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Iran nuclear monthly monitor August update available

Latest

WEB INRIKES

After Tidö: What a centre-left Sweden would change for Europe

  • Mats Engström
Ein Foto zeigt eine Frau am Rednerpult, die spricht, vor einer blauen Wand mit großem gelbem Text und einem blauen Podium.

Talk is cheap: Europe’s defence promise meets the EU budget

  • Chantal Kopf

Featured

Ein Foto zeigt eine Person in dunklem Anzug mit gesenktem Kopf vor einer hellen Wand und starken Schatten.

Actually, maybe: How German Angst could become Europe’s nightmare

  • Janka Oertel, Jana Puglierin
  • Commentary
  • 5 minute read

Germany’s political centre is crumbling—but its leaders appear unable to get ahead of the impending crisis

TUNISIA TUNIS ENVIRONMENT PROTEST POLLUTION

Climate of concern: The changing face of social movements in North Africa

  • Anthony Dworkin
  • Commentary
  • 4 minute read

Social movements in North Africa increasingly focus on environmental concerns and the impact of climate change. Europeans must ensure their cooperation with governments in the region does not end up adding to activists’ grievances

Ein Foto zeigt ein rotes 'No Drone Zone'-Schild im Vordergrund, ein Flugzeug landet im Hintergrund am Flughafen.

Buzzkill: How to defend Europe against drones

  • Ulrike Franke
  • Policy Brief

Drone warfare in Europe is no longer tomorrow’s problem. The continent is under attack by drones today, and the threat is not isolated in the east

Ein Foto zeigt einen Soldaten in Tarnuniform, von hinten stehend vor einem Grenzschild und Stacheldrahtzaun am Übergang.

Managed disorder: The hard road to a modest peace with Russia after Ukraine

  • Jeremy Shapiro, with Samuel Charap, Bob Deen, Hiski Haukkala, Ivan Krastev, Hanna Notte, Jim O’Brien
  • Policy Brief

When the fighting in Ukraine stops, America and Europe will likely end up facing Russia in a low-grade rivalry for years to come. Here is how to prevent that disordered rivalry from sliding into another war

Upcoming events

17 Sep

Brewed in China 2035: How can Europe compete in the next industrial race?

  • 17 September 2026 Online

Recent events

17 Jun

Annual Council Meeting 2026

  • 17 June 2026 · ECFR Berlin
11 Jun

ECFR Scenario Game: Which MENA Region in 2030?

  • 11 June 2026 · ECFR Rome

Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes

Foto WPress podcast

Can a ceasefire survive Israel’s election?

  • Podcast
  • Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes

Mark Leonard welcomes Hugh Lovatt to discuss the prospects for a Gaza ceasefire, escalating settler violence in the West Bank and how Israel’s upcoming general election could shape the future of the conflict

Listen

ECFR on air

Ein Foto zeigt eine Gruppe von Delegierten an einem Tisch bei einer offiziellen Besprechung in einem Saal mit Fahnen, Blumen.

Lebanon: On the brink of war or peace?

  • Podcast
  • ECFR on air
  • WOMENP

Ellie Geranmayeh is joined by Alia Moubayed, Randa Slim and Maha Yahya to discuss what the trilateral framework deal signed by Israel, the US and Lebanon means for the Lebanese stability

Listen

Views from the Council

Ein Foto zeigt eine Frau am Rednerpult, die spricht, vor einer blauen Wand mit großem gelbem Text und einem blauen Podium.

Talk is cheap: Europe’s defence promise meets the EU budget

  • Chantal Kopf
  • Commentary
  • View from the Council
  • 3 minute read

At July’s NATO summit in Ankara, European leaders accepted that they must carry more of their own defence. Turning that promise into money means winning a fight over the EU’s next seven-year budget, against coalitions that have defended farm and cohesion spending for decades

Hebron West Bank Settlers

The EU should ban all trade with Israeli settlements

  • Sigmar Gabriel, Arancha González Laya, Pascal Lamy, Enrico Letta, Cecilia Malmström
  • Commentary
  • View from the Council
  • 2 minute read

It is high time the EU follow its own trade policy and ban trade of all goods and services from Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank

In the Media - Council

Carl Bildt
La Regione 27 August 2026

Carl Bildt on the neutrality of the Swiss Confederation

OKO.press 22 August 2026

Edwin Bendyk on the 35th anniversary of Ukraine Independence

Carl Bildt
Rzeczpospolita 3 August 2026

Carl Bildt on Putin’s strategy for Donbas

OKO.press 28 July 2026

Interview with Edwin Bendyk on the current state of Ukrainian affairs

Featured and flagship projects

The Data Collection

Explore our open-access data platform for unparalleled access to ECFR’s public opinion polls—empowering research and insight on today’s key foreign policy issues.

Featured
Trump Shadow 2

Transatlantic twilight: European public opinion and the long shadow of Trump

  • Jana Puglierin, Arturo Varvelli, Paweł Zerka

Re:Engage

This project helps the EU in refining its foreign policy, re-engaging neighbours post-Russia's invasion of Ukraine to bolster regional resilience and advance enlargement policies.

Featured
EU Flags hanging from the queue barriers during the Open Doors Day

The interest of values: The EU’s democracy promotion in the Western Balkans and the eastern neighbourhood

  • Piotr Buras, Marie Dumoulin, Tefta Kelmendi, Marlene Marx

Re:Order

Re:Order project explores emerging visions of the global order, as well as the interplay between economic might and geopolitical influence.

Featured
Green transition world order

The electric endgame: Europe’s clean path out of vassalage

  • Alberto Rizzi

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Latest

WEB INRIKES

After Tidö: What a centre-left Sweden would change for Europe

  • Mats Engström
  • Commentary
  • 6 minute read

Magdalena Andersson of the Social Democrats is the favourite to become Sweden’s next prime minister, but only after months of hard coalition bargaining. Who she governs with would shape how far her foreign policy shifts

Ein Foto zeigt eine Frau am Rednerpult, die spricht, vor einer blauen Wand mit großem gelbem Text und einem blauen Podium.

Talk is cheap: Europe’s defence promise meets the EU budget

  • Chantal Kopf
  • Commentary
  • View from the Council
  • 3 minute read

At July’s NATO summit in Ankara, European leaders accepted that they must carry more of their own defence. Turning that promise into money means winning a fight over the EU’s next seven-year budget, against coalitions that have defended farm and cohesion spending for decades

BelaBear

In the bear’s paw: How Europeans can loosen Russia’s grip on Belarus

  • Vasil Navumau
  • Policy Brief

Russia’s growing military intervention in Belarus poses a frontline security challenge for Europe. The EU needs to develop a more pragmatic strategy based on protecting its eastern border and shaping Minsk’s autonomy away from Moscow

Ein Foto zeigt Arbeiter an einer Produktionslinie, die portable Split-Klimageräte in einer großen Fabrikhalle montieren.

Cold comfort: What China can teach Europe about adaptation

  • Byford Tsang
  • Commentary
  • 5 minute read

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

Ein Foto zeigt eine Frau mit Schutzbrille, die ein Glasbehältnis hält, neben einem Mann in gelber Warnjacke in einer Halle.

Power up: How EU-Africa cooperation can drive Europe’s battery recycling future

  • Sarah Logan
  • Commentary
  • 6 minute read

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

Ein Foto zeigt einen Mann, der ein geöffnetes Dokument hochhält, mit zwei Männern an einem Tisch vor blauem Banner.

Anti-corruption sanctions: Preparing for the time after Trump

  • Sarah McCool, Jim O’Brien
  • Commentary
  • 6 minute read

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

In the media

Our experts are available for media requests. Our work involves many issues relating to Europe and foreign policy, and our programmes focus on Africa, Asia, the Middle East & North Africa, and Wider Europe.

All our experts Newsroom
Anthony Dworkin
DW 2 September 2026

Anthony Dworkin on Tunisia’s crackdown on civil society

Jonas Horner
Ayin network 1 September 2026

Jonas Horner on the Ethiopia-Eritrea dimension of Sudan’s war

Mark Leonard
DW News 31 August 2026

Mark Leonard on a post-multilateral world

Vessela Tcherneva
Boulevard Bulgaria 30 August 2026

Vessela Tcherneva on the MFF, security and the rule of law

Polityka 29 August 2026

Edwin Bendyk commentary on Ukraine and Poland’s security

New York Times 28 August 2026

Ellie Geranmayeh and Jeremy Shapiro on Iran’s resilience after the US confrontation

More on Africa

Hafen Rotterdam

The ammonia age: How Europe and Africa can steer global shipping to net zero

  • Sarah Logan
  • Policy Brief

The IMO’s Net-Zero Framework is critical for EU competitiveness and the clearest path to decarbonise shipping. African backing may prove decisive as American and Gulf pressure stalls progress


Two of a kind: How France and Italy can show the way for Europe’s Africa policy

  • Maddalena Procopio, Suzanne Tisserand
  • Commentary
  • 6 minute read

Shoring up the Red Sea: Why the next crisis may begin in the Horn of Africa

  • Corrado Čok
  • Commentary
  • 6 minute read

More on Asia

China EU swarm paper

The art of the swarm: Systemic rivalry with China on European terms

  • Andrew Small
  • Policy Brief

The EU can exploit its system to say no to China—now, and long into the future


Trump in Beijing: Why the game stays the same for Europe

  • Andrew Small
  • Commentary
  • 3 minute read

Power couple: How South Korea fits in Europe’s battery strategy

  • Alexander Lipke, Jihye Yoo
  • Commentary
  • 5 minute read

More on European Power

French foreign policy under Bardella Cover and chapter art Concept

If Marine Le Pen wins: A European guide to a far-right France

  • Célia Belin, Jeremy Cliffe, Camille Lons, Constance Victor
  • Policy Brief

A Le Pen-led France would mean major changes to European politics. Here’s how political leaders can begin to prepare


Trust the numbers: Germans are open to a more hawkish China policy

  • Nele Anders, Nina Schmelzer
  • Commentary
  • 1 minute read

How splits on the right may threaten Poland’s pro-European camp

  • Piotr Buras
  • Policy Alert
  • 2 minute read

More on European Security

Ein Foto zeigt zwei Personen nebeneinander auf einem roten Teppich vor einem Gebäude, flankiert von Soldaten und Flaggen.

The magnificent ten: A coalition of the willing to drive the EU’s next enlargement

  • Engjellushe Morina, Gabrielė Valodskaitė
  • Policy Brief

A Team Enlargement coalition of EU member states can drive the changes needed to bring Ukraine and others into the bloc


NATO’s digital arsenal: How Europe can avoid a new dependence on America

  • Gustav Gressel
  • Commentary
  • 5 minute read

The fallout of the fallout: Zelensky’s reshuffle and protests in Ukraine

  • Jana Kobzová
  • Policy Alert
  • 2 minute read

More on Middle East and North Africa

Iran nuclear monitor Month by month thumbnail image

Iran nuclear monitor: Month by month

  • Ellie Geranmayeh
  • Special

America and Israel have bombed Iran since 2025 to block Tehran’s path to nuclear weapons. ECFR’s interactive dashboard, updated monthly, assesses current evidence about Iran’s nuclear activities to determine which of six possible scenarios is most likely


Hamas has agreed to disarm. Israel should now agree to peace

  • Hugh Lovatt
  • Commentary
  • 6 minute read

Alone at the border: Ceuta and Europe’s solidarity failure

  • Carla Hobbs
  • Policy Alert
  • 2 minute read

More on United States

10

Sliding doors: One Trump crisis, two possible futures for Europe

  • Nevada Joan Lee
  • Policy Brief

The next Trump crisis will come. European governments facing American pressure will need to weigh the costs and benefits of their responses. Here are two scenarios to show what resistance costs, and why those costs are lower than they appear


America’s “direct return” doctrine—and what it means for the world

  • Jim O’Brien
  • Commentary
  • 7 minute read

As the US midterms loom, the Republican choice is surrender—or lose

  • Chris Herrmann, Nevada Joan Lee
  • Policy Alert
  • 2 minute read
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