Cold comfort: What China can teach Europe about adaptation
Europe is learning to adapt to a hotter climate. It should take the same approach to economic dependencies: manage the consequences, but also change the conditions that created them
Commentaries
Power up: How EU-Africa cooperation can drive Europe’s battery recycling future
Europeans are making little progress in their efforts to source critical raw materials from recycling. They should establish stricter export controls, expand domestic recycling and refining capacity, and develop stronger EU-Africa partnerships to benefit both continents
Anti-corruption sanctions: Preparing for the time after Trump
Anti-corruption sanctions—and even the prospect of them—under the next US administration will be crucial to chances of peace in many parts of the world. Here’s how Europeans can play their part
Trust the numbers: Germans are open to a more hawkish China policy
ECFR polling suggests significant public support not only for tougher German policy on China but also for investment in renewables—tackling twin problems together
Hamas has agreed to disarm. Israel should now agree to peace
Despite all odds, there is now a realistic path towards ending the war in Gaza. Its success now depends on Israel. Europe could help tip the balance
NATO’s digital arsenal: How Europe can avoid a new dependence on America
AI-powered command systems are becoming the backbone of modern warfare. NATO needs shared standards, but if those rest on American software, interoperability will come at the price of dependence
Two of a kind: How France and Italy can show the way for Europe’s Africa policy
Rome and Paris have each overhauled their economic strategies towards Africa in the past few years, competing openly for influence on the continent. Here is how the EU can use that rivalry to sharpen Europe’s offer to Africa
The Saudi dilemma: How Yemen could shape the next phase of the Iran war
As the Houthis attack Saudi ships and infrastructure, Riyadh faces an increasingly difficult choice: absorb the blows to stay out of the Iran war or retaliate and risk a dangerous escalation
Shoring up the Red Sea: Why the next crisis may begin in the Horn of Africa
The Red Sea is becoming more dangerous, and not only because of the Houthis. Conflicts in the Horn of Africa are converging and drawing in external powers, creating new threats to a maritime corridor vital to global trade
ECFR’s summer entertainment list 2026
Whether you’re heading off on holiday or staying home this summer, ECFR’s entertainment recommendations—spanning books, podcasts and tv series—will help you reconnect with your internal and external wellbeing