Aid with reform: How the EU-Egypt deal can succeed
The EU should release funding to Cairo only if it undertakes following meaningful economic reforms
Egypt
21 Feb
The externalization of Europe’s borders: the only solution?
Migration in the Mediterranean has been a crisis factor for Europe for decades. To shed light on the issue, the discussion will revolve around ECFR’s policy brief edited by Lorena Stella Martini and Tarek Megerisi, which examines the case study of the Central Mediterranean route to analyse European externalization policies, focusing primarily on migration to Italy.
Part of the problem: A better European approach to human rights in the Middle East and North Africa
European states face accusations of neglecting the matter of human rights in their southern neighbourhood, and even of being complicit. Yet they are failing to maximise the influence they could bring to bear.
A glimpse of the future: The Ever Given and the weaponisation of choke-points
In a future, states will likely become more transactional and try to force changes in behaviour from others in exchange for the use of a platform or supply chain
Mutual reassurance: Why Europe should support talks between Egypt and Turkey
By facilitating a rapprochement between Cairo and Ankara, European governments could make progress towards their strategic objective of stabilising the Middle East and North Africa
Why Europe should push Egypt to release detained human rights activists
The Egyptian regime has shown that it is prepared to give ground on individual cases or pieces of legislation in the face of concerted pressure
The role of France in the Middle East
Is France alone in the desert? ECFR experts Julien Barnes-Dacey and Manuel Lafont Rapnouil discuss how France can lead Europe in the Middle East
Sinai: Sisi’s War on Terror
Mohannad Sabry, Egyptian journalist and Sinai researcher, explains how Egypt's Sinai Peninsula has gradually transitioned from being an area of instability and local insurgencies…
8 Dec
The terrorist threat in North Africa: How it is developing and how to counter it
Our panel examined the threats of terrorism to security and political stability in North Africa and beyond
12 Nov
Black Coffee Morning “What does the Maghreb think about Europe? And why?”
Understanding oneself means to look at oneself from the view of others. The Maghreb region is a very crucial neighbourhood for the EU, yet little is known about their point of view. The region faces political, economical and security crises with instable governments, decreasing oil prices and terrorist formations. Europe has to engage more with these countries since it is clearly mutually beneficial. Furthermore, it would alter their view on Europe towards a more positive one. For that, the European Union has to encounter MENA countries on a level playing field.
Articles
Aid with reform: How the EU-Egypt deal can succeed
The EU should release funding to Cairo only if it undertakes following meaningful economic reforms
A glimpse of the future: The Ever Given and the weaponisation of choke-points
In a future, states will likely become more transactional and try to force changes in behaviour from others in exchange for the use of a platform or supply chain
Mutual reassurance: Why Europe should support talks between Egypt and Turkey
By facilitating a rapprochement between Cairo and Ankara, European governments could make progress towards their strategic objective of stabilising the Middle East and North Africa
Why Europe should push Egypt to release detained human rights activists
The Egyptian regime has shown that it is prepared to give ground on individual cases or pieces of legislation in the face of concerted pressure
Specials
Part of the problem: A better European approach to human rights in the Middle East and North Africa
European states face accusations of neglecting the matter of human rights in their southern neighbourhood, and even of being complicit. Yet they are failing to maximise the influence they could bring to bear.
Podcasts
The role of France in the Middle East
Is France alone in the desert? ECFR experts Julien Barnes-Dacey and Manuel Lafont Rapnouil discuss how France can lead Europe in the Middle East
Sinai: Sisi’s War on Terror
Mohannad Sabry, Egyptian journalist and Sinai researcher, explains how Egypt's Sinai Peninsula has gradually transitioned from being an area of instability and local insurgencies…
Rebooting EU foreign policy part 2 – Spiros Economides
In the second of two podcasts, Spiros Economides of the London School of Economics argues that the EU needs to think strategically about how…
Rebooting EU foreign policy part 1 – Nick Witney
Nick Witney, co-author of the ECFR publication 'Rebooting EU foreign policy', explains the need for a rethink of how the EU deals with the…
US policy in the Middle East part 3 – Ambassador Charles Freeman
In the third of three podcasts on US foreign policy in the Middle East, Ambassador Charles Freeman argues that Obama's foreign policy lacks a…
US policy in the Middle East part 2 – Professor Juan Cole
In the second of three podcasts looking at US foreign policy in the Middle East, we hear from Professor Juan Cole, who explains why…
US policy in the Middle East part 1 – Jeremy Shapiro
In the first of three podcasts on US policy in the Middle East, Jeremy Shapiro explains why foreign policy is in thrall to US…
The challenges facing Sisi’s Egypt
Now that Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has been sworn in as Egypt's president, what are the challenges ahead, and what can the West do to…
Egypt’s military & Europe’s response
Issandr el Amrani, Florence Gaub, and Anthony Dworkin take a close look at the situation in Egypt, the motivation and interests of the military,…
ECFR’s World in 30 minutes: The Arab spring – three years on
Mark Leonard hosts a discussion with Daniel Levy, Anthony Dworkin, and Julien Barnes-Dacey on the Arab Spring and current events in the Middle East…
Events
21 Feb
The externalization of Europe’s borders: the only solution?
Migration in the Mediterranean has been a crisis factor for Europe for decades. To shed light on the issue, the discussion will revolve around ECFR’s policy brief edited by Lorena Stella Martini and Tarek Megerisi, which examines the case study of the Central Mediterranean route to analyse European externalization policies, focusing primarily on migration to Italy.
8 Dec
The terrorist threat in North Africa: How it is developing and how to counter it
Our panel examined the threats of terrorism to security and political stability in North Africa and beyond
12 Nov
Black Coffee Morning “What does the Maghreb think about Europe? And why?”
Understanding oneself means to look at oneself from the view of others. The Maghreb region is a very crucial neighbourhood for the EU, yet little is known about their point of view. The region faces political, economical and security crises with instable governments, decreasing oil prices and terrorist formations. Europe has to engage more with these countries since it is clearly mutually beneficial. Furthermore, it would alter their view on Europe towards a more positive one. For that, the European Union has to encounter MENA countries on a level playing field.
In the media
Doing these reforms in a meaningful way would require the Egyptian government to make a big change in the economic policies it has followed so far
Now leaders like al-Sisi and Saied feel more confident that they will be given leeway to cement their power and use financial support to do the bare minimum to sustain people in these countries
Kelly Petillo comments on the EU’s strategy to support North African governments to curb migration
It is really not a lack of unity, it is above all a lack of political will within the member countries
Hugh Lovatt on the possible coordinating between the EU and Egypt on the mediations between Hamas and Israel
The human rights situation in Egypt remains problematic and worrying
Anthony Dworkin comments on the European Union and its new deal with Egypt