Europe’s electrification race: Five ways the EU can avoid the next energy crisis
The EU is right to raise its ambitions on the electrification rate—but the target is highly stretching. Only a more aggressive approach will suffice
European Union
The EU’s quarter-life crisis
Despite the many threats around it—and in part because of them—the continent can emerge from this period stronger and more resilient
Lost in processing: Why ‘Made in Europe’ needs an Africa strategy
The EU’s new Industrial Accelerator Act is missing the key ingredient needed for acceleration—a reliable supply of processed minerals. For this, Europeans should turn to African countries and offer them industrial investments tied to offtake commitments
War over law: Europe’s unforced errors over the use of force in Iran
Some European leaders’ comments are going even further than overlooking the unlawful nature of the war—and could open the door to a further weakening of the non-aggression principle
Suspicious minds: Why Europeans are considering their post-America nuclear options
With America’s credibility eroding, Europeans are looking for alternatives to US extended nuclear deterrence. Leaders should find confidence in electorate support for strengthening nuclear deterrence through European cooperation
It’s the (geo)economy, stupid: Why the EU-India deal matters beyond trade
The EU and India have just concluded the biggest trade deal in their respective histories. Europeans will benefit from lower tariffs with the G20’s fastest-growing economy—and potentially game-changing geoeconomic ties
A new world in trade: How Europeans can make the most of the India deal
The new EU-India free trade agreement could become a template for 21st-century trade governance
Five steps to stop Greenland’s annexation destroying the EU
The US president is hell-bent on owning Greenland. Annexation could destroy not only NATO but the EU, if European leaders do not resolutely act
Arctic hold‘em: Ten European cards in Greenland
Europeans have real leverage in the face of Donald Trump’s threats towards Greenland—and time on their side. They must use it to raise the prospective costs of annexation
The next ‘big bang’: How the EU can fast-track enlargement amid geopolitical tensions
Quickly bringing in the Western Balkan candidates, Ukraine and Moldova to counter Russia or China poses many dilemmas for the EU
Publications
The ammonia age: How Europe and Africa can steer global shipping to net zero
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
The full monty: Why the Mediterranean pact needs to offer the works
Europe’s energy, industrial and migration interests all converge in its southern neighbourhood, where rivals are eroding its influence. The new Pact for the Mediterranean can reverse this, but only if Brussels puts grand bargains on the table
EV endgame: Stalling China’s export surge in Europe’s southern neighbourhood
Chinese electric vehicle brands are adapting to Western trade barriers by increasing their presence in the Middle East and North Africa. Europe’s response must go beyond merely closing the loopholes
The electric endgame: Europe’s clean path out of vassalage
The geoeconomic power of the future will be shaped by climate policy. Countries that play the right moves in regulation, clean-tech production and climate finance today will win in the electrified world of tomorrow
How Trump is making China great again—and what it means for Europe
A post-Western world is learning to love China, while Europeans are starting to fear America
Get over your X: A European plan to escape American technology
Foreign technology companies cannot be entrusted with meeting Europe’s growing digital needs. This includes American big tech firms. Here’s what Europeans should do
Power sharing: The politics of European-Tunisian energy cooperation
The ethos of the EU’s “Pact for the Mediterranean” could help revitalise cooperation on clean energy with Tunisia—but only if Europeans learn how to better factor in the country’s politics
The turtle and the pilot fish: How the EU and Italy can help each other in the Mediterranean
Italy and the EU must work more closely together in the “Wider Mediterranean” on energy, migration and security. Here’s how they can do it
How to arm a pacifist: Lessons from Ukraine for the EU’s defence
EU leaders have to learn lessons from Ukraine if they want to be truly ready to take responsibility for Europe’s security
Rise to the challengers: Europe’s populist parties and its foreign policy future
An array of populist parties are challenging Europe’s foreign policy mainstream. To secure European sovereignty, its politicians need to adapt—which means preparing for a variety of future diplomatic scenarios
Articles
Europe’s electrification race: Five ways the EU can avoid the next energy crisis
The EU is right to raise its ambitions on the electrification rate—but the target is highly stretching. Only a more aggressive approach will suffice
The EU’s quarter-life crisis
Despite the many threats around it—and in part because of them—the continent can emerge from this period stronger and more resilient
Lost in processing: Why ‘Made in Europe’ needs an Africa strategy
The EU’s new Industrial Accelerator Act is missing the key ingredient needed for acceleration—a reliable supply of processed minerals. For this, Europeans should turn to African countries and offer them industrial investments tied to offtake commitments
War over law: Europe’s unforced errors over the use of force in Iran
Some European leaders’ comments are going even further than overlooking the unlawful nature of the war—and could open the door to a further weakening of the non-aggression principle
Suspicious minds: Why Europeans are considering their post-America nuclear options
With America’s credibility eroding, Europeans are looking for alternatives to US extended nuclear deterrence. Leaders should find confidence in electorate support for strengthening nuclear deterrence through European cooperation
It’s the (geo)economy, stupid: Why the EU-India deal matters beyond trade
The EU and India have just concluded the biggest trade deal in their respective histories. Europeans will benefit from lower tariffs with the G20’s fastest-growing economy—and potentially game-changing geoeconomic ties
A new world in trade: How Europeans can make the most of the India deal
The new EU-India free trade agreement could become a template for 21st-century trade governance
Five steps to stop Greenland’s annexation destroying the EU
The US president is hell-bent on owning Greenland. Annexation could destroy not only NATO but the EU, if European leaders do not resolutely act
Arctic hold‘em: Ten European cards in Greenland
Europeans have real leverage in the face of Donald Trump’s threats towards Greenland—and time on their side. They must use it to raise the prospective costs of annexation
The next ‘big bang’: How the EU can fast-track enlargement amid geopolitical tensions
Quickly bringing in the Western Balkan candidates, Ukraine and Moldova to counter Russia or China poses many dilemmas for the EU
Podcasts
Surviving chaos
Mark Leonard introduces his new book Surviving Chaos: Geopolitics When the Rules Fail. He is joined by Carl Bildt, Ivan Krastev, Gideon Rachman and Helle Thorning-Schmidt to unpack how capital, climate, chips, and civilisation are reshaping global politics
The future of European air defence
Mark Leonard welcomes Ulrike Franke to unpack the crisis around Europe’s Future Combat Air System
The New Politics with Gladden Pappin
Mark Leonard is joined by Gladden Pappin to explore the liberal international order and the recent shift in EU-US relations
The great reset? How the EU and UK can rethink their cooperation on foreign policy
In the first episode of our new mini-series, Mark Leonard and Susi Dennison talk to Anand Menon about the potential for a great reset in UK-EU relations
The future of European politics
Mark Leonard welcomes the heads of ECFR’s national offices to discuss key players outside the traditional halls of European power
A battle on two fronts: Poland, Germany, and the rule of law
How has the war in Ukraine affected Polish politics and Poland’s relationship to its neighbours and the EU?
Out of Order: the Polish Constitutional Court’s challenge to the European Union
What steps can the EU take to defend its legal order and protect the authority of the CJEU?
Events
European Power
Europe’s climate crossroads: Power, competitiveness and the new global order
A growing transatlantic narrative claims that climate action is a gift to China and pressure is mounting on European policymakers to delay and water down the continent’s energy transition to safeguard its competitiveness. Yet such a dilemma between fighting climate change and remaining competitive is largely fallacious: the energy transition is already reshaping the global balance of power…
30
Mar
European Power
Il Circolo dell’ECFR – ARCHIPELAGO EUROPE: The European public opinion on defense and post-Western disorder
Il focus di questa edizione de Il Circolo dell’ECFR è l‘opinione pubblica europea di fronte al disordine post-occidentale. La discussione è partita dal policy brief “The European archipelago: Building bridges in a post-Western Europe”, a firma di Pawel Zerka e Célia Belin, rispettivamente Senior Policy Fellow di ECFR e Direttrice dell’ufficio di Parigi e Senior…
European Power
Warsaw European Conversation 2026
Polityka Insight and ECFR Warsaw invite you to join us for the livestream of this year’s Warsaw European Conversation. When Europe was planning its 2021–2027 budget back in 2019, hardly anyone had heard of COVID-19, few could have imagined a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine, and Donald Trump was defending himself against impeachment while…
10
Dec
Asia
Energy Transition and EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans: Future Directions under China’s Growing Influence
This week at the European Parliament, the Sofia office of the European Council on Foreign Relations, together with the office of Radan Kanev, Member of the European Parliament from the EPP Group, convened a policy discussion on the role of the energy transition in advancing the Western Balkan countries’ path toward full EU membership
2
Dec
European Power
A big, beautiful European strategy for Trumponomics
Since the return of U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House in January, European policymakers have been struggling to sketch a sensible response to Trumponomics – an unpredictable, fast-changing and often baffling mix of U.S. trade, investment and finance policies that have a direct impact on Europe’s interests. In her latest ECFR policy brief, Agathe Demarais…
27
Nov
European Power
Il Circolo dell’ECFR – Demografia e Competizione Internazionale: Il ruolo dell’Europa nel mondo di domani
Il tema di questa edizione de Il Circolo dell’ECFR è la transizione demografica, che pone l’Italia e l’Europa di fronte a una sfida esistenziale per il loro futuro sulla scena globale. Un continente sempre più anziano e con un saldo demografico negativo rischia concretamente di retrocedere a una posizione secondaria nei nuovi equilibri economici e…
28
Oct
European Power
La Unión Europea en la era de las guerras comerciales: ¿cómo fortalecer sus instrumentos, estrategias e influencia?
La Unión Europea se encuentra en una coyuntura crítica. La segunda administración Trump ha intensificado la presión comercial sobre Europa con nuevos aranceles y una agenda abiertamente proteccionista. Mientras, China está aprovechando su capacidad industrial y el control sobre minerales estratégicos y tierras raras para reforzar su influencia. En este contexto de creciente…
13
Oct
9
Oct
The UK & the EU Changing Together: High-Level Conference in Sofia
The changing international environment creates a new opportunity for the relationship between Britain and the EU. From security and defence to trade, migration, and climate, the partnership between the UK and the EU is a strategic imperative. A plurality of Brits and Europeans believe in a closer UK-EU partnership and want them to come together…
16
Sep
European Power
Il Circolo dell’ECFR – Rise to the Challengers: rivoluzione della politica estera europea?
Il tema di questa edizione de Il Circolo dell’ECFR sono i cosiddetti partiti europei Challengers, ovvero i partiti populisti in ascesa in UE, dalla destra alla sinistra. Tali attori politici stanno progressivamente “scuotendo” il mainstream della politica estera europea, acquisendo sempre più influenza nello scacchiere europeo ed internazionale. Il loro modus operandi, amplificato dal sostegno politico fornito loro…
In the media
Arturo Varvelli on the cards the EU must play towards Trump: more integration, common debt, and strategic autonomy
