Foreign policy & defence

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What Turkey’s crisis means for the EU

What Turkey’s crisis means for the EU

Katinka Barysch
03 May 2007
Turkey has aborted its presidential election and called for an early parliamentary one. The army, it appears, is still on stand-by. Prime Minister Erdogan accused the country’s highest court of having fired “a bullet at democracy” by declaring the first round of voting on his presidential candidate, Abdullah Gul, invalid.
The EU and Arab reform

The EU and Arab reform

Charles Grant, Tomas Valsek
27 April 2007
The Arab Reform Initiative held its annual conference in Amman, Jordan, on 18th April. Founded in 2005, ARI is a consortium of a dozen research centres that advocate peaceful and gradual political, economic and social reform in the region. A few non-Arab think-tanks are also involved, including the Centre for European Reform, but it is very much led and managed by Arab research centres. The CER is part of ARI because it believes that ARI offers an excellent opportunity to encourage reform in a region that is deeply suspicious of outside influence.
Ukraine’s real problem

Ukraine’s real problem

Tomas Valasek
02 April 2007
A marriage of convenience is probably too charitable a description of the relationship between Ukraine’s president, Viktor Yushchenko, and its prime minister, Viktor Yanukovich.
In defence of missile defences?

In defence of missile defences?

Tomas Valasek
14 March 2007
For those spoiling for another good transatlantic fight, the headlines from last week’s EU summit must have come as manna from heaven.
What's happening to Airbus?

What's happening to Airbus?

Simon Tilford
23 February 2007
Top of the agenda when Jacques Chirac meets Angela Merkel today in Berlin will be the crisis at Airbus. The European aircraft manufacturer has been forced to suspend a restructuring programme following inferference from both the French and German governments.
If Turkey and the EU break up...

If Turkey and the EU break up...

Katinka Barysch
01 December 2006
The EU may decide to halt the accession talks with Turkey – or the Turkish government may walk away from them. But has either seriously thought through the consequences?
Turkish business and EU accession

Turkish business and EU accession

Sinan Ülgen
01 December 2006
Turkish accession prospects were becoming bleaker at the end of 2006, just over a year after the start of accession talks. Both Turkey’s political elite and its people are disillusioned with the EU.
Bulletin issue 51

Issue 51 - 2007

Katinka Barysch, Simon Tilford, Aurore Wanlin
24 November 2006
Absorption capacity – the wrong debate

Absorption capacity – the wrong debate

Katinka Barysch
09 November 2006
On November 8th, the European Commission published its new strategy report on enlargement. A non-event: drafts had been widely leaked to the press; and the most explosive question – whether accession negotiations with Turkey should by wholly or partly suspended because of Cyprus – has been put off until December.
Europe's blurred boundaries

Europe's blurred boundaries: Rethinking enlargement and neighbourhood policy

02 October 2006
In many parts of the EU there is growing hostility to further enlargement. Charles Grant argues that the EU must keep open the prospect of accession for its European neighbours, and suggests how opposition to enlargement can best be overcome.
Europe's flawed approach to Arab democracy

Europe's flawed approach to Arab democracy

Richard Youngs
02 October 2006
The European Union's efforts to promote political reform in North Africa and the Middle East are running into the ground. After the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks in the US, Europe's leaders pledged to promote democracy in the region as a way of tackling the root causes of terrorism.
Turkey, Russia and modern nationalism

Turkey, Russia and modern nationalism

01 August 2006
The EU faces few challenges greater than working out a modus vivendi with two large and difficult neighbours. The way the Union chooses to deal with this duo will do much to determine its future character.
Britain and France must pool parts of their defence

Britain and France must pool parts of their defence

Edgar Buckley
01 August 2006
In European Union defence, Britain and France spend the most money (45 per cent of the total), maintain the largest and most effective expeditionary forces, run the biggest defence industries and manage the most important research facilities.
Serbia’s choice

Serbia’s choice

Angela Heath
01 August 2006
Serbia faces a stark political choice this year: to make progress towards joining the EU and NATO, or to turn backwards towards bitter nationalism and a mentality of victimhood.
Bulletin issue 49

Issue 49 - 2006

Charles Grant, Edgar Buckley, Angela Heath
28 July 2006
The EU must keep its promise to the Western Balkans

The EU must keep its promise to the Western Balkans

Tim Judah
07 July 2006
Enlargement has been one of the EU's most successful policies. In the case of the Central and East European countries, the wish to join the Union has helped to foster stability, democratisation and economic reform.
How to strengthen EU foreign policy

How to strengthen EU foreign policy

Charles Grant, Mark Leonard
03 July 2006
The European Union urgently needs a plan for a more effective foreign policy. Opinion polls suggest that a majority of Europeans would support a stronger EU foreign policy.
Cyprus, Turkey and the EU: Time for a sense of proportion and compromise

Cyprus, Turkey and the EU: Time for a sense of proportion and compromise

Lord Hannay
03 July 2006
The start of Turkish accession talks provided a faint glimmer of hope for unfreezing the Cyprus stalemate that has prevailed since the Greek Cypriots voted down a UN-sponsored settlement plan in 2004.
Unblocking EU-NATO co-operation

Unblocking EU-NATO co-operation

Daniel Keohane
01 June 2006
There is something rotten in the state of EU-NATO relations. Both organisations would benefit from working closely together on a range of security issues, from counter-terrorism to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.