Foreign policy & defence
Trump's Iran policy leaves the EU few options
11 December 2018
Trump’s decision to re-impose sanctions has placed the Iran nuclear agreement on life support and further destabilised the region. Unwilling to seriously support the deal, Europeans will have to rely on diplomacy to limit the damage.
Bulletin Issue 123 - December 2018/January 2019
29 November 2018
- An effective UK trade policy and a customs union are compatible, Sam Lowe
- China and Europe: Buying hearts and minds?, Ian Bond
- What is Europe doing to fight disinformation?, Camino Mortera-Martinez
China and Europe: Buying hearts and minds?
29 November 2018
The EU does not need to compete financially with China’s grandiose ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI) everywhere. But it should at least stop China buying the support of EU member-states.
Is Trump right to nuke the INF Treaty?
02 November 2018
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is a cornerstone of European stability. The US should challenge Russian treaty violations, but not abandon the treaty without a better plan.
Protecting European networks: What can NATO do?
31 October 2018
With the 'cyber defence pledge' NATO is trying to get its allies to do more to protect their networks. The alliance should lead by example.
One year since Macron's Sorbonne speech: Plus ça change?
25 October 2018
In September 2017, newly-elected French President Macron laid out his grand vision for relaunching the EU. He has not achieved much so far, but Macron remains the greatest hope for driving much-needed reforms.
Premature elections won't stabilise Libya
10 October 2018
The push for elections in Libya risks deepening the country’s divisions. Europe should agree on a common position, and work towards a settlement acceptable to key Libyan and regional players.
Moving Balkan borders: Peace plan or Pandora's box?
28 September 2018
Moving borders in the Western Balkans is risky, but might occasionally be the best option. The EU should not block a Serbia/Kosovo deal, but should work on risk mitigation.
Bulletin Issue 122 - October/November 2018
28 September 2018
- The EU should not fret about Singapore-on-Thames, John Springford
- Moving Balkan borders: Peace plan or Pandora's box?, Ian Bond
- Italy and the EU: The logic of confrontation, Luigi Scazzieri
Europe should keep Turkey close
27 July 2018
EU-Turkey relations have deteriorated sharply in recent years, and even maintaining transactional co-operation could become increasingly difficult. The challenge for Europe is how to prevent relations from souring further.
Defence spending in NATO: Stop convincing Trump, start convincing Europeans
10 July 2018
Trump’s desire to get Europeans to "pay up" will bring about conflict at the NATO Summit. It is important to get the facts right.
Game over? Europe's cyber problem
09 July 2018
The EU knows that a cyber war is happening, but not how to fight it. To be up to speed, the bloc needs to update its cyber security plan
Trump's two summits: Can NATO navigate the dangers?
04 July 2018
Donald Trump attacked his allies at the G7 summit, then embraced North Korea’s Kim. Will summits with NATO and Vladimir Putin follow the same pattern?
Beyond firefighting: An EU strategy for Gaza
29 June 2018
The EU should respond more robustly to the recent violence in Gaza. The Trump administration is not a credible mediator; the EU should step in.
Moving on after Galileo – lessons (to be) learnt
28 June 2018
The EU and the UK have not been able to come to an agreement over Britain’s participation in the Galileo programme.
Plugging in the British: Completing the circuit
22 June 2018
Post-Brexit internal and external security co-operation arrangements seem as hard for the EU and UK to agree on as trade. Other third countries’ relationships with the EU provide models.
Bulletin Issue 120 - June/July 2018
30 May 2018
- On Brexit, TTIP and the City of London, Sam Lowe
- Trump and Europe: Atlantic hurricane season?, Ian Bond
- Can EU-UK defence negotiations be positive-sum?, Sophia Besch
Trump and Europe: Atlantic hurricane season?
30 May 2018
Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal adds further stress to the transatlantic relationship. European responses must avoid making things worse, for both sides' sake.
Can EU-UK defence negotiations be positive-sum?
30 May 2018
It is clearly in Britain and the European Union’s mutual interest to continue working closely together on defence after Brexit. Nevertheless, negotiating defence co-operation will not be pain-free; there are obstacles to a quick and easy deal.
EU has little choice but to try to keep the Iran deal alive
11 May 2018
The EU is unlikely to risk a major confrontation with the US over the Iran deal. But even small steps can help buy time and preserve the deal.