State building and the EU’s supra-national momentum
Kosovo’s imminent independence – while the right course – raises difficult questions about some elements of the European project
Wider Europe
Serbia’s European dream lives on – but only just
Pro-European Boris Tadic may have regained the Serbian presidency, but his country remains sharply divided and the fight for its European future is not over. The EU should think hard about ways to support the pro-democracy camp.
Macedonia: a Light unto the Gentiles?
Despite recent problems, Macedonia’s record is still “best in class” and its Euro-Atlantic integration should continue posthaste
Putin’s Mini-Me
Even after a reciprocal endorsement between Putin and Medvedev, a delicate balancing act will be necessary to manage Putin?s succession in the coming months
Poland’s second return to Europe?
An in-depth analysis of the new Polish government’s foreign policy
Russia’s elections and the Putin succession
Will Russia’s political tradition of personalised autocracy allow Putin’s survival strategy to succeed? An analysis in Bulgarian
Curtain time in Kosovo
After trying to resolve Kosovo’s status, diplomats have given up. The U.S and the EU now need to back the compromise proposed by UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari and re-affirm the region’s European trajectory.
Russia?s over-managed democracy
Putin?s grand plan may not yet be clear, but most of the likely variants now hinge on how he will use the mandate from Sunday?s election to stage-manage the next vote in March
Observing Russia’s elections
Whatever the electoral outcome, Putin wins. But this time, the manner of the Russian strongman?s victory will undermine not only Russian democracy; but the credibility of Europe?s democracy-promotion.
A month for hard power
There?s a real risk that, in the weeks between now and Christmas, the EU will face violence in either Kosovo, where 15,000 European troops underwrite security, or Lebanon where 8,000 Europeans have made up the backbone of the UN peace force