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The power of partnerships: European climate leadership with less America
- Susi Dennison, Mats Engström
- Policy Brief
In a Trumpian world, Europeans must drive climate action through stronger climate partnerships with countries across the globe. Here’s how they can act

Harmattan hazards: How coastal west Africa can escape the Sahel’s fate
- Suzanne Tisserand
- Policy Brief
Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo face a double threat—from jihadists creeping south from the Sahel and coup plotters lurking within. As northern borders buckle, the region could slip into instability and away from Europe’s reach

Ukraine’s due, Russia’s debt: How to use Moscow’s money against itself
- Lee Buchheit, Hugo Dixon, Nathalie Loiseau
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 5 minute read
Russia’s hundreds of billions of frozen assets should be lent to Ukraine—with Moscow only getting its money back if it pays reparations. Europe can make this “reparation loan” without Trump’s permission

What went wrong in Europe’s trade gamble with Trump
- Tobias Gehrke
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
The EU’s burgeoning deal with the Trump administration seems to escape the harshest US tariff threats. But there is a sense that the bloc has fumbled its hand, despite holding decent cards. The EU needs to examine what went wrong and how it can better secure its future interests against great powers
Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes

Beyond the battlefield: Europe’s long-term strategy for Ukraine
- Podcast
- Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
Mark Leonard is joined by Camille Grand and Jana Kobzova to discuss ECFR’s new European Security programme and the war in Ukraine
ECFR on air

Ukrainian society in wartime
- Podcast
- ECFR on air
Leo Litra and Lesia Ogryzko welcome Fredrik Wesslau and Volodymyr Yermolenko to unpack how, over three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian society continues to persist in the face of aggression
Views from the Council

Ukraine’s due, Russia’s debt: How to use Moscow’s money against itself
- Lee Buchheit, Hugo Dixon, Nathalie Loiseau
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 5 minute read
Russia’s hundreds of billions of frozen assets should be lent to Ukraine—with Moscow only getting its money back if it pays reparations. Europe can make this “reparation loan” without Trump’s permission

Tide turners: How startups can shape Europe’s tech future and geoeconomic strategy
- Miguel Ferrer
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 3 minute read
European startups have long struggled to scale at home, but a new EU strategy could finally position the continent as a global innovation leader
In the Media - Council
Carl Bildt on Ukraine imposed sanctions on former president and opposition politician Petro Poroshenko
Mark Leonard, Ivan Krastev, and Timothy Garton Ash on ECFR’s latest global survey
Mark Leonard, Ivan Krastev, and Timothy Garton Ash on ECFR’s latest global survey
Mark Leonard, Timothy Garton Ash and Ivan Krastev on ECFR’s latest global survey on Trump’s return to the White House
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.

Transatlantic twilight: European public opinion and the long shadow of Trump
- Jana Puglierin, Arturo Varvelli, Pawel 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.

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.

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ECFR’s summer entertainment list 2025
- Pia Jakobi
- Commentary
- 8 minute read
Whether you’re heading off on holiday or staying home this summer, ECFR’s entertainment recommendations—spanning films, books, podcasts and tv series—will help you reconnect with your internal and external wellbeing

From ambition to action: The EU needs stronger partnerships to reach its 2040 climate target
- Mats Engström
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
The EU’s new 2040 climate target will only be credible if it works more closely with partners worldwide—sharing technology, financing green transitions, and reducing strategic dependencies

Tide turners: How startups can shape Europe’s tech future and geoeconomic strategy
- Miguel Ferrer
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 3 minute read
European startups have long struggled to scale at home, but a new EU strategy could finally position the continent as a global innovation leader

Air of superiority: What the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine can teach Europeans about NATO readiness
- Jeremy Shapiro
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are different in a multitude of important ways. But they nonetheless offer some common lessons for Europeans on the importance of air superiority to military victory

Lethal weapon: Why Europe can’t afford to blink on China’s rare earth blackmail
- Janka Oertel
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
China’s export restrictions are bringing European factories to the verge of shutting down. Yielding to Chinese pressure today will only invite more sophisticated threats tomorrow; only a united and assertive EU response can stop the cycle of coercion and protect Europe’s industrial core

New tools: How the EU can show China it means business
- Alicja Bachulska
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
Chinese policymakers are well used to ignoring European objections to decisions made in Beijing. With a new array of tools, the EU could finally cause them to think differently
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.
More on Africa

Long walk to realism: Climate cooperation to reset EU-South Africa relations
- Arina Muresan, Sanusha Naidu
- Policy Brief
The EU and South Africa should accept political differences and pursue a pragmatic partnership, mutually strengthening economic and climate ties—using South Africa’s energy transition as the decisive test of this balance
Green business partners: Why Europe should invest in climate-led companies in Africa
- Sidonie Kouam
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
Back from the brink: How European support could prevent another Ethiopia-Eritrea war
- Corrado ÄŒok
- Commentary
- 6 minute read
More on Asia

Last gasp: Securing Europe’s wind industry from dependence on China
- Luke Patey, Byford Tsang
- Policy Brief
Europe’s pioneering wind turbine manufacturers are grappling with Chinese competition at home and abroad—but it is not too late to save them
Caught in the crossfire: Why the EU and India must collaborate on clean technology
- Byford Tsang
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
Strait talking: What’s behind China’s military drills around Taiwan
- Estelle Huang
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
More on European Power

Trump’s European revolution
- Ivan Krastev, Mark Leonard
- Policy Brief
A major new ECFR poll shows how, six months in, the US president is reshaping European politics and the continent’s geopolitical identity
Too much, too fast: Europe’s defence-spending tsunami is coming
- Nick Witney
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
Small change, big difference: How the NATO summit can still support Ukraine
- Leo Litra
- Policy Alert
- 1 minute read
More on European Security

The bear behind the ballot: Moldova’s election in the shadow of war
- Andrew Wilson
- Policy Brief
After a string of votes marred by Russian interference, Moldova is gearing up to elect its new parliament in September. As the election approaches, the Kremlin seems to be intensifying its efforts to thwart the president’s pro-European party, PAS, threatening the country’s EU accession
Too much, too fast: Europe’s defence-spending tsunami is coming
- Nick Witney
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
Small change, big difference: How the NATO summit can still support Ukraine
- Leo Litra
- Policy Alert
- 1 minute read
More on Middle East and North Africa

Anatomy of a chokepoint: Mapping power and conflict in the Red Sea
- Camille Lons
- Special
This ECFR project maps the Red Sea region as a nexus of conflict, regional rivalries and global power plays. To address the risks of this instability, Europeans need to develop a more comprehensive approach
In the crossfire: How the Gulf can support de-escalation between Iran and Israel
- Camille Lons
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
Axis of unease: Why Europeans should try to manage a Turkey-Israel rivalry
- Aslı Aydıntaşbaş
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
More on United States

MAGA goes global: Trump’s plan for Europe
- Célia Belin
- Policy Brief
Form exists in the frenzy of Donald Trump’s first months back in power. His foreign policy is his domestic agenda exported—and that is bad news for Europe
LA falling: What Trump’s anti-immigration push means for transatlantic democracy
- Mireia Faro Sarrats
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
The bully’s pulpit: Finding patterns in Trump’s use of military force
- Jeremy Shapiro
- Commentary
- 5 minute read