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…
Experts & Staff
Jana Puglierin
Head, ECFR Berlin
Senior Policy Fellow
Areas of expertise
German and European foreign, security and defence policy; Germany's role in Europe; transatlantic relations
Languages
German, English, Italian
Biography
Dr. Jana Puglierin is a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and head of its Berlin office since January 2020. She also directs ECFR’s Re:shape Global Europe project, which seeks to develop new strategies for Europeans to understand and engage with the changing international order.
She headed the Alfred von Oppenheim Centre for European Policy Studies at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) from December 2015 to December 2019, and was a research fellow with its Berlin Future Forum from September 2013 to November 2015. Before joining DGAP, she worked as an adviser for a member of the Bundestag on disarmament, arms control, and non-proliferation, as well as German and European foreign and security policy. Between 2003 and 2010, she was researcher and lecturer to the chair of political science and contemporary history as well as in the program for North American studies at the University of Bonn. In summer 2010, she held a lectureship at the Chemnitz University of Technology.
After her Abitur in Siegen in 1997, she spent a year in Paris – where she completed the Cours de civilisation française de la Sorbonne. She then studied political science, public law, and sociology at the University of Bonn from 1998 to 2003, as well as at Venice International University for a semester in 2002. In studying for her doctorate at the University of Bonn, she focused on the life and thought of political scientist John Herz, and conducted research in the United States.
Puglierin was an associate at Stiftung Neue Verantwortung in Berlin from October 2010 to October 2011. In November 2017, she was a visiting fellow at the American-German Situation Room, a joint initiative of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies and the German Marshall Fund. She was part of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Working Group of Young Foreign Policy Experts between 2007 and 2016.
She has been a member and deputy spokesperson of the Advisory Board of the Federal Academy for Security Policy since June 2022. She is also a member of the board of the European Movement Germany and the board of the German Atlantic Society.
Her work focuses on German and European foreign, security, and defence policy, as well as Germany’s role in Europe and transatlantic relations.
European Solidarity Tracker
The European Solidarity Tracker collects and displays instances of pan-European solidarity throughout the coronavirus crisis
Shared goals: How Germany’s crisis response could strengthen Europe
Berlin has quietly made concessions to new calls for greater solidarity. But back home this consensus may not last forever.
Stumbling into its moment of truth: the EU’s debate over its economic response to covid-19
“We are at a moment of truth, which is to decide whether the European Union is a political project or just a market project. I…
Views from the capitals: How the row over coronabonds is tearing Europe apart
ECFR’s national offices discuss the emerging divisions between EU member states on the economic response to covid-19
Mother of all problems: The return of crisis manager Merkel
German decision-makers must now bear in mind not only their country’s well-being but also that of the entire EU
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 EU as regulatory superpower: can EU law be a geopolitical tool?
This week’s podcast episode sees very special participation from Anu Bradford, law professor at Columbia and author of “The Brussels Effect: How the European Union…
Charm defensive: Macron and the Germans at the Munich Security Conference
To hope that German defence policy will become more French is equivalent to waiting for Godot.
The slow death of ambition: German foreign policy after Kramp-Karrenbauer’s resignation
The grand coalition will continue to be a kind of caretaker government in its lack of a big foreign policy vision
Publications
Keeping America close, Russia down, and China far away: How Europeans navigate a competitive world
European citizens are adapting slowly to the new geopolitical landscape. But leaders have an opportunity to build public consensus on Europe’s approach to China, the US, and Russia
The art of vassalisation: How Russia’s war on Ukraine has transformed transatlantic relations
Europeans’ response to Russia’s war on Ukraine confirms their profound dependence on the US – an unwise position given the security challenge in Europe and coming geopolitical competition with China
Beyond Merkelism: What Europeans expect of post-election Germany
Paradoxically, to fulfil many Europeans’ expectations, Berlin will need to revise the principles of Merkelism that created this trust
The fall of the Afghan government and what it means for Europe
ECFR’s policy experts examine what the Taliban takeover means for countries and regions around the world: Europe, the US, the Middle East, Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, and the Sahel
How to prevent Germany from becoming Eurosceptic
To engage more confidently with a world that is changing, outward-looking Germans need to shape a progressive new national identity before it is defined by the forces of isolation and exclusion
Crisis of confidence: How Europeans see their place in the world
Public faith in EU institutions has declined due to their handling of the covid-19 pandemic. However, citizens still believe in the need for greater cooperation.
The crisis that made the European Union: European cohesion in the age of covid
The pandemic poses a threat to European cohesion by increasing economic divides and undermining trust in the EU and national governments
The big engine that might: How France and Germany can build a geopolitical Europe
The EU Coalition Explorer survey reveals the importance of Germany and France within the EU, and the impact they can have when they cooperate with each other
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
Together in trauma: Europeans and the world after covid-19
A new survey shows that, after the onset of the covid-19 crisis, there has been a rise in public support for unified EU action to tackle global threats
Articles
The German scapegoat: Berlin’s inevitable role in the US presidential election
Germany cannot avoid being dragged into election debates in the US. On defence, it should focus on its own national security interests
Repair, replace, reimburse: Sustaining a European tank coalition for Ukraine
Military help for Ukraine is moving towards serious questions of logistics – but more countries still need to step forward. Here is how the next-stage coalition could look.
You can’t switch off the sun: How Germany can gain energy sovereignty with renewables
Russia’s war in Ukraine has exposed the link between energy and security policy. Renewable energies can help Germany gain energy sovereignty – and protect itself from security threats
The Leopard plan: How European tanks can help Ukraine take back its territory
Ukraine needs to move to a new phase of the war if it is to reclaim its territory occupied by Russia. A European plan to supply Leopard tanks should be at the heart of this effort.
Arm for the storm: Germany’s new security strategy
Germany’s National Security Strategy should aim for more than just a return to the status quo ante but with more money. The Zeitenwende is forcing Germany to reinvent itself as a European security actor.
War and sovereignty: How the EU can enhance its ability to act
The EU has made insufficient progress in enhancing its sovereignty, particularly in security and defence. The union now needs to overcome internal differences to bolster its external ability to act.
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.
Lessons for Europe from the Munich Security Conference
The current US administration might be the last one that sees itself as a European power. As the Munich Security Conference 2022 showed, Europeans will need to do far more to shape the rules of engagement between states.
Sanctions in the pipeline: Germany’s troubles over Russia and Nord Stream 2
The German government has finally dispelled the uncertainty around its stance on Nord Stream 2 and potential sanctions on Russia. But the major tests of Berlin’s ability to act may still lie ahead.
Direction of force: The EU’s Strategic Compass
The demands on EU crisis management, both military and civilian, have constantly risen, but there is a lack of the necessary means and political will to act collectively
Specials
European Sovereignty Index
The EU can overcome the new challenges it faces and can shape the global order. To achieve this, Europeans will need to improve their joint capacity to act.
EU Cohesion Monitor
European cohesion is bouncing back after crisis years. The EU Cohesion Monitor presents new insights on cohesion as an underestimated source of strength and collective action in the EU.
EU Coalition Explorer
The Coalition Explorer illustrates the expert opinions of more than 800 respondents who work on European policy and creates a visual understanding of the views held by Europe’s professional political class
European Solidarity Tracker
The European Solidarity Tracker collects and displays instances of pan-European solidarity throughout the coronavirus crisis
Podcasts
Europe Listens … to Dhanasree Jayaram
Beyond the UN formats, countries around the world are forging hundreds of bilateral and multilateral agreements to advance the clean energy transition. India has emerged…
Europe Listens … to Avinash Persaud
Action on climate financing is long overdue. Inadequate mitigation and adaptation have already led to substantial loss and damage in the most vulnerable countries. But…
Europe Listens … to Shauna Aminath
Climate change is an immediate existential threat to the coral islands that make up the Maldives, one of the lowest-lying countries in the world. Recent…
The US, Europe, and the art of vassalisation
This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Jeremy Shapiro and Jana Puglierin to discuss EU-US relations
Live from the Munich Security Conference: Where is world politics turning?
Mark Leonard reports live from the Munich Security Conference
The Leopards are free!
Mark Leonard, Camille Grand, Gustav Gressel, Jana Puglierin, and Jeremy Shapiro discuss what the Leopard 2 decision means for the war in Ukraine
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?
The NATO Summit and the future of European Defence
Mark Leonard is joined by Nick Witney, Jana Puglierin, and Tara Varma, to evaluate the outcomes of the NATO Summit in Madrid, especially regarding European defence
Germany’s Zeitenwende: what does it mean for Europe?
German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is facing criticism for not meeting the expectations he created with his Zeitenwende speech. But how fair is this criticism?
European defence reloaded
What are the biggest challenges in building greater European sovereignty in defence? And how will this effort be funded?
Events
13 Jun
Europe’s global role in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine: The public perspective
What do Europeans think about Russia, China, and the war in Ukraine? Join a panel of policymakers and expert observers to analyse ECFR’s latest public opinion…
22 May
European defence: Expectations and demands of non-EU partners
This event is part of the German Forum on Security Policy, organised by the Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS).
1 Dec
Europe debates | Feministische Außenpolitik und militärisches Engagement sind inkompatibel
This debate is part of ECFR’s Re:shape Global Europe project funded by Stiftung Mercator
8 Nov
The role of Germany in Europe in times of war: Potential for German-Bulgarian cooperation
We will discuss Germany’s role in Europe and will reflect on how the new European order is viewed in Berlin
7 Sep
A world safe for autocracy? Gideon Rachman in conversation with Jana Puglierin
In conversation with Jana Puglierin, Gideon Rachman will present his book “The Age of the Strongmen”
30 Aug
Europe debates | Should the EU ban Russian tourists from entering the Schengen area?
This debate is part of ECFR’s Re:shape Global Europe project funded by Stiftung Mercator
17 May
It’s complicated: The Russia-China Axis
This event is part of the German Forum on Security Policy, organised by the Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS).
4 May
United Europe, Divided World? The Ukraine crisis and beyond
Will new dependencies and partnerships develop in Europe and the world in the future? What role will international institutions play? Are we entering a post-American world?
29 Mar
The birth of geopolitical Europe: In conversation with Josep Borrell
With the EU’s High Representative as our honoured guest, the panel will explore the birth of a geopolitical Europe and the new dimensions of European power with a focus on the tech, economic, and security terrains
3 Mar
Zeitenwende: Germany as a pioneer in foreign and security policy?
A webinar on Germany’s change of course in defence spending amid the ongoing war in Ukraine
In the media
The purchase of F35, the fighter aircraft of the future, increases our industrial dependence on the USA for decades to come
Jana Puglierin emphasises the central role of America
I believe that foreign policy is also becoming increasingly important for domestic policy decisions and that citizens are directly affected
Jana Puglierin talks about the G7 summit, Europe’s relationship with China and the current state of the Russian war on Ukraine
For the chancellor, what he fears most is uncontrolled escalation and the Russian nuclear threat. Whereas in the Polish debate, the threat perception is different.
Jana Puglierin says that much of the German-Polish tension over Ukraine stems from a fundamental difference in perspective that is unlikely to change
He wants to shake up things and wake up people. But he’s frightening people and dividing countries from each other.
Jana Puglierin comments on French president Macron’s call for “European strategic autonomy”
Macron’s instincts are good. He wants a common European approach. But he mistakes himself for Europe. He really thinks France’s interests are Europe’s interests.
Jana Puglierin comments on French president Macron’s geopolitical vision