Foreign policy & defence

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Can the EU thaw frozen conflicts

Can the EU thaw frozen conflicts

Tomas Valasek
30 June 2008
The Czech government floated proposals in May that would see the EU take a more active role in solving frozen conflicts in eastern Europe. The Czechs hold the EU’s rotating presidency next year, so their wish may become reality.
Willing and able? EU defence in 2020

Willing and able? EU defence in 2020

Daniel Keohane, Tomas Valasek
02 June 2008
Demand for military forces is growing. And the Europeans increasingly turn to the EU when in need of troops for peacekeeping or for delivering humanitarian aid. But will the EU be able to keep up with the demand?
What Arab countries think of democracy

What Arab countries think of democracy

Clara Marina O'Donnell
21 May 2008
Earlier this month, the Arab Reform Initiative (ARI) presented its first report on the state of democratic reform in the Arab world. ARI is a consortium of a dozen leading Arab research institutes which try to promote peaceful democratic reform across the Middle East (CER and a few other non-Arab think-tanks are associated with the initiative).
France, NATO and European defence

France, NATO and European defence

Tomas Valasek
12 May 2008
France and the UK are close to an agreement that would dramatically improve relations EU and NATO. The two institutions currently make poor partners. Besides Franco-disagreements, Turkish squabbles with the EU also impede EU-NATO co-operation.
France finds a friend in Ukraine

France finds a friend in Ukraine

Tomas Valasek
02 May 2008
The government of Nicolas Sarkozy has launched a charm offensive towards Ukraine. French diplomats in Brussels have begun saying that Ukraine should have a ‘privileged’ status with the EU.
Turkey's turmoil, the EU's reaction

Turkey's turmoil, the EU's reaction

Katinka Barysch
10 April 2008
Political turmoil is nothing new in Turkey. After six years of unusual stability, tensions have mounted since early 2007. The army threatened to topple the AKP government in case it made Abdullah Gul president.
The EU, Israel and Hamas

The EU, Israel and Hamas

Clara Marina O'Donnell
04 April 2008
The US has embarked on a new attempt to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict, backed by wide international support. But the situation on the ground between Israel and the Palestinians is so bad that peace looks out of reach for now.
For a new Iran policy

For a new Iran policy

Christoph Bertram
01 April 2008
For almost six years now the West has tried – and failed – to stop the Iranian nuclear programme. Instead, nuclear enrichment has become a matter of Iranian national pride and sovereignty.
Bulletin issue 59

Issue 59 - 2008

Hugo Brady, Philip Whyte, Christoph Bertram
28 March 2008
The Czechs in the EU

The Czechs in the EU: In the middle of the class

10 March 2008
On a recent visit to Prague, people kept asking me how the Czech Republic was doing as EU member-state, and whether it was a successful member.
Kosovo - the economic dilemma

Kosovo - the economic dilemma

Katinka Barysch
29 February 2008
Now that Kosovo’s independence party is over, the hard work begins. Despite the efforts of the UN and the EU, the institutions of government remain fragile, corruption is rife, and organised crime is a problem.
The Egypt-Gaza boarder breach: A wake up call? thumbnail

The Egypt-Gaza boarder breach: A wake up call?

Clara Marina O'Donnell
08 February 2008
Events on the ground in Israel and Gaza have taken a new turn for the worse. But the latest crisis could lead to a more constructive approach in solving the Middle East stand-off.
Poland’s bold new foreign policy

Poland’s bold new foreign policy

01 February 2008
For the rest of Europe, the worst thing about Poland’s Law and Justice government, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, was its foreign policy. His approach towards Russia, Germany and (sometimes) the EU – supported by his twin brother, President Lech Kaczynski – was confrontational.
A new phase in EU-Iran diplomacy

A new phase in EU-Iran diplomacy

Tomas Valasek
25 January 2008
The US caused a small earthquake in the foreign policy circles when it announced, in November 2007, that it believes that Iran is no longer producing nuclear weapons.
The roadmap to better EU-NATO relations

The roadmap to better EU-NATO relations

Tomas Valasek
20 December 2007
President Sarkozy has recently said that France may re-integrate into NATO's military command. This abrupt change in French policy opens doors to a much-needed improvement in EU-NATO relations.
Preparing for the multipolar world

Preparing for the multipolar world: European foreign and security policy in 2020

Charles Grant, Tomas Valasek
18 December 2007
The world is becoming increasingly multipolar. Will that mean democratic poles lining up against autocracies, in two competing camps? Or will all the leading powers support multilateral institutions?
Turkey's role in European energy security

Turkey's role in European energy security

Katinka Barysch
12 December 2007
Turkey – located between big energy producers and the EU market – is crucial for Europe’s energy security. However, plans for the Nabucco pipeline as an alternative to Russian gas supplies are in trouble.
Bosnia

The EU must stand firm on Bosnia

Charles Grant, Tomas Valasek
03 December 2007
The EU’s inability to halt the Bosnian civil war of 1992-95 marked the nadir of its attempts to build an effective foreign policy. Eventually the Americans helped the Europeans stitch Bosnia back together, at the Dayton peace conference.
Europe’s defence and its new security strategy

Europe’s defence and its new security strategy

Tomas Valasek
03 December 2007
The European Union is starting work on a new security strategy. France’s president, Nicolas Sarkozy, wants it approved in the second half of 2008, during his country’s EU presidency.