Global Europe
The Brief, powered by Martens Centre – Debunking the Bulgarian veto
EU enlargement issues are decided by unanimity. One of the highlights of the upcoming EU summit on Thursday and Friday (24 and 25 June) will be the attempt to overcome the persistent Bulgarian veto on the start of North Macedonia’s accession negotiations.
Integrity compliance in Western Balkans infrastructure projects
Civil society has an important role to play to make sure that corruption in infrastructure projects and wrong prioritisation do not derail a €30 billion EU financial plan for the Western Balkans, a group of authors write.
Time for transatlantic leadership on refugee resettlement
As numbers of displaced people across the world reach an all-time high, it’s time to restore transatlantic leadership on refugee resettlement, writes David Miliband.
EU-Serbia: A stagnation comfortable for both sides
No progress in Serbia’s EU integration process appears to be a solution that fits both the EU side which is increasingly critical toward the authoritarian trends in Belgrade and the lack of progress with Kosovo, and the ruling bloc in Belgrade which doesn’t see EU relations as important for its voters, writes BETA agency.
The Brief, powered by ITI – Biden vs Putin: Who won?
As the dust settles after the meeting of the two leaders on the neutral Swiss playground, a legitimate question to ask is which one of them got the most out of this risky summit. And who were the collateral victims.
Biden’s visit: What does it mean to rejoin Europe?
Given that Europe is not inclined to make the painful decisions that a modernized relationship requires, it is hard to understand what a return to Europe means, except for having dinner with some interesting people, writes George Friedman.
Opportunity for whom: The EU-Africa partnership and sustainable energy transitions
The new EU-Africa partnership should focus on strengthening African governments and working with them on their renewable energy strategies, argues Jesse Ovadia.
The Brief powered by ITI – Do the maths
For a moment, it looked like multilateralism had returned. An agreement on minimum corporate tax rates was secured days before, and the stage was set for the G7 to agree on a burden-sharing programme to generate the additional and equitable vaccine supplies needed for mass global vaccination against COVID-19.
Africans do not yearn for Europe
The recent events in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta may have suggested otherwise, but (most of) Africa does not yearn to come to Europe, writes Oriol Puig.
How the competition against China could improve NATO
Allowing the US to focus its military resources in the Pacific requires a division of labor within NATO that requires the Europeans to take responsibility for the defense of their continent, writes Antonia Colibasanu.
The Brief, powered by ITI – What is the EU doing at G7?
At the G7 round table, there are actually nine seats. At last week's three-day G7 summit in Cornwall, two of them were taken by European Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (both of whom managed to grab a seat this time).Promoted content
Rebuilding the World Better
We at GLOBSEC believe that the aftermath of a period of turbulence can be a spur for change. There is an opportunity for Year Two of the pandemic to be when we define the new normal.
How Europe should re-engage with the US
President Biden’s maiden foreign tour signals his will to restore transatlantic relations. Europe will rejoice, but may not – and indeed, should not – put all its eggs in the US basket, write Óscar Fernández and Ángel Saz-Carranza.
Belarus: a moment of truth for European values
Firmness is the only answer to Alexander Lukashenko’s Soviet-era thuggery. But in addition to strict sanctions, those who oppose oppression need our help: psychological support and scholarships for now-exiled young activists, support for media and shelter for journalists, writes Frans Timmermans.
Cooperatively containing China
Europe must pursue a strategy of "cooperative containment" on China if it is to punch its weight on the international stage, write Peter Clever and Christian Moos.
The case for an EU grand climate strategy
Following the fiasco of the 2009 Copenhagen climate summit, the EU adapted its engagement in international climate politics to take better account of emerging economies, write Sebastian Oberthür and Claire Dupont. Now, it should upgrade its policy to a "grand climate strategy," combining the domestic and external dimensions, they argue.
How is corruption investigated in Serbia: The Krušik case
In Serbia, corruption is investigated only in rare cases when it suits the country’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, as the Krušik arms export scandal shows, writes Svetla Miteva.
The €79.5 billion Global Europe fund: a new chapter in the EU’s external policy
The new Global Europe instrument brings a major restructuring of the EU's external action instruments and will strengthen our partnerships globally, writes David McAllister.
Where is Sub-Saharan Africa in the race to net-zero?
African governments face more immediately pressing economic needs than zero emissions. But meeting those needs and growing the continent's economies will depend on their energy systems evolving, argues Lily Odarno.
The Brief, powered by UNESDA – American leadership is back
Like it or not, American leadership is back. If you ask Bulgarians, they are ecstatic that the US has dealt a heavy blow to a mafia system the EU tacitly tolerated.
Why the EU should punish Russian ‘Kremligarchs’ for Ryanair hijacking
While EU sanctions against Belarusian officials are welcome, Russia’s role should not be ignored by Brussels, argues Ilya Zaslavskiy. But targeting Kremlin cronies, rather than the Russian people, would be much fairer and far cheaper than putting an extra NATO brigade in Eastern Europe.
The Brief, powered by UNESDA – It takes two to tango
Ahead of US President Joe Biden’s maiden trip to Europe in mid-June, Germany and the United States are holding talks in Washington in a bid to settle the long-running row over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The timing of...Stakeholder Opinion
The Last Frontier: Energy investments in Uzbekistan reach new heights
A recent deal stands out because it is the first fully privately financed project in the Uzbek energy sector and also the largest EU private sector investment in Uzbekistan, writes Alberto Turkstra.