The green great game: Crafting an EU-Central Asia energy alliance
With the difficult post-Soviet years behind it, Central Asia is becoming more integrated and actively seeking partnerships beyond Russia and China
European Power
The European Power programme is focused on helping Europeans develop sustainable policy solutions to the issues affecting the European Union’s capacity to act with unity on the global scene. This includes analysing the path forward for the energy transition, economic and tech policy, as well as Europe’s political landscape and participation in multilateral structures.
Featured
Get over your X: A European plan to escape American technology
Foreign technology companies cannot be entrusted with meeting Europe’s growing digital needs. This includes American big tech firms. Here’s what Europeans should do
Middle power dreaming: The geopolitics of Angola’s emergence
Angola is increasingly active in the world. Here is how Europeans can cooperate with this rising middle power
The green great game: Crafting an EU-Central Asia energy alliance
With the difficult post-Soviet years behind it, Central Asia is becoming more integrated and actively seeking partnerships beyond Russia and China
European Power
Think7 handover ceremony from Canada to France
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and the Paris-based Institute of Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) will co-chair the Think7 (T7) in 2026. The T7 is the official engagement group of the G7 for global think tanks and research centres. It aims at building a bridge between research and policymaking in a bid…
Global aid after Trump’s exit: How Europe can lead reform and head off Russia and China
President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the US from international organisations presents an opportunity to Europe to lead on global aid reform
The world in 2026
Mark Leonard welcomes Julien Barnes-Dacey, Jana Kobzová, Andrew Small and Alex Vines to discuss upcoming political changes in 2026
Why Europeans should DARE* to make New Year’s resolutions
As 2026 begins with a bang, Europeans are well-advised to reframe de-risking as re-engagement, unleash the single energy market and focus on electrification
15
Jan
European Power
The World in 2026: Global Public Opinion One Year into the Second Trump Presidency
How do publics around the world view geopolitics one year into the second Trump presidency? ECFR’s 2024 polling revealed that many middle-power societies welcomed Trump’s return to the White House. Yet twelve months on, perceptions of power, polarity, and alignment have shifted towards a multipolar, post-Western world. On the day of the launch of ECFR’s fourth Global Public Opinion Survey, this webinar will reveal how publics across 21 countries including China, India, Turkey, Russia, the…
16
Jan
RSVP
European Power
Europe Debates | Russia won’t attack NATO
Russia’s hybrid warfare targeting NATO states has intensified since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Attacks on digital and energy infrastructure as well as drone incursions into NATO airspace occur almost daily now and put the alliance on alert about the potential of Russian aggression in the not-too-distant future. Between US president Trump raising…
Seven things to know about the EU’s €90bn loan to Ukraine
Ukraine receives a vital lifeline, but it is not coming from immobilised Russian reserves
Why Trump’s National Security Strategy is a geoeconomic trap for Europe
Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy reinforces US-led geoeconomic competition and castigates Europe’s cultural and economic decline. Europeans must strengthen their unity, competitiveness and defence capacity on their own terms
Invest in electric: Why Germany’s combustion engine win risks EU industrial loss
German opposition to the EU’s target to ban combustion engines by 2035 risks locking in emissions and ceding the EV market to China. The bloc needs to convince its member states that investment in electric is worthwhile
Publications
The green great game: Crafting an EU-Central Asia energy alliance
With the difficult post-Soviet years behind it, Central Asia is becoming more integrated and actively seeking partnerships beyond Russia and China
Get over your X: A European plan to escape American technology
Foreign technology companies cannot be entrusted with meeting Europe’s growing digital needs. This includes American big tech firms. Here’s what Europeans should do
Middle power dreaming: The geopolitics of Angola’s emergence
Angola is increasingly active in the world. Here is how Europeans can cooperate with this rising middle power
It’s not easy being green: Breaking Europe’s climate spending deadlock
The EU’s next budget will shape its future. Member states must strike a grand bargain to decarbonise Europe and, by extension, drive EU security and competitiveness
Reality show: Why Europe must not cave in Trump’s culture war
In today’s transatlantic relationship, Europe’s every concession on policy plays into Trump’s culture war—feeding an image of European weakness
Ride the wave: A big, beautiful European strategy for Trumponomics
The US president is throwing the EU lots of economic curveballs. Brussels should not be distracted by these; instead, it should double down on adopting measures that will benefit the bloc long after Donald Trump leaves the White House
Pivot to Europe: India’s back-up plan in Trump’s world
Tensions with Trump will prompt India to seek rapprochement with Beijing, but the underlying competitive dynamics in China-India relations are unlikely to change. Against this backdrop, Europe offers a promising alternative to balance risks
The power of partnerships: European climate leadership with less America
In a Trumpian world, Europeans must drive climate action through stronger climate partnerships with countries across the globe. Here’s how they can act
Trump’s European revolution
A major new ECFR poll shows how, six months in, the US president is reshaping European politics and the continent’s geopolitical identity
Preventing the next war: A European plan for Ukraine
Together with the Ukrainians, Europeans should begin—now—to draw up a “beyond the horizon” plan for Ukraine in readiness for a ceasefire or even a peace deal
Articles
Global aid after Trump’s exit: How Europe can lead reform and head off Russia and China
President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the US from international organisations presents an opportunity to Europe to lead on global aid reform
Why Europeans should DARE* to make New Year’s resolutions
As 2026 begins with a bang, Europeans are well-advised to reframe de-risking as re-engagement, unleash the single energy market and focus on electrification
Seven things to know about the EU’s €90bn loan to Ukraine
Ukraine receives a vital lifeline, but it is not coming from immobilised Russian reserves
Why Trump’s National Security Strategy is a geoeconomic trap for Europe
Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy reinforces US-led geoeconomic competition and castigates Europe’s cultural and economic decline. Europeans must strengthen their unity, competitiveness and defence capacity on their own terms
Invest in electric: Why Germany’s combustion engine win risks EU industrial loss
German opposition to the EU’s target to ban combustion engines by 2035 risks locking in emissions and ceding the EV market to China. The bloc needs to convince its member states that investment in electric is worthwhile
On Sofia’s streets: How protests are highlighting an Orbanist turn in Bulgaria
Bulgarians have turned out in their thousands to protest against the government. The EU needs to address the country’s democratic backsliding and avoid it becoming part of Viktor Orban’s camp
The prodigal power: How Poland could make a diplomatic comeback
Once Europe’s Ukraine champion, Poland now grapples with diplomatic sidelining, stemming from domestic infighting and war fatigue. However, the premier’s recovering popularity hints at a comeback
Europeans can’t let Trump define what it means to be European
The US National Security Strategy 2025 is little more than a guide to Trump’s culture war with Europe. EU member states and institutions, and its political parties and populations, need to resist America’s pernicious influence
A brighter future: Why upgrading the grid is vital for Europe’s competitiveness
Europe’s climate goals, industrial plans and geopolitical ambitions are outpacing its electricity infrastructure. If upgrades do not speed up, the grid will become the main barrier to Europe’s success
Understanding the EU’s new economic security playbook
The EU’s new economic security communication is a step in the right direction. If Europe wants to be a geoeconomic actor instead of a mere geoeconomic battleground, it must evolve from being a risk manager and become a power broker
Specials
Energy Sovereignty Index: Gains, gaps, and the road ahead
ECFR’s 2024 Energy Sovereignty Index shows both progress and persistent pitfalls on the EU’s path to energy independence, efficiency, and cleanness. While gains in renewable energy and efficiency are notable, the bloc’s heavy reliance on energy imports is a critical vulnerability
Multilateral Matchmaker
Multilateral coalitions are increasingly important for combatting global challenges. Europeans have many eligible – and untapped – potential partner countries, but to stand out they need to ensure their offer is as grounded in these partners’ interests as their own
Energy Sovereignty Index
ECFR presents an innovative new way to assess the energy sovereignty of EU member states in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
EU Energy Deals Tracker
The energy deals the EU and its member states are now making with third countries will shape Europeans’ ability to protect their energy security in the long term. The EU Energy Deals Tracker provides a comprehensive overview of these agreements, including their implications for the sustainable transition
European Sovereignty Index
The EU can overcome the new challenges it faces and can shape the global order. To achieve this, Europeans will need to improve their joint capacity to act
The European Sentiment Compass 2022
In the wake of pandemic and war, the Sentiment Compass assesses the changing expectations of the EU across its member states. It finds that EU should harness the power of culture and the free media to nurture a stronger European sentiment – helping it to address the major challenges facing the continent
The Power Atlas
Power is now defined by control over flows of people, goods, money, and data, and via the connections they establish. Only states that see the new map of geopolitical power clearly will be able to control the modern world
EU Cohesion Monitor
European cohesion is bouncing back after crisis years. The EU Cohesion Monitor presents new insights on cohesion as an underestimated source of strength and collective action in the EU
EU Coalition Explorer
The Coalition Explorer illustrates the expert opinions of more than 800 respondents who work on European policy and creates a visual understanding of the views held by Europe’s professional political class
European Solidarity Tracker
The European Solidarity Tracker collects and displays instances of pan-European solidarity throughout the coronavirus crisis
Podcasts
The world in 2026
Mark Leonard welcomes Julien Barnes-Dacey, Jana Kobzová, Andrew Small and Alex Vines to discuss upcoming political changes in 2026
Trump’s new National Security Strategy
Mark Leonard welcomes Gladden Pappin and Majda Ruge to explore what America’s new National Security Strategy means for Europe
ECFR at 18: Has European foreign policy come of age?
Mark Leonard brings together Carl Bildt, Lykke Friis, and Norbert Röttgen to to unpack how Europe has changed since 2007, when ECFR was founded, and what challenges lie ahead
The politics of migration and integration
Mark Leonard welcomes Sunder Katwala and Lawen Redar to explore how Sweden and Britain are redefining their national identities amid mass migration
France in turmoil
Mark Leonard welcomes Celia Belin to unpack France’s spiralling political crisis and what comes next for President Emmanuel Macron
Drones over Denmark: Russia tests NATO’s defences
Mark Leonard and Ulrike Franke discuss what Russia’s probing of European airspace means for the continent’s security
The New Politics: Report from Washington
Mark Leonard wraps up ECFR’s summer special series on the “new right” at the National Conservatism Conference in Washington
The New Politics with Balázs Orbán
Mark Leonard welcomes Balázs Orbán to unpack the ideological background of Viktor Orbán’s politics and the roots of national conservatism in Europe
The New Politics with Hélène de Lauzun
Mark Leonard welcomes Hélène De Lauzun to unpack the diverse strands of French conservatism and its role in contemporary politics
The New Politics with Gladden Pappin
Mark Leonard is joined by Gladden Pappin to explore the liberal international order and the recent shift in EU-US relations
Events
European Power
Think7 handover ceremony from Canada to France
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and the Paris-based Institute of Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) will co-chair the Think7 (T7) in 2026. The T7 is the official engagement group of the G7 for global think tanks and research centres. It aims at building a bridge between research and policymaking in a bid…
15
Jan
European Power
The World in 2026: Global Public Opinion One Year into the Second Trump Presidency
How do publics around the world view geopolitics one year into the second Trump presidency? ECFR’s 2024 polling revealed that many middle-power societies welcomed Trump’s return to the White House. Yet twelve months on, perceptions of power, polarity, and alignment have shifted towards a multipolar, post-Western world. On the day of the launch of ECFR’s fourth Global Public Opinion Survey, this webinar will reveal how publics across 21 countries including China, India, Turkey, Russia, the…
16
Jan
RSVP
European Power
Europe Debates | Russia won’t attack NATO
Russia’s hybrid warfare targeting NATO states has intensified since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Attacks on digital and energy infrastructure as well as drone incursions into NATO airspace occur almost daily now and put the alliance on alert about the potential of Russian aggression in the not-too-distant future. Between US president Trump raising…
Africa
Navigating multipolarity: Angola’s middle power ambitions
In 2025, Angola has gained increased visibility on the global stage through its presidency of the African Union and hosting the US-Africa Business Summit as well as the 7th AU–EU Summit in Luanda last month. Despite internal challenges, such as inequality and weak institutional capacity, the country has managed to position itself as an aspiring middle power with…
27
Nov
European Power
Demografia e Competizione Internazionale: Il ruolo dell’Europa nel mondo di domani
Torino, 27 Novembre 2025NH Collection Piazza Carlina, Piazza Carlo Emanuele II, 15 Il tema di questa edizione de Il Circolo dell’ECFR sarà la transizione demografica, che pone l’Italia e l’Europa di fronte a una sfida esistenziale per il loro futuro sulla scena globale. Un continente sempre più anziano e con un saldo demografico negativo rischia…
2
Dec
European Power
A big, beautiful European strategy for Trumponomics
Since the return of U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House in January, European policymakers have been struggling to sketch a sensible response to Trumponomics – an unpredictable, fast-changing and often baffling mix of U.S. trade, investment and finance policies that have a direct impact on Europe’s interests. In her latest ECFR policy brief, Agathe Demarais…
17
Nov
European Power
30 years in the EU: Looking back into the future
30 years ago, Austria, Finland and Sweden became members of the EU. What has been theeconomic, political and societal impact of their EU membership? What drivesEU enlargement today? And what may the EU’s next 30 years look like? We will delve into these questions with our experts, looking first at the scenarios for EU reforms…
6
Nov
European Power
Oltre l’Emergenza: Italia e Minacce Ibride tra Crisi Immediata e Rischio Sistemico
Roma, 6 novembre 2025Hotel NH Collection Roma Centro, Via dei Gracchi 324, 00192 Roma Nel contesto internazionale segnato da una crescente competizione sistemica, le minacce ibride rappresentano oggi una delle sfide più complesse per la sicurezza nazionale ed europea. L’incontro intende promuovere un confronto tra istituzioni, think tank e settore privato per analizzare la natura…
21
Oct
European Power
Rise to the Challengers: Europe’s populist parties and its foreign policy future
Roma, 21 Ottobre 202516:30-18:00 Centro Studi Americani, Via Michelangelo Caetani, 32 Lingua: IngleseRSVP: [email protected] I cosiddetti partiti Challengers – ovvero partiti populisti che, da destra fino alla sinistra radicale, sfidano il mainstream politico – stanno guadagnando sempre più terreno in UE. La loro influenza crescente, alimentata anche dal sostegno dell’amministrazione Trump,…
20
Oct
European Power
Closed-door Round-Table – Addressing hybrid threats in Europe: Critical infrastructure and the shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean
Roma, 20 Ottobre 202512.00-14.00Centro Studi Americani, Via Michelangelo Caetani, 32 Lingua: Inglese L’evento si è svolto nell’ambito del Festival della Diplomazia, della Presidenza polacca del Consiglio degli Stati del Mar Baltico e della Presidenza danese del Consiglio dell’Unione Europea
In the media
Giorgos Verdi on the need for European innovator to emerge for its own technologies and reduce its reliance on the US
Agathe Demarais on the three possible retaliatory measures that Trump could take against the EU due to its high trade deficit