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.
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.
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Articles
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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
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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.
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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
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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
The migration issue, which has been growing with highs and lows for at least 15 years, should be handled as a structural phenomenon rather than as an emergency
Arturo Varvelli comments on the Meloni-Von der Leyen mission to Lampedusa and on the UE Plan on migration
Talking about rejections when our population is aging so fast is not at all far-sighted: we should promote active migration policies and select the people we really need
Arturo Varvelli comments on the understanding between Rome and Tunis, the involvement of the EU and the possible scenarios on migration
India still stands in the middle: it hasn’t severed ties with Russia, and it keeps a distance from China. But the launch of the IMEC might imply that India will mostly look towards the West.
Arturo Varvelli comments on the results of the G20 Summit held in New Delhi and on the increased understanding between India and the West
We are facing a potential government reshuffle, sponsored by those who see this solution as a vector for stabilization and elections
Arturo Varvelli comments on the suspension of Libyan Foreign Minister Mangoush after meeting in Rome with Israeli counterpart
Russia’s refusal to renew the grain deal is a sign of its weakness. Moscow is now playing all of its cards.
Arturo Varvelli comments on the lack of renewal of the grain deal by Russia