A United States of Europe: The need for leadership
A United States of Europe is an ambitious goal but an increasing necessity if Europeans are to maintain their place in the world
European Sovereignty
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…
The Ukraine war and European identity
With the war in Ukraine well into its second year, European politicians from across the political spectrum are still eager to show their support for the country. But a battle for the soul of Europe is brewing beneath the surface, and next year’s European Parliament elections could serve as its first battleground.
Multilateral values: European ideals under pressure
The West no longer has a monopoly on values at the UN. But Europeans can shape a new narrative in the changing multilateral system by emphasising their commitment to sovereignty, development, and openness
The traveller’s guide to European economic sovereignty
Europeans have set out on a journey towards greater economic sovereignty. They will only reach their destination if they learn to navigate an interconnected world.
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.
Europe’s soft-power problem
Although Europe has begun to make up for years of neglect in terms of defence spending, it remains woefully ill-equipped to win over other countries through the power of attraction and persuasion. Each side in the European culture war is uniquely unappealing to billions of people around the world.
6 Apr
Invasione russa dell’Ucraina: Ruolo dell’UE nel contesto regionale e globale
Gli europei richiedono maggiore cooperazione a lungo termine su diversi dossier, in particolare in materia di sicurezza e difesa
20 Jan
Health security and geopolitical competition: For a more strategic view
The pandemic has transformed public health into an arena of geopolitical competition; at the same time, pandemics like covid-19 are a global challenge requiring international cooperation
Why Afghanistan was not a failure of European strategic autonomy
Hand-wringing over Europe’s supposed failure to step up in Afghanistan ignores the fact that Europeans were principally there to support the US
Articles
A United States of Europe: The need for leadership
A United States of Europe is an ambitious goal but an increasing necessity if Europeans are to maintain their place in the world
The Ukraine war and European identity
With the war in Ukraine well into its second year, European politicians from across the political spectrum are still eager to show their support for the country. But a battle for the soul of Europe is brewing beneath the surface, and next year’s European Parliament elections could serve as its first battleground.
Multilateral values: European ideals under pressure
The West no longer has a monopoly on values at the UN. But Europeans can shape a new narrative in the changing multilateral system by emphasising their commitment to sovereignty, development, and openness
The traveller’s guide to European economic sovereignty
Europeans have set out on a journey towards greater economic sovereignty. They will only reach their destination if they learn to navigate an interconnected world.
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.
Europe’s soft-power problem
Although Europe has begun to make up for years of neglect in terms of defence spending, it remains woefully ill-equipped to win over other countries through the power of attraction and persuasion. Each side in the European culture war is uniquely unappealing to billions of people around the world.
Why Afghanistan was not a failure of European strategic autonomy
Hand-wringing over Europe’s supposed failure to step up in Afghanistan ignores the fact that Europeans were principally there to support the US
Will the EU emerge from the coronavirus crisis stronger or weaker?
After its mixed Covid response, the EU must now focus on really delivering what its citizens want
Promoting the international role of the euro: Ideas for substantive progress and greater sovereignty
Strengthening the euro would reduce the power imbalance between Europe and its international partners and competitors
What are we actually fighting about? Germany, France, and the spectre of European autonomy
France and Germany have different priorities, but both partners come to the same conclusion: Europe must do more
Podcasts
How can the EU strike back? The way towards higher economic resilience
European countries are increasingly coming under threat of economic coercion from great powers, as outlined in the latest ECFR’s policy brief. But what do we…
Conquering the cyber sphere: How the EU can build digital sovereignty
Europe’s digital transformation and sovereignty has become a question of existential importance. But what does it actually mean to be digital sovereign? Host Mark Leonard…
Why Europe cannot become a giant Switzerland – geopolitical challenges in times of covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has shaken the EU’s conception of order and exposed a gap between European aspirations and actions. Firstly, Europeans are confronted with the…
From fragility to vitality – Analysing von der Leyen’s #SOTEU
Ursula von der Leyen’s first State of the European Union speech was as long as it was broad in topics and calls for action. Host…
Surveillance and the inevitable AI future
In this week’s episode, we feature one of the focus sessions from our Annual Council Meeting this June. Policy Fellow Ulrike Franke moderated this online…
The Biden effect and the future of US-Europe relations | Part II
After last week’s discussion with Matt Duss and Jeremy Shapiro, Mark Leonard follows up by gathering the European views on a possible Biden win and…
Europe’s role in global health & how to build European health sovereignty
“If it’s about Europe´s role in global health, a big part of it is Europe's health sovereignty which we want to make one of the…
How is covid-19 changing European economic sovereignty?
What does the corona crisis mean for economic coercion? How does it amplify some of the problems stemming from punitive economic measures Europeans have worried…
An energizing side-effect? How covid-19 could revive multilateralism
Recently, we have seen funding cuts to the WHO in the middle of the coronavirus crisis and national governments closing borders instead of calling for…
Bonding over coronabonds? How the financial question divides Europe
The EU members states have been caught up in a heated discussion on possible European ‘coronabonds’, a joint debt assistance by the Union to help…
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…
6 Apr
Invasione russa dell’Ucraina: Ruolo dell’UE nel contesto regionale e globale
Gli europei richiedono maggiore cooperazione a lungo termine su diversi dossier, in particolare in materia di sicurezza e difesa
20 Jan
Health security and geopolitical competition: For a more strategic view
The pandemic has transformed public health into an arena of geopolitical competition; at the same time, pandemics like covid-19 are a global challenge requiring international cooperation
5 Jul
Between strategic autonomy and multilateralism: a more resilient future for the EU
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and ECFR Rome Office aim at fostering a debate on strategic autonomy and how it intertwines with the promotion of multilateralism
27 Apr
Digital sovereignty of the European Union in the international arena
First part of a series jointly organised by the European Movement International and ECFR exploring the challenges the European Union is facing
24 Feb
European strategic sovereignty in the Southern neighbourhood
The EU’s lack of strategic sovereignty in the MENA region need not be permanent
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
7 May
How is covid-19 changing the transatlantic relationship?
How will the tensions around the response to the coronavirus play out through the recovery from this crisis? Can EU states, with their diverse perspectives on the transatlantic relationship, come to a common understanding on how to engage with the US bilaterally and multilaterally, in what will be a highly competitive environment?
18 Apr
Une souveraineté européenne est-elle possible ?
Nous avons le plaisir de vous convier à un événement conjoint de l'ECFR et du Club de l’économie du journal Le Monde, en présence Bruno Le Maire, Laurence Boone, Mark Leonard et modéré par Sylvie Kauffmann et Philippe Escande
In the media
Leading politicians in Europe and the United States often portray the world of the 21st century as a rivalry between competing ideological and political systems
Instead of clinging to old alliances, European decision-makers must seek new partners in this “world à la carte” for the crucial issues of the 21st century, Mark Leonard, Ivan Krastev and Timothy Garton Ash state
500 million Europeans should be able to defend their interests. We cannot always rely on 350 million Americans.
The purchase of F35, the fighter aircraft of the future, increases our industrial dependence on the USA for decades to come
While Europeans previously viewed their project as post-national, they now acknowledge that the EU model is exceptional rather than universal
But the longer the war in Ukraine lasts, the more important it will become to ensure that European support remains acceptable for European citizens and convincing for Ukrainians
Pawel Zerka and André Wilkens explain how European sentiments have been tested by the Ukraine war