The Franco-German alliance is back – for now
Hollande and Merkel have become a formidable team as Europe’s leaders – but how long will it last?
Views from the Capitals
Bismarck and Germany’s pro-Russia lobby
Conservatives say Germany should pursue Bismarck’s policy of placating Russia, but a Bismarck of today would have a wholly different strategy
View from Dublin: A “wait and see” approach
Ireland’s calculus on sanctions is informed by its economic ties to Russia and its need to forge stronger EU ties ahead of a potential Brexit
The British problem – View from the Capitals
The heads of five of our national offices explain their national perspectives on a possible Brexit
View from London: Elections approach, Ukraine looms
The UK supports sanctions, but the Ukraine crisis has become a political football in the campaign for the upcoming general elections
View from Warsaw: Sanctions are the EU’s only tool
Poland is more moderate on Russia policy than hawks might have hoped, preferring the use of sanctions to any military option
Gabriel’s new course on arms sales
Gabriel has reinserted the needs of a values-based foreign policy into the debate on European arms sales, which could make him a key stakeholder in EU foreign policy
View from Vienna: Austria is again on the sceptical side
Austria is still sceptical about sanctions, but it will not challenge the bigger EU states without support
View from Bratislava: Slovakia changes course on Russia
Slovakia has taken steps to diversify its economic interests away from Russia, which has altered its calculus on sanctions
View from Rome: Sanctions should be accompanied by dialogue
Italy has been hard hit by sanctions on Russia, but it has held the European line, while still promoting further dialogue