Foreign policy & defence
A Balkan map for the road to Damascus?
24 May 2013
Everyone's policy in Syria has failed. Bosnia may teach us about the combination of tough action and painful compromise needed to bring about peace.
Issue 90 - 2013
24 May 2013
NATO and the costs of star wars
01 May 2013
Europeans should convince the US to scale back its missile defences ambitions. American defences do not work. They are also creating unnecessary tensions with Russia.
Why Europe should change its approach to Azerbaijan
25 March 2013
The EU has relied on oil and gas from Azerbaijan to reduce its dependence on Russian energy supplies since the beginning of the century.
Issue 89 - 2013
25 March 2013
- It's the politics, stupid!, Simon Tilford
- Central and East European migrants are a boon for Britain, John Springford
- Why Europe should change its approach to Azerbaijan, Rem Korteweg
The EU and Iran
15 March 2013
The EU-Iran relationship focuses on the stop-and-go negotiations to end Iran's nuclear programme, which Europeans and the US believe is designed to build nuclear weapons.
The EU’s policy towards the Middle East peace process
15 March 2013
Since the beginnings of EU foreign policy co-operation, the Union has sought a peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This objective is of significant interest to the United Kingdom.
The European External Action Service
15 March 2013
The European External Action Service (EEAS) is, potentially, a very useful tool for enhancing British influence in the EU and in the world.
In Mali, now comes the hard part
22 February 2013
France and other EU countries confront four main challenges in the Mali crisis. As the EU launches a training mission, the hardest work still lies ahead.
Annual report 2012
08 February 2013
Charles Grant analyses Britain's difficult relationship with the EU and looks back on what the CER did in 2012.
Time to bite the bullet on European defence
01 February 2013
In response to declining defence budgets, Europeans must buy cheaper military equipment and co-ordinate their efforts to build sophisticated drones.
Issue 88 - 2013
25 January 2013
- Leaving the EU will not set Britain's economy free, Philip Whyte
- Why the EU should support France in the Sahel, Rem Korteweg
- Can Turkey and the UK learn from each other's EU strategies?, Katinka Barysch
US foreign policy after the presidential election: What should Europeans expect?
25 October 2012
For all the sparring between the presidential candidates on US foreign policy, a second Obama term or a Romney administration would have a lot in common.
Burma: An EU foreign policy success
23 August 2012
Burma's rulers could not modernise its economy unless the EU lifted sanctions. But the EU insisted on political reform, which is now happening.
The Commission should stand firm on Iceland's accession negotiations
08 August 2012
The world's longest running democracy would be a welcome member, but the EU should not lower standards on fishing or whaling to encourage Iceland to join.
Is the Franco-British defence treaty in trouble?
27 July 2012
In 2010, France and Britain agreed to strengthen defence collaboration, mainly to save money through common research and acquisition of military equipment. The economic crisis forced their hand: they needed greater economies of scale to preserve certain capabilities in the face of smaller defence budgets (which Britain cut two years...
Issue 85 - 2012
27 July 2012
- Europe needs a Rooseveltian break with fear, Hugo Brady
- A banking union – it is necessary, but is it likely?, Philip Whyte
- Is the Franco-British defence treaty in trouble?, Tomas Valasek
Are Europeans a better transatlantic security partner than meets the eye?
06 July 2012
Europeans are less willing to use military force than their US allies. But they are still making significant contributions to global stability.
Europe's External Action Service: Ten steps towards a credible EU foreign policy
04 July 2012
The EU's new diplomatic service has been widely criticised. Although the EEAS has achieved more than many acknowledge, it can still do a lot better.
The implications of military spending cuts for NATO's largest members
01 July 2012
Brookings
There have long been debates about the sustainability of the transatlantic alliance and accusations amongst allies of unequal contributions to burden-sharing. But since countries on both sides of the Atlantic have begun introducing new – and often major – military spending cuts in response to the economic crisis, concerns about...