If Sun Tzu went to Gymnich
European foreign ministers at the informal Gymnich meeting should take a leaf out of Sun Tzu’s book, and discuss the larger trends shaping Europe’s place in the world rather than institutions and methods
Experts & Staff
Daniel Korski
ECFR Alumni · Former Senior Policy Fellow
Biography
Daniel Korski used to work for ECFR as Senior Policy Fellow.
Partners in decline
Europe is an easy target for a frustrated Washington. But this misses a fundamental point. The US and Europe are the best allies they?ve each got. Both are declining powers that need to stick together.
Europe et op?rations ext?rieures
Daniel Korski et Richard Gowan sur la strat?gie de s?curit? civilo-militaire de l?UE. L?Europe peut-elle passer de la rh?torique ? l?action?
“Mushtarak”, le Guadalcanal agfhan?
Daniel Korski dans le Monde sur l?op?ration Mushtarak en Afghanistan et pourquoi elle doit ?tre une campagne militaire et politique et pas simplement une bataille
In defence of Europe
European defence ministers are meeting at a difficult time, with Robert Gates accusing Europeans of threatening Euro-Atlantic security, and the recent collapse of the Dutch government over Afghanistan. The defence ministers urgently need to re-examine how the continent thinks about its security
Dobro do?li to the Balkans, Baroness Ashton
Catherine Ashton visits the Western Balkans in her first official foreign trip, and is again roundly criticised. But this troubled region could do with her attention
Europe and the rise of the world’s lynchpin states
While Europe focuses on India and China, a host of medium-sized emerging powers are helping to reshape global diplomacy. Is Europe ready for the rise of the lynchpin states?
Time for Europe to think bold thoughts
Europe has a lot to gain from being inventive. A Turkish-EU troop offer could help unlock Gaza – and the Middle East peace process
Getting out of the Afghan quagmire
It is time for the West to stop dreaming and adopt more pragmatic goals in Afghanistan
Boxing clever
Catherine Ashton appears to be an out-fighter
Publications
Egypt’s hybrid revolution: A bolder EU approach
How Europe can help Egypt’s move towards democracy
Beyond wait-and-see: the way forward for EU Balkan policy
Pre-occupied with its financial troubles,…
Can the EU rebuild failing states? A review of Europe’s civilian capacities.
Have broken promises and treating Afghanistan, DR Congo and Iraq left the EU without the capacity to prevent fragile states from failing?
Shaping Europe’s Afghan Surge
Will the military surge in Afghanistan fail without a civilian surge?
Re-wiring the US-EU relationship
With the pivotal change of leadership in Washington, the US and the EU may have an ideal moment to strengthen the US-EU institutional bond
Fact sheet on NATO deployments in Afghanistan
Read our Fact Sheet comparing NATO troop deployment figures in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Europe’s Forgotten War
Daniel Korski argues that the international coalition should overhaul their Afghanistan strategy and strike a ‘grand bargain’ to stabilise the war-torn country
Articles
Egypt’s popular putsch
It is too early to write off Egypt's revolution. Unlike in the past, politics is now a live issue across the country, and that popular force is a difficult one to control or stop, and even the steps that have been taken now seemed impossible just over a year ago.
The year of the HUBRICS
With Europe and much of the West facing a seemingly painful decline, attention continues to shift to the BRICS and the world's other rising powers. But are these countries overplaying their hands as the cracks begin to show in their economic virility?
Without military reform Egypt cannot democratise
Egypt will struggle to progress towards democracy unless some form of military reform takes place. The first challenge is to make sure that any moves towards reform are palatable to the entrenched interests of Military Inc.
Mission manual
Wars are easy to start, hard to fight, and often harder still to end. Learning the right lessons from past wars, recent and old ones, is absolutely key. In Libya the international community must also keep its focus on political rather than military aims.
What Europe needs to do on Libya
The EU needs to act on Libya. If it doesn't, the consequences for Europe – in terms of migration, energy revenues and support for terrorism – could be disasterous. Here are eight concrete steps that European leaders should consider taking.
Taming Libya’s mad dog
If there ever was a need and an opportunity for Europe to show its muscles, Colonel Gaddafi is providing one. The test is a different one for the EU after the turmoil in Tunisia, Egypt and beyond, but European leaders can no longer look the other way.
The Middle East needs Germany
The fall of Hosni Mubarak’s regime in Egypt has not so much given Israel a headache as a migraine. Europe – and Germany in particular – needs to play a leading role in reassuring Israel and keeping Middle East peace on track.
Kyrgyzstan: Russia?s Rwanda
Just as France maintained links with its former colonies in Central Africa, Moscow has maintained ties with the former Soviet Republics in Central Asia. In light of the recent violence in its backyard nation of Kyrgyzstan, what lessons can Russia learn from France?s experience in Central Africa?
Western Balkans: The way out of the EU?s waiting room
Pre-occupied with its financial troubles, the EU is no longer paying attention to the Western Balkans. As a result it is losing credibility and influence in a region that may slide back towards instability.
What is a Cleggservative foreign policy?
Forget reputations. Britain’s new coalition government of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats will temper its foreign policy approach with a healthy dose of pragmatism.
In the media
Daniel Korski is quoted on Serbia relation with the EU
Daniel Korski is quoted on Serbia EU candidacy
Daniel Korski discusses the EU's Balkans strategy
Daniel Korski predicts the directions Vladimir Putin may take in Russia
In an interview, Daniel Korski discusses Libya's security challenge