September 2008

August 2008

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India's role in the new world order
briefing note by Charles Grant, September 2008

Few doubt that India's geopolitical role will grow. But what kind of impact will India make on the world's economic and political order? Charles Grant argues that India is not naturally a proponent of multilateral diplomacy, as opposed to unilateralism or an emphasis on bilateral relationships. He analyses India's relations with China, the US and Russia, concluding that in the long run India should take on a greater role in shaping a rules-based global order.

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What does the war in Georgia mean for
EU foreign policy?
by Tomas Valasek, 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. EU capitals make very different assumptions about Moscow’s goals, and these differences will hamper Europe’s post-war policy on Russia. But this should not prevent Europe from responding: the EU should take a more active role in defusing ‘frozen’ conflicts in Eastern Europe, and it should accelerate the integration of countries between the EU and Russia into the European Union.



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Will the Irish guillotine Lisbon?
by Hugo Brady, June 2008

On June 12th Ireland will hold the EU's only referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. With the campaign entering its decisive phase, polls indicate that the vote could be dramatically close with turnout determining the result. In this CER briefing note, Hugo Brady outlines the players and issues that have dominated the campaign. He examines the prospects for a Yes or No vote that will be felt far beyond Ireland's shores and have a critical impact on the future of Europe.

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The roadmap to better
EU-NATO relations
by Tomas Valasek, December 2007

President Sarkozy has recently said that France may re-integrate into NATO's military command. This abrupt change in French policy opens doors to a much-needed improvement in EU-NATO relations. The two institutions have been barely co-operating on important missions like Kosovo, which leaves Europe ill-prepared for security challenges on its borders. But for the EU and NATO to really turn a corner, the UK must first agree with France how independent from the US, Europe's defences should become. The US will need to give France command posts in NATO, and Turkey will have to drop its opposition to Cyprus' co-operation with the alliance.

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The CER guide to the Reform Treaty
briefing note by Hugo Brady and Katinka Barysch, October 2007

European leaders will meet in Lisbon this week to reach final agreement on the EU's new 'Reform Treaty'. The main objective is to make the enlarged Union work better, streamline the EU's foreign policy machinery and facilitate co-operation for fighting crime and terrorism. This new CER briefing note explains the compromises that are behind the new treaty, the issues still to be decided at the summit and what it means for Europe and for Britain.


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Portugal's presidency
by Katinka Barysch, July 2007

On 1 July, Portugal took over the EU's rotating presidency from Germany. Angela Merkel's six months at the helm will be a tough act to follow. Merkel had continued her winning streak by making EU leaders sign up to joint energy targets in March, by persuading George Bush – at least in principle – to use the UN to negotiate a post-Kyoto climate regime, and by getting her 26 EU colleagues to agree the outlines of a treaty to replace the failed EU constitution.

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Hurrah for an end to EU navel gazing
by Hugo Brady, June 2007

European leaders will open negotiations on a new EU 'reform treaty' on 23 July. At a cliffhanger summit last weekend, German Chancellor Angela Merkel worked hard to accommodate national concerns that threaten to derail the new treaty. These include British concerns over its potential impact on labour law and Poland's deep dislike of a proposed new EU voting system. Other countries also demanded, and got, concessions and clarifications added to the summit's complicated, and barely readable, negotiating mandate.