Foreign policy & defence

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Choices for Europe

Choices for Europe

Nathaniel Copsey, Carolyn Moore, Clara Marina O'Donnell
01 May 2009
CER - University of Birmingham
Sluggish economic growth, high unemployment, ageing populations, climate change and security challenges on the borders of Europe have been some of the top priorities on the European agenda since the early 1990s. The EU has tried to tackle these issues, notably through its commitments to reduce greenhouse gases and its Lisbon strategy for economic growth.
What the economic crisis means for the EU's eastern policy

What the economic crisis means for the EU's eastern policy

Tomas Valasek
01 April 2009
The EU's new 'eastern partnership' risks being undermined by the economic crisis. The initiative offers countries like Armenia and Ukraine fresh incentives, such as free-trade agreements and easier visa regimes, to adopt European norms of democracy and open markets.
Is Russia a partner to the EU in Bosnia?

Is Russia a partner to the EU in Bosnia?

Tomas Valasek
19 March 2009
Where does Bosnia fit in the broader picture of EU – Russian relations? The EU and Russia are ostensibly partners in building a viable government in this Balkan country, but for much of 2007-08 Russia encouraged Bosnian politicians to resist EU-sponsored police reforms. This policy brief argues that Russian policy...
Economic crisis and the 'eastern partnership'

Economic crisis and the 'eastern partnership'

Tomas Valasek
10 March 2009
In two months, at a summit in Prague on May 7th 2009, the European Union will launch a new policy for Eastern Europe – an 'eastern partnership'.
Why enlargement is in trouble

Why enlargement is in trouble

Katinka Barysch
24 February 2009
It is five years since the EU admitted eight Central and East European countries, followed by another two in 2007. To celebrate this anniversary, Commissioner Olli Rehn has just released a report that explains how these countries have benefited from integrating into the EU. But any jubilant mood was dimmed by the current economic crisis in Central and Eastern Europe; and by the bleak outlook for further accessions.
Obama, disarmament and Iran

Obama, disarmament and Iran

Tomas Valasek
02 February 2009
Barack Obama has pledged to take steps to rid the world of nuclear weapons. “I will not authorise the development of new nuclear weapons. And I will make the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons worldwide a central element of US nuclear policy”, he wrote in December 2008.
Georgia, Ukraine and energy security

Georgia, Ukraine and energy security

Dieter Helm
02 February 2009
In January 2006 Russia interrupted gas supplies to Ukraine and triggered a short, sharp shock to Europe in its ever-growing dependency on Russian gas.
Issue 64 - 2009 file thumbnail

Issue 64 - 2009

Tomas Valasek, Nick Butler, Dieter Helm
30 January 2009
Gaza, Europe and empty gestures

Gaza, Europe and empty gestures

Clara Marina O'Donnell
08 January 2009
'We're fed up with empty gestures', the Israeli prime minister told a high level delegation from the EU. Several foreign ministers and EU officials had come to the Middle East to try to help end the war raging in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, which has killed over 700 Palestinians and 10 Israelis in the twelve days since it started.
The EU and Iran: How to make conditional engagement work

The EU and Iran: How to make conditional engagement work

Steven Everts
19 December 2008
The IAEA's decision to censure Iran for its nuclear activities but also to give Tehran time to co-operate with inspectors creates a breathing space. The EU should use it to put forward a broader set of policies, fleshing out the political and economic incentives it is offering Tehran, while making...
Why Ukraine matters to Europe

Why Ukraine matters to Europe

Tomas Valasek
05 December 2008
Until the war in Georgia in August 2008, the EU had taken stability beyond its eastern border for granted. Now it will need to become more active in this volatile region, in which Ukraine is the largest and most important country.
The EU takes on defence procurement

The EU takes on defence procurement

Clara Marina O'Donnell
28 November 2008
The EU is in the middle of a little noticed – but potentially important – debate about defence markets. For the first time, the European Commission could be authorised to help reduce barriers amongst the EU’s segmented national defence markets.
What Europe wants from President Obama

What Europe wants from President Obama

Tomas Valasek
27 November 2008
Barack Obama was the preferred candidate of most Europeans. He will have Europe's goodwill and with it, a window of opportunity to restore transatlantic co-operation on key security issues. Whether he succeeds will depend in part on the president-elect's willingness to try out new approaches to key foreign policy challenges.
Russia, China and the Georgia dimension

Russia, China and the Georgia dimension

Bobo Lo
01 October 2008
Russia’s relations with the West today are more problematic than at any time since the fall of the Berlin Wall. With talk of a new Cold War and of parallels with the great power rivalries that preceded the First World War, Moscow’s ‘strategic partnership’ with Beijing has been out of...
The Arab-Israeli conflict: France's dashed hopes

The Arab-Israeli conflict: France's dashed hopes

Clara Marina O'Donnell
03 September 2008
During a trip to Israel in August, the only optimists I met were French diplomats. The reason for their upbeat mood? Ambitious plans by President Sarkozy for the EU to advance the Middle East peace process – including a controversial proposal that the EU should take the lead in creating an international peacekeeping force which could replace the Israeli army in the West Bank as part of a peace deal. But in the current inauspicious environment, can France, which currently holds the EU presidency, really help to move things forward and allow the EU to play a bigger role in the peace process? ...
What does the war in Georgia mean for EU foreign policy?

What does the war in Georgia mean for EU foreign policy?

Tomas Valasek
15 August 2008
The war in Georgia divided the European Union instead of uniting it. Some member-states condemned Russia and gave (non-military) aid to the Georgian government; others accused Tbilisi of provoking the war.
Farewell, Polish plumber

Farewell, Polish plumber

Philip Whyte
07 August 2008
When the EU expanded its membership in 2004, the UK was one of only three EU countries – Ireland and Sweden were the others – fully to open its borders to migrants from the ten new member states.
The EU will want more from Serbia than arrests

The EU will want more from Serbia than arrests

Tomas Valasek
25 July 2008
On July 21st 2008, Serbian security agents hauled Radovan Karadzic off a bus in Belgrade and took him into custody. The long-wanted wartime leader of the Bosnian Serbs now awaits extradition to the International War Crimes Tribunal (ICTY) in The Hague, where he stands accused of crimes against humanity for his role in the 1992-95 Bosnia war.
Ukraine needs new politicians

Ukraine needs new politicians

22 July 2008
Ukraine is heading for an economic crash. At least that was the message I picked up in the Crimean resort of Yalta earlier this month, at the 'Yalta European Strategy' conference.
The latest Euro-Med jamboree

The latest Euro-Med jamboree

Clara Marina O'Donnell
16 July 2008
On July 13th 2008, President Sarkozy, surrounded by 42 EU and Mediterranean leaders, launched his pet project, the Union for the Mediterranean. The Paris summit was a success.