Russia?s over-managed democracy
Putin?s grand plan may not yet be clear, but most of the likely variants now hinge on how he will use the mandate from Sunday?s election to stage-manage the next vote in March
Commentary
On Iran, the wind goes out of the balloon
The wind seems have gone out of the Bush administration’s Iran balloon. But air has been seeping out since the IAEA report in mid-November.
Observing Russia’s elections
Whatever the electoral outcome, Putin wins. But this time, the manner of the Russian strongman?s victory will undermine not only Russian democracy; but the credibility of Europe?s democracy-promotion.
A month for hard power
There?s a real risk that, in the weeks between now and Christmas, the EU will face violence in either Kosovo, where 15,000 European troops underwrite security, or Lebanon where 8,000 Europeans have made up the backbone of the UN peace force
The EU meets China: united we stand?
The EU delegation has prepared an unusually full agenda for the annual EU-China Summit. However, there is a real danger they will go home empty-handed, and the Chinese will hijack the event to lecture about Taiwan and the Dalai Lama.
Steps toward an EU-NATO link
The EU and NATO have a new opportunity to collaborate in ways that would help both organizations deal with fragile and failing states. But it will require practical steps to overcome ideological opposition to greater cooperation.
Ukraine: Finally a new Parliament, but no new government
The new Ukrainian parliament finally assembled on Friday, 23 November, almost two months after the elections. It then immediately adjourned until Thursday 29 November. An update on Ukraine’s complex political developments.
A cool response to Sarkozy’s EU agenda
Since it was first mooted in the summer, the Sarkozy proposal for a new round of arguments about the future of Europe has been met with growing consternation
Balkan ghosts still haunt Europe
Even though Europe’s foreign policy reach is now truly global, talks on Kosovo’s independence have seen Balkan ghosts return to haunt Europe
ECFR makes its pitch in Sofia
ECFR launched its Bulgarian office today with an international conference attended by leading academics and foreign policy thinkers