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
Experts & Staff
Arturo Varvelli
Head, ECFR Rome
Senior Policy Fellow
Areas of expertise
Geopolitics and International Relations; MENA Region; Libya; EU-MENA relations; Italian-Libyan relations; Italian foreign policy
Languages
Italian, English, basic French
Biography
Arturo Varvelli is the Head of the Rome Office and a Senior Policy Fellow for the European Council on Foreign Relations. His research interests include geopolitics and international affairs, international relations of the MENA region, EU-MENA relations, Italian foreign policy towards the MENA, and transnational terrorism movements affecting the area. His main focus is Libya, a country he has extensively worked on, unpacking its domestic and foreign politics, and Italian-Libyan relations in particular.
Previously, Varvelli worked as the Co-Head of the MENA Center and Head of the Terrorism Programme at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI). In ISPI, he provided scientific coordination of the “Rome MED – Mediterranean Dialogues” organized by ISPI and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Furthermore, he was also a lecturer of History and Institutions of the Middle East at IULM University in Milan and a Visiting Fellow at the European Foundation for Democracy (EFD).
Varvelli holds a PhD in International History from the University of Milan, and a post-PhD from the CRT Foundation of Turin. He also took part in research projects funded by the Italian Chamber of Representatives and Senate, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Parliament and Commission. In 2015, he was chosen by the US State Department to take part in the International Visitor Leadership Program.
He has extensively published on Libya. His first book, “Italy and the rise of Ghaddafi” (“L’Italia e l’ascesa di Gheddafi”, 2009) focused on Italian-Libyan relations, while later books, published in collaboration with The Atlantic Council and Brookings Institutions, rather delved into Libya’s and the MENA’s foreign projections. In 2018, he took part in a Brooking Institution’s working group on the Libyan crisis.
He is also a regular speaker and commentator on Libyan and MENA issues in the main Italian media. His comments have also appeared in international newspapers such as The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Economist.
Opening the Global Gateway: Why the EU should invest more in the southern neighbourhood
The EU should invest more Global Gateway funding in the southern neighbourhood, helping it achieve strategic nearshoring, clean energy, and regional connectivity goals
6 Mar
United West, divided from the rest? Come europei, cinesi, indiani, russi ed americani guardano alla guerra
Nell’attuale contesto internazionale, le relazioni dell’Europa con le potenze globali stanno cambiando rapidamente, e la loro evoluzione rappresenta un elemento di analisi ineludibile nel delineare la strategia di politica estera dell’UE
Gassy ambitions: The obstacles to Italy’s planned gas hub for Europe
Italy has revived its ambitions to become a gas hub for Europe. But the plan is destined for the same pitfalls as past plans if it is not part of a broader European strategy
Giorgia on my mind: The Italian election and European foreign policy
Mark Leonard and his guests discuss the implications of the new government in Rome and its foreign policy agenda, including Russia and China
The Draghi effect: Italy’s new-old national interest
The prospect of a Brothers of Italy-led government is causing worry in capitals across Europe. But the party is having to devise a foreign policy approach within the bounds of Europeanism and transatlanticism.
Whatever it breaks: Draghi’s downfall and the future of Italy
Draghi always knew that he could not depend on some members of his ruling coalition. Yet his legacy of leadership in the EU could survive his departure.
European solidarity and the Russia-Ukraine war
How sustainable is European unity? And what scenarios of solidarity or division can be expected in the next few months?
Burn time: The case for a new European energy union
Almost all EU member states are exposed to the fallout for the energy market of Western sanctions on Russia. To protect their energy security and support the green transition, they should form a new energy union.
Armed for innovation: How to drive German-Italian defence industrial cooperation
Defence industrial cooperation between Italy and Germany could boost the EU’s geopolitical credibility and capacity for technological innovation. There is no strategic autonomy without a strong defence industry.
Publications
Opening the Global Gateway: Why the EU should invest more in the southern neighbourhood
The EU should invest more Global Gateway funding in the southern neighbourhood, helping it achieve strategic nearshoring, clean energy, and regional connectivity goals
Rome’s moment: Draghi, multilateralism, and Italy’s new strategy
Italy has an opportunity to position itself closer to the Franco-German engine and to help construct a multilateral system in which the EU and the US are equal partners
Network effects: Europe’s digital sovereignty in the Mediterranean
The EU has the ambition and potential to become a sovereign digital power, but it lacks an all-encompassing strategy for the sector, in which individual governments are still the key players
Health sovereignty: How to build a resilient European response to pandemics
Europe must improve its early warning systems, supply chain resilience, medical R&D, and cyber security and technology, to act decisively in future emergencies
Articles
Gassy ambitions: The obstacles to Italy’s planned gas hub for Europe
Italy has revived its ambitions to become a gas hub for Europe. But the plan is destined for the same pitfalls as past plans if it is not part of a broader European strategy
The Draghi effect: Italy’s new-old national interest
The prospect of a Brothers of Italy-led government is causing worry in capitals across Europe. But the party is having to devise a foreign policy approach within the bounds of Europeanism and transatlanticism.
Whatever it breaks: Draghi’s downfall and the future of Italy
Draghi always knew that he could not depend on some members of his ruling coalition. Yet his legacy of leadership in the EU could survive his departure.
Burn time: The case for a new European energy union
Almost all EU member states are exposed to the fallout for the energy market of Western sanctions on Russia. To protect their energy security and support the green transition, they should form a new energy union.
Armed for innovation: How to drive German-Italian defence industrial cooperation
Defence industrial cooperation between Italy and Germany could boost the EU’s geopolitical credibility and capacity for technological innovation. There is no strategic autonomy without a strong defence industry.
Views from the capitals: Russia’s war on Ukraine
The conflict in Ukraine will change Europe forever. Experts from across ECFR’s network of offices describe the view of the war from Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Sofia, and Warsaw.
Rome advantage: The Draghi government and Europe’s balance of power
With Mario Draghi staying on as prime minister, Italy has an opportunity to help lead an economic and political recovery from the pandemic that secures Europe’s future
Structured approach: How the EU can prepare itself for the next wave of migration
Migration is first and foremost a structural problem, yet the EU persists in responding to it as an emergency. Now is the time to change course.
Italy and defence under Draghi: A to-do list
Italy can play an active role in shaping European defence policy – if it avoids getting distracted by its internal political tribulations
Views from the Capitals: What Biden’s victory means for Europe
What will a Biden administration herald for Europe? The heads of ECFR’s seven offices report on the mood in the capitals
Podcasts
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
Giorgia on my mind: The Italian election and European foreign policy
Mark Leonard and his guests discuss the implications of the new government in Rome and its foreign policy agenda, including Russia and China
European solidarity and the Russia-Ukraine war
How sustainable is European unity? And what scenarios of solidarity or division can be expected in the next few months?
Super Mario to the rescue
What are the first challenges Draghi will face in his country and in Brussels?
Europe’s way out of the coronavirus crisis: from self-interest to solidarity?
The coronavirus crisis brought about financial hardship for the European Union, and many agree that a recovery fund would be needed to overcome it. In…
A Gulf apart: How Europe can gain influence with the Gulf Cooperation Council
The ECFR Rome office organized a virtual gathering, moderated by the Head of ECFR Rome Arturo Varvelli, to present the ECFR publication “A Gulf…
Corona Angst – How the virus puts the European Project and globalisation at risk
Recently declared a global pandemic, it is undeniable that the coronavirus will be a global political, social, financial and economic crisis – requiring actions that…
The Berlin Libya Conference: a moment to shine for European foreign policy?
Anthony Dworkin stands in for our usual host, Mark Leonard, to de-brief the Berlin Conference on Libya. Together with the ECFR’s experts Asli Aydıntaşbaş, Tarek…
Events
6 Mar
United West, divided from the rest? Come europei, cinesi, indiani, russi ed americani guardano alla guerra
Nell’attuale contesto internazionale, le relazioni dell’Europa con le potenze globali stanno cambiando rapidamente, e la loro evoluzione rappresenta un elemento di analisi ineludibile nel delineare la strategia di politica estera dell’UE
25 Jan
Africa-Europe Relations in 2021
The roundtable will focus on the state of the Africa-Europe relationship with its challenges and opportunities, and the role that Southern Europe could play in the process
15 Dec
Strategic sovereignty: how can Europe survive Biden’s presidency
The event will convene a high-level group of Italian decision-makers and opinion shapers across government, business, media and the expert community as well as member of ECFR Council
In the media
Libya remains an unresolved chapter and, until state authority is restored, efforts towards achieving country stability and promoting investments are likely to face significant problems
Arturo Varvelli comments on the persistent political instability in Libya
Believing we can lean on the U.S. is a bigger illusion than saying we can be autonomous
Arturo Varvelli thinks that strategic autonomy must remain a goal, despite Ukraine
Zelensky’s attendance serves as a counterbalance to the presence of the Syrian leader al-Assad, and allows the Saudis to display their interest in the concerns of the Western world
Arturo Varvelli comments on the presence of Ukrainian President Zelensky at the Arab League summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Zelensky’s view is consistent: Ukraine, as a country under attack, is seeking help from those who may also perceive Russia as a threat. Conversely, the Vatican is seeking an agreement at any cost.
Arturo Varvelli comments on President Zelensky’s mission to Europe, and on the diversity between his approach and the one adopted by the Vatican.
If Haftar is welcomed as a political representative, he will likely ask for something political in exchange, and this could ultimately disrupt UN mediation efforts in the long term
Arturo Varvelli comments on General Haftar’s visit to Italy