Politics
A decade after the war: Why the world should support Georgia’s peace initiatives
This week marks ten years since Georgia lived through a dramatic five day war with the Russian Federation. On 12 August 2008, the EU brokered a ceasefire deal bringing an end to open warfare – but not to conflict, explains Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.
Football, national identity and belonging in today’s Europe
The euphoria triggered by the FIFA World Cup quickly gave way to divisive, ugly debates about national identity and race, around players of diverse ethnic origins. These controversies highlight the need for measured exchanges on belonging in today’s Europe, writes Michael O'Flaherty.
Mogherini’s Asia trip set to deepen EU security role
During a roundtrip of Asia this week, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini will seek support to preserve the Iran nuclear deal, as well as exploring security cooperation in order to expand engagement and up the EU's role in global security, writes Fraser Cameron.
EU must walk the talk on promoting values
The future of Europe will depend on the attitudes of ordinary citizens. These attitudes will determine what kind of policy agreements are possible in Brussels but also decide on the fundamental question: if the European project should be continued or scrapped altogether, write Jan Jakub Chromiec and Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.
Migration can only be tackled by the EU as a whole
Without a shared EU foreign policy, the notion of halting future migration waves is unrealistic, write Ilhan Kyuchyuk and Samuel Doveri Vesterbye. Ilhan Kyuchyuk MEP (Bulgaria) is ALDE Vice President and Member of the European Parliament; Samuel Doveri Vesterbye is...
EU must respond firmly to Tehran terror plot on European soil
The EU’s eagerness to further unconditional engagements with Iran seems to have only made Europe more vulnerable to state sponsored terrorism, writes Alejo Vidal-Quadras.
7 nightmare days for Theresa May
A second referendum or an extension to Article 50 could be the only way to cut the Brexit Gordian knot, argues Denis MacShane as he reflects on a nightmare week for Theresa May.
Orban in Jerusalem: Challenging days for Europe-Israel relations
Endorsing Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban symbolizes a moral failure for modern-day Zionism. Straying from the high moral standards upon which Israel was established could become a real threat to the existence and well-being of Israel as we know it, and of world Jewry, writes Raanan Eliaz.
Turkey and the migration crisis: a positive example for the Transatlantic community
Supposedly illiberal Turkey has set a powerful and positive example for upholding one of the most central of humanitarian values: providing shelter, opportunity, and hope to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, writes Matthew Bryza.
The Bulgarian Presidency: more about style than substance
With no major faux pas or any ground-breaking policy change to speak of, Bulgaria’s first term as EU President is unlikely to go down in the annals of history. Yet Sofia can nevertheless look back on its six months in office with a sense of satisfaction, writes Vladislava Gubalova.
Time to treat the root causes of migration, not only the symptoms
After a sleepless night, EU leaders clinched a deal on migration at their June summit. Yet, they seem overly focused on tackling the symptoms of migration, not its root cause – starting with poverty and unemployment, writes Tom Arnold.
Putting the ‘European’ into the European elections
When the so-called “Spitzenkandidaten” or lead candidate method for designating the Commission president was introduced in 2014, it was celebrated as a democratic revolution. Five years later, it is difficult to find anyone seriously questioning the method - but the enthusiasm has somewhat washed away, writes Christopher Glück.
EU must get serious about tackling Islamophobia
The European Commission is appointing its new coordinator on anti-Muslim hatred. This is a key opportunity to re-assess this role and ensure the coordinator has a clear human rights based mandate and meaningful resources to tackle racism and discrimination against Muslim communities in Europe, which have been lacking so far.
Progress for Western Balkan nations – a step forward for federalised Europe
Though the EU has lately been busy dealing with issues such as Brexit and the migration crisis, it has found time to talk of the integration of the Western Balkans. A steady integration of the region is good news indeed as this could lead to a federalised Europe and a complete Union, writes Bernard Kouchner.
The UK-EU relationship: the political consequences of mutual misunderstanding
The Brexit negotiations are following the same pattern of the UK's tortured and contradictory relationship with the EU. That could lead to a 'no deal' Brexit by default rather than design, warn Dr Fabian Zuleeg and Matt Bevington.Promoted content
Power grab: Top EU court redefines marriage
Does the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) have the competence to redefine marriage for all EU citizens? On 5 June, the EU’s highest court has claimed that it does, argues Adina Portaru.
EU’s soft power to improve human rights in Morocco
Morocco has made significant progress on a number of human rights issues since the revision of its Constitution in 2011 and the creation of the National Council of Human Rights (CNDH) in 2012, but the EU must continue using its soft power to help Rabat take up other sensitive issues, writes Willy Fautré.
On Brexit, Theresa May is a true Fabian
As Theresa May returns from yet another European Council where she had nothing to say in concrete terms to her fellow 27 heads of government on Brexit, she could actually be copying the tactics of one of the most famous Roman leaders, writes Denis MacShane.
Albania and Macedonia – a ray of hope and a warning for Balkans
Everyone was taken by surprise on Tuesday (26 June) when EU ministers agreed to set out a path for opening accession talks with Albania and Macedonia in June 2019. Many were doubtful this would be agreed, at a time when the EU is facing difficult challenges, write Adnan Ćerimagić and Zoran Nechev.
Brexit: are they insane?
Four individuals in the Cabinet Brexit sub-committee, namely Theresa May, Boris Johnson, David Davies and Liam Fox, are so trapped in their rhetoric about taking back control and regaining freedom, that if they changed their position, their political careers would be over, writes Michael Emerson.
Tackling hybrid threats, in Europe and the UK
The June European Council is an opportunity to make sure we have the right measures in place to tackle hostile state threats to security such as cyber attacks, disinformation and meddling in elections, writes Mark Sedwill.
An EU budget to protect people in poverty or our defence and security industries?
We need an EU budget that protects people instead of investing in borders and defence industries, argue Leo Williams and Vito Telesca.
Defuse this explosive migration summit with a strategic EU study
If ever an EU summit seemed doomed, it's this week's immigration showdown. Governments like to imply that the 'migrant crisis' is at an end but in truth, it's just starting, and Europe needs a strategy and a common EU-wide approach, writes Gilles Merritt.