplomats see the future of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative
The EU should reform its Eastern Partnership initiative to better address the different needs and priorities of the partner countries
Broken Dream: The oligarch, Russia, and Georgia’s drift from Europe
Georgian government actions are hindering the country’s journey to the EU, yet the Georgian people are strongly pro-European. The EU should more tightly condition the support it provides
Cold winter: How the EU can help Moldova survive Russian pressure and protect its democracy
If Moldova can resist Russia’s weaponisation of gas and get through this winter, it should be able to make strong progress on its programme of reforms
Escape routes: How the EU can help Moldova end its dependence on Russian gas
Moldova’s total dependence on Russian gas makes it a key front in Moscow’s hybrid war. The EU should help Moldova diversify its energy supplies to prevent further destabilisation.
The next war: How Russian hybrid aggression could threaten Moldova
Russia could target Moldova by embarking on a limited-scope but overt military invasion – or by pursuing more covert hybrid aggression scenarios. Moldova and the EU need to embrace “active resilience” to address this.
Wilder Europe: Enlargement and a European political community
A European political community would help candidates for EU membership resist outside pressure and enact democratic and economic reforms
Enlarged and in charge: Why the EU needs a new approach to accession
The EU’s enlargement policy will only remain effective if it judiciously manages its relations with Western Balkans countries
Publications
Broken Dream: The oligarch, Russia, and Georgia’s drift from Europe
Georgian government actions are hindering the country’s journey to the EU, yet the Georgian people are strongly pro-European. The EU should more tightly condition the support it provides
Cold winter: How the EU can help Moldova survive Russian pressure and protect its democracy
If Moldova can resist Russia’s weaponisation of gas and get through this winter, it should be able to make strong progress on its programme of reforms
The next war: How Russian hybrid aggression could threaten Moldova
Russia could target Moldova by embarking on a limited-scope but overt military invasion – or by pursuing more covert hybrid aggression scenarios. Moldova and the EU need to embrace “active resilience” to address this.
Partnership for Enlargement: A new way to integrate Ukraine and the EU’s eastern neighbourhood
Russia’s war on Ukraine means the EU must devise a new approach to its neighbourhood. It should establish a Partnership for Enlargement that offers Ukraine and other states concrete steps towards deeper integration.
The secret battlefield: How the EU can help Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine protect against Russian subversion
The EU should offer Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine a new intelligence and security compact to help strengthen their security against Russia
The young and the restless: Europe, Russia, and the next generation of diplomats in the Eastern Partnership
Young diplomats in Eastern Partnership countries are optimistic and pro-European. Many of them want the EU to become a bolder geopolitical actor.
Promoting European strategic sovereignty in the eastern neighbourhood
The EU’s tendency to shy away from security issues has helped make covert operations and military threats Russia’s tools of choice in the region
Lessons from Belarus: How the EU can support clean elections in Moldova and Georgia
The EU should make use of its significant leverage in Georgia and Moldova to counter their ruling parties’ extensive repertoire of electoral dirty tricks
A problem shared: Russia and the transformation of Europe’s eastern neighbourhood
Failure to strengthen Eastern Partnership states could strengthen Russia and allow authoritarianism to diffuse westward into the EU
Zelensky unchained: What Ukraine’s new political order means for its future
Introduction Volodymyrska Hill, Kyiv, on a June evening in 2019. Kyivans and tourists stroll along the riverside park’s newly relaid paths, many wending their way…
Articles
Violence in northern Kosovo: The United States’ failed bet on Serbia
Western sponsors of the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade are wrong to believe Serbia will work to make a success of diplomacy
Escalating dependence: Russia’s nuclear plans for Belarus
Putin may be bluffing about the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. But if he follows through, the chance of a democratic transition for Belarus could all but vanish
Population-centric: Lessons from Russia’s hybrid war in Moldova
Russian political proxies are weaponising protests in Moldova, escalating Russia’s hybrid war in the country. Despite optimistic appearances, Moldovan authorities are ill-prepared to face this crisis.
Coming of age: How young diplomats see the future of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative
The EU should reform its Eastern Partnership initiative to better address the different needs and priorities of the partner countries
Escape routes: How the EU can help Moldova end its dependence on Russian gas
Moldova’s total dependence on Russian gas makes it a key front in Moscow’s hybrid war. The EU should help Moldova diversify its energy supplies to prevent further destabilisation.
Wilder Europe: Enlargement and a European political community
A European political community would help candidates for EU membership resist outside pressure and enact democratic and economic reforms
Enlarged and in charge: Why the EU needs a new approach to accession
The EU’s enlargement policy will only remain effective if it judiciously manages its relations with Western Balkans countries
Moldova next? How Europe should react to Russia’s implicit threat
Europeans should urgently increase Frontex assistance to Moldova, enhance intelligence cooperation, and consider positioning NATO units based in Romania closer to the country’s border
Echo of empire: Why Russia’s war on Ukraine troubles all post-Soviet countries
Russia’s war on Ukraine could have a heavy impact on other post-Soviet countries. Unless the EU helps these countries deal with the effects of the conflict, they could become increasingly dependent on the Kremlin.
Lost in the Dream: How the EU can end the political deadlock in Georgia
Georgia is caught in a vicious circle of polarisation and state capture. The EU should respond by explicitly linking support for the Georgian government to its implementation of concrete reforms and anticorruption initiatives.
Specials
Russia in the grey zones
What role does Russia play in the breakaway regions of Eastern Europe?
Life in the grey zones: Reports from Europe’s breakaway regions
Locked in a shadowy life between war and peace, “grey zones” now litter the map of Eastern Europe
Podcasts
Belarus’s brutal politics
What kind of implications do the developments in Belarus have for the wider neighbourhood and Europe?
Stranger in Moscow: Borrell’s unwelcome visit
What lessons can be drawn from Josep Borrell’s controversial visit to Moscow?
Reshuffling Russia’s leadership – old wines in new bottles?
It came as a surprise when Russia’s government resigned just hours after Putin’s announced his plans for a possible referendum of constitutional changes. Host Mark…
Europe’s Eastern Neighbourhood: Ukraine and Moldova
Standing in for regular host Mark Leonard, Anthony Dworkin, senior policy fellow at ECFR, looks at Europe's Eastern neighbourhood and interaction with Russia. He is…
Ukraine Under President Zelensky
Podcast de notre débat du 21 mai « Ukraine Under President Zelensky » en présence de Victor Andruziv, directeur de l’Ukrainian Institute for…
Crimea at five
Jeremy Shapiro is standing in for the regular host Mark Leonard and discusses the current situation in Crimea and relations between Russia and Ukraine with…
The Sea of Azov: The newest front in the war in Ukraine?
Mark Leonard speaks with Andrew Wilson, Kadri Liik and Nicu Popescu about the Kerch Strait ship capture, what this means and how the international community…
Is Peace in Sight in Donbas?
ECFR’s director Mark Leonard discusses peacekeeping in Ukraine and the EU's Russia policy with ECFR's Russia expert, Kadri Liik and ECFR's Ukraine expert Andrew Wilson
Trouble on the fringes: how to stabilise Europe’s neighbourhood
ECFR's director Mark Leonard discusses the challenges that Europe faces both in its Eastern and Southern neighbourhoods with Nicu Popescu and Florence Daub, two Senior…
Voices on Ukraine, voices of Ukraine: Sergei Pronkin
ECFR’s head of the Madrid office, Francisco de Borja Lasheras, speaks with Sergei Pronkin about why the Lenin monument in Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine was…
Events
12 May
An ambitious Eastern Partnership policy for a strong Europe
What policy changes do the EU and its member states need to envisage if the EU is to act more geopolitically and increase its influence in the Eastern neighbourhood?
4 Mar
Sanctions on Russia: Profits, Pitfalls and Prospects
Experts present a report on the effectiveness and downfalls of the sanctions that were imposed on Russia by the European Union and the United States in the aftermath of the illegal annexation of Crimea.
1 Oct
Gambit ukraiński: Nadzieje i zagrożenia prezydentury Zełenskiego
Zaproszenie na debatę publiczną na temat reform wewnętrznych na Ukrainie i jej relacjach z Unią Europejską
1 Oct
Ukraine’s great gamble: Hopes and pitfalls of Zelensky’s presidency
Invitation for the public debate on Ukrainian internal reforms and Kiev's relations with Europe
20 Jun
Moldova’s Political Crisis: What’s next?
Dicussion on Moldova's ongoing political crisis, the reasons behind the different actors involvement and the challenges the new government now faces
22 May
A religious war on the horizon?
Discussion about Russia-Ukraine relations after the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
21 May
Ukraine Under President Zelensky
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à un débat en présence de Victor Andruziv, Jana Kobzova et modéré par Nicu Popescu, sur le thème suivant : « Ukraine Under President Zelensky »
14 Mar
5 years from the annexation of Crimea: the balance sheet for Russia, Ukraine and Europe
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à un Black Coffee Morning en présence de Marie Dumoulin, d’Andrew Wilson et de Nicu Popescu
29 Jan
Ukraine 2027 – setting a new perspective?
5 years after the Maidan uprising we take a look at Ukraine's impressive progress. How can European partners uphold the momentum for reform and foster further EU integration of Ukraine?
15 Nov
Getting Out from In-Between
The European Council on Foreign Relations invites you to a discussion on the regional security order between Russia and the West
In the media
It’s a way of restoring the balance. […] The presence of the French President and of the German Chancellor is supposed to allow negotiations to proceed.
Marie Dumoulin on the new format of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the European Political Community summit
This project cannot be reduced to an act of opposition to Russia
Marie Dumoulin spoke on France Culture about expectations ahead of the second European Political Community summit in Chișinău
A reorientation of German foreign policy will not be possible without a stronger focus on Central and Eastern Europe
Piotr Buras analyses the effects of the Ukraine war on the balance of power in the EU, German-Polish relations – and world views that need to be revised
The Poles have a much more positive attitude toward their military than Germany because they had to fight for their freedom
For the chancellor, what he fears most is uncontrolled escalation and the Russian nuclear threat. Whereas in the Polish debate, the threat perception is different.
Jana Puglierin says that much of the German-Polish tension over Ukraine stems from a fundamental difference in perspective that is unlikely to change