CER- Centre for European Reform

Russia: A tale of two crises
by Katinka Barysch, 3 July 2009

Britain's eurosceptics need to come clean
by Simon Tilford

Can Russia contribute to global governance?
by Charles Grant

EU politics after the elections
by Hugo Brady

What the economic crisis will mean for
European defence
by Tomas Valasek

Why the European elections matter
by Hugo Brady

publications
The Swedish EU presidency CER briefing note, July 2009
A painful recession in Europe, uncertain prospects for the Lisbon treaty, a looming gas crisis in Ukraine and a lame-duck Commission are some of the challenges that the Swedish EU presidency will have to deal with in the second half of 2009. The government in Stockholm has listed climate change, asylum policy and migration, EU enlargement and co-operation in the Baltic Sea area among its priorities. Although Swedish management of the EU will compare favourably with the lacklustre performance of the Czech Republic, the perceived success of the new presidency will largely depend on developments that Stockholm cannot influence, as this briefing note argues.
Multilateralism light: The rise of informal international governance essay by Risto Penttilä, July 2009
The economic crisis is accentuating the rise of informal global governance. These days, bodies such as the G8 and the G20 arguably matter as much as more formal, treaty-based organisations. Risto Penttilä argues that this 'multilateralism light' should be welcomed, since it brings together leaders who can change things, and it offers a fast way of incorporating emerging powers such as India and China into global governance. He explains that informal and formal bodies depend on each other: informal institutions are increasingly responsible for the process of solving problems while formal, treaty-based bodies concentrate on legitimising the results.	press release
The EU finally opens up the European defence market policy brief by Clara Marina O'Donnell, June 2009
For decades Europeans have been fighting side by side. Yet governments have maintained a broadly national approach when purchasing their military equipment. The fragmentation of European defence markets has been unnecessarily expensive and has hampered European militaries working together. The EU has agreed a series of reforms to increase competition in defence procurement. The reforms should allow the defence industry to become more competitive and deliver cheaper goods. But the new measures will only make a difference if member-states use the new tools and if the European Commission and industry challenge recalcitrant defence ministries.
The EU's approach to Israel and the Palestinians: A move in the right direction policy brief by Clara Marina O'Donnell, June 2009
Divisions amongst Palestinians and the reluctance of the new Israeli government to work towards a viable two-state solution weaken the prospects for peace in the Middle East. Nevertheless the EU should do its utmost to support US efforts to bring both parties to the negotiating table. The EU should embrace Israel with 'tough love' – it should make clear that it is keen to deepen bilateral relations and provide full assistance for peace talks, but insist on the need for Israel to fully recommit to the peace process. In addition the EU should more actively support Palestinian reconciliation and consider suspending its assistance to Palestinian police forces until a unity government is formed to avoid deepening divisions between Hamas and Fatah.
comment & analysis
The Dis-Uniting Kingdom? Britain needs to decide whether it's in or out of the EU article by Hugo Brady, The Wall Street Journal, 30 June 2009 Will the recession make Europe's militaries weaker? article by Tomas Valasek, Foreign Policy, 12 June 2009 Spain's muted EU voice article by Charles Grant, Financial Times, 9 June 2009 Eurostars - Katinka Barysch named in list of 30 article, Financial Times, 3 June 2009