Research

The bulletin at fifty file thumbnail

The bulletin at fifty

02 October 2006
The CER opened its office in January 1998. Soon afterwards we established the bulletin as a forum for debate on European reform – both for our staff, and for external contributors.
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.
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.
Issue 50 - 2006 file thumbnail

Issue 50 - 2006

Charles Grant, David Miliband, Nick Butler
29 September 2006
A compact between China and the European Union file thumbnail

A compact between China and the European Union

Charles Grant, Chen Shuxun, Cui Zhiyuan, Feng Zhongping, Gao Shixian, Gu Zhenqiang, Pan Jiahua, Xing Hua, Zhou Hong, François Godement, Mark Leonard, Eberhard Sandschneider, Andrew Small
05 September 2006
CER - FPC - DGAP - Chinese Academy of Social Sciences - Asia Centre
Both the European Union and China are committed to giving the Sino-European relationship a genuinely strategic dimension. Since they announced this objective in 2004, there has been a blossoming of 'strategic dialogues', both bilateral and multilateral. These have ensured that broader strategic and geo-political issues are now on the agenda...
Will the eurozone crack?

Will the eurozone crack?

Simon Tilford
01 September 2006
Europeans often refer to Economic and Monetary Union and enlargement as the EU's two greatest successes. However, the basis for a sustainable currency union is not in place.
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.
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.
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.
Europe’s new division of labour

Europe’s new division of labour

Katinka Barysch
01 June 2006
Two years after the accession of ten new members, the EU is showing clear signs of enlargement fatigue. While most politicians and economists insist that eastward enlargement has been good for the EU, voters are increasingly sceptical.
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.
Can we live with a nuclear Iran?

Can we live with a nuclear Iran?

Mark Leonard
01 June 2006
As Europeans and Americans put together a final package of incentives to divert Iran from its nuclear course, the world is facing up to the possibility of failure.
The future of European universities: Renaissance or decay?

The future of European universities: Renaissance or decay?

Richard Lambert, Nick Butler
01 June 2006
Knowledge is an increasingly critical factor in shaping economic life. But in Europe, the institutions that should be the main sources of knowledge are failing to meet the challenge.
Bulletin issue 48

Issue 48 - 2006

Katinka Barysch, Daniel Keohane, Mark Leonard
26 May 2006
Democracy in Europe

Democracy in Europe: How the EU can survive in an age of referendums

Mark Leonard was director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform (2005-2007).
05 May 2006
The European Union has never been loved, but for most of the last 50 years it has been accepted. Voters thought that as long as it made them richer and safer they were happy to leave the precise details of treaties to bureaucrats and politicians.
The EU's awkward neighbour: Time for a new policy on Belarus

The EU's awkward neighbour: Time for a new policy on Belarus

Charles Grant, Mark Leonard
06 April 2006
On 19 March 2006 the people of Belarus vote in a presidential election. The result of an election that has been neither free nor fair is certain: President Alyaksandr Lukashenka will be re-elected. What is not certain is how the EU reacts.