ECFR’s Middle East and North Africa programme seeks to support a coherent European agenda in pursuit of regional interests, working to advance openings for conflict de-escalation, regional stabilisation and democratic transition.
Read moreEuropean 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
European states should now increase conditional engagement with the Houthis, looking to widen political and humanitarian space on the ground
Europe should help the Kadhimi government undertake political and economic reform, increase its geopolitical autonomy, and take on a greater security role
The Egyptian regime has shown that it is prepared to give ground on individual cases or pieces of legislation in the face of concerted pressure
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
Joe Biden has vowed to re-enter the Iran nuclear deal. In a recent report for Friederich Ebert Stiftung, Ellie Geranmayeh looks at what concrete steps can be taken by the United States, Iran, and Europe to bring all parties to the nuclear deal back into full compliance, noting that time is of the essence.
Victory for Joe Biden is likely to bring three big policy shifts in the region, opening new possibilities and challenges for Europeans
The European Union can provide greater grassroots support to the Tunisian and Lebanese economies – and help avert an economic crisis abroad and political crisis at home
The normalisation of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (followed quickly by Bahrain) indicates that the Middle East is undergoing a strategic paradigm shift, with the Palestinians left out in the cold. But anyone who thinks that the region’s oldest ongoing conflict has been laid to rest should think again.
A broad range of political and financial problems are likely to prevent Iran from importing advanced weapons systems in the coming years
The US will continue to retreat from the Middle East and North Africa, whoever wins the presidency. Europe needs to get its house in order to defend its interests.
European states should now increase conditional engagement with the Houthis, looking to widen political and humanitarian space on the ground
The new, still-unsteady leaders of Kuwait and Oman cannot afford to take the same risks as their predecessors. They will need Europe’s support if they are to maintain their independence.
What is the best strategy for de-escalation? Will Europe be able to overcome its internal divisions on East Med?
European states should now increase conditional engagement with the Houthis, looking to widen political and humanitarian space on the ground
Europe should help the Kadhimi government undertake political and economic reform, increase its geopolitical autonomy, and take on a greater security role
North African countries, each for their own reasons, are increasingly turning their attention towards sub-Saharan Africa
The government must build on its response to the pandemic to create a compromise that shares the burden of reform between political actors and interest groups
Europeans wish to persuade Iran to compromise on strategic issues – but, unless they understand the dynamics of domestic Iranian politics, they will not get far
The transition will only succeed if the government stabilises the economy and civilians work hard to tilt the balance of power away from the military
EU member states can find ways to cooperate with Turkey to support stabilisation in parts of the safe zone, without violating their interests and core principle
European governments should pivot to a strategy focused on protecting those societal forces that are still standing and that can help salvage a better future
Europeans must help construct the region’s digital infrastructure, to prevent China from popularising its internet governance model there
The Hirak protest movement has revealed flaws in Algeria’s ruling system, which lacks the tools to reinvent itself
The Egyptian regime has shown that it is prepared to give ground on individual cases or pieces of legislation in the face of concerted pressure
Joe Biden has vowed to re-enter the Iran nuclear deal. In a recent report for Friederich Ebert Stiftung, Ellie Geranmayeh looks at what concrete steps can be taken by the United States, Iran, and Europe to bring all parties to the nuclear deal back into full compliance, noting that time is of the essence.
Victory for Joe Biden is likely to bring three big policy shifts in the region, opening new possibilities and challenges for Europeans
The European Union can provide greater grassroots support to the Tunisian and Lebanese economies – and help avert an economic crisis abroad and political crisis at home
The normalisation of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (followed quickly by Bahrain) indicates that the Middle East is undergoing a strategic paradigm shift, with the Palestinians left out in the cold. But anyone who thinks that the region’s oldest ongoing conflict has been laid to rest should think again.
A broad range of political and financial problems are likely to prevent Iran from importing advanced weapons systems in the coming years
The US will continue to retreat from the Middle East and North Africa, whoever wins the presidency. Europe needs to get its house in order to defend its interests.
The new, still-unsteady leaders of Kuwait and Oman cannot afford to take the same risks as their predecessors. They will need Europe’s support if they are to maintain their independence.
While it has made some progress in its recent diplomacy on the eastern Mediterranean, the EU needs a holistic approach to resolving economic and security disputes in the region
A conflict could be brewing in the eastern Mediterranean. Here’s how to stop it.
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.
A multimedia exploration of Yemen's multi-faceted civil war
This series examines the reaction of key Middle Eastern actors, as well as looking at European policy options, the dynamics driving IS itself, and the impact within Syria and Iraq respectively.
What is the best strategy for de-escalation? Will Europe be able to overcome its internal divisions on East Med?
Virtual talk on 17 September 2020 with Ibrahim Kalin on Turkey's position in the current Eastern Mediterranean conflict, the risks of military escalation and prospects for a dialogue with Europe
ECFR’s New Battlelines Project maps Iran’s coalition of allies, regional influence and the counter-coalition that has formed to oppose them
Powerful argument from Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif - "Security cannot be purchased" - at ECFR's 10th anniversary council meeting.
High-level officials and analysts discuss the challenges facing Tunisia's transition, and the development of the political process in Libya
Nick Grono and Dr. Katharine Jones discuss what role Europe can play in ensuring the protection of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Richard Nephew from the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University takes a look at the openings and challenges for Europe and the US
Kadri Liik gives her analysis on Russia's intervention in the Middle East
Iona Craig, Nawal al-Maghafi, and Adam Baron, discuss how Europe can help solve the crisis
Journalist and Sinai researcher Mohannad Sabry explains Egyptian president al-Sisi's approach to the war on terror, and its consequences
In the eastern Mediterranean, a scramble is under way between countries in the region for access to recently discovered gas fields, often overlapping with wider…
In this special ECFR discussion, MENA Policy Fellow Hugh Lovatt interviews Daniel Seidemann, the Founder of Terrestrial Jerusalem and an Israeli attorney that specialises in…
The attempt of a peace process in Libya is facing several substantial hindrances, where a variety of actors keep on inducing significant upheavals in its…
ECFR Conversation with Ibrahim Kalin, Spokesman and Senior Advisor to the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Chaired by Julien Barnes-Dacey, Director of ECFR’s…
The ECFR Rome office organized a virtual gathering, moderated by the Head of ECFR Rome Arturo Varvelli, to present the ECFR publication “A Gulf…
Last week’s episode saw our experts dissecting the coronavirus’ implications for Europe. In today's episode, we’re breaking down how the crisis is unfolding in the…
The European Union faces a multi-crisis situation at the moment. As the conflict in Idlib and the circumstances at the Greek-Turkish border has erupted, Europe…
When US-President Donal Trump revealed his much-awaited plan for peace for Israel and Palestine it was set to solve one of the world's longest-running conflict
Lunch discussion to mark the launch of ECFR's newest paper “War and pieces: Political divides in southern Yemen“. International attention to the Yemeni conflict has shifted…
Anthony Dworkin stands in for our usual host, Mark Leonard, to de-brief the Berlin Conference on Libya. Together with the ECFR’s experts Asli Aydıntaşbaş, Tarek…
In this interview, Ellie Geranmayeh says she sees a good chance that the Iranians will engage in negotiations with President-elect Joe Biden.
Ellie Geranmayeh comments on Biden facing a race against the clock for the US to rejoin Iran nuclear deal.
A new report by Ellie Geranmayeh et al. presents a series of recommendations for the E-3 and the European Union to preserve the JCPOA, promote regional peace and development and boost people-to-people contacts with Iran in concert with a potential new US administration.
