Publications: Policy briefs

Policy briefs
Turkish politics and the fading magic of EU enlargement policy brief by Sinan Ulgen, September 2010
Open hostility towards Turkish accession in some EU countries has made it hard for Turkish politicians to continue preparing the country for membership. But, as Sinan Ulgen explains in this new CER policy brief, there are other reasons why Turkey's pro-EU consensus has crumbled so quickly: Turkey's politics is too polarised, its EU accession too dramatic, its people's expectations too high. He explains what Turkish politicians and EU leaders must do now to salvage the accession process
How should Europe respond to sovereign investors in its defence sector? policy brief by Clara Marina O'Donnell, September 2010
A small number of sovereign investors, sometimes originating from non-democratic states, are buying shares in European aerospace and defence companies. Some EU governments have responded by calling for tougher controls on foreign investment in their defence industries. Clara Marina O'Donnell argues that EU countries should not reject sovereign investors in principle. Instead, they should rely on investigative committees to assess the possible risks of sovereign and other foreign investments. And in the long term, EU member-states should co-ordinate their efforts.
India's response to China's rise policy brief by Charles Grant, August 2010
India and China, rising powers in the same part of the world, have much in common – but mistrust each other. Many Indians are nervous about the growth of Chinese power. They worry about China’s military build-up and its alliances with some of India’s neighbours. India’s response has been to strengthen its own economy and to move closer to other countries worried about China, including the US. In this new CER policy brief, Charles Grant assesses the Indian strategy for coping with the rise of China.
A transatlantic defence market, forever elusive? policy brief by Clara Marina O'Donnell
Despite close political and military ties across the Atlantic, defence markets are fragmented by burdensome export controls and government reluctance to buy equipment from abroad. For the US, the current state of affairs is sustainable, although very inefficient. But in Europe, defence budgets have become too small to maintain national industries and the survival of the European defence industrial base is at risk. As the economic crisis forces transatlantic allies to cut defence spending, Clara Marina O’Donnell argues that European governments must stop shielding unsustainable national defence industries. In addition, current EU and US reforms to loosen export controls should be more ambitious and co-ordinated.
NATO, new allies and reassurance policy brief by Ronald Asmus, Stefan Czmur, Chris Donnelly, Aivis Ronis, Tomas Valasek and Klaus Wittmann, May 2010
NATO spends too little time thinking about potential conflicts close to home and developing the means to react. Some of its members – mostly in Central and Eastern Europe – worry that the alliance would not be able to come to their defence in a crisis. NATO should take 'reassurance' measures to address this spreading sense of insecurity. It should create new mechanisms to study crises in and around Europe, improve its co-operation with the EU, and upgrade ports, air bases and other military facilities in Central and Eastern Europe.
Should the Nabucco pipeline project be shelved? policy brief by Katinka Barysch, May 2010
Nabucco - a pipeline to bring Caspian and perhaps Middle Eastern gas to Europe - is the flagship project of the EU's fledgling energy diplomacy. Nabucco would add to the EU's energy security, strengthen its neighbourhood policies and improve relations with Turkey. Since these benefits do not accrue to the companies that want to build the pipeline, Nabucco warrants more public support. But the EU also needs to admit that its power to secure gas supplies from Azerbaijan, Iraq and Turkmenistan is limited.
Can the EU be more effective in Afghanistan policy brief by Joanna Buckley , April 2010
The EU and its governments make a substantial financial, civilian and military contribution to Afghanistan - yet European influence in the country is limited. For too long the EU has had too many offices and representatives there, sometimes working at cross purposes. The EU also lacks a coherent strategy for Afghanistan. Joanna Buckley's policy brief recommends streamlining the EU's presence. She also argues that the EU needs a new strategy built around governance, reconciliation, police training, regional diplomacy, human rights and the rule of law.
Can and should the EU and Russia reset their relationship? policy brief by Katinka Barysch, February 2010
Russia's oil-fuelled boom has ended and President Medvedev is calling for radical improvements to the economy. Some EU politicians are tempted to offer Russia a 'modernisation partnership' to re-launch the stalled EU-Russia relationship. However, any EU strategy that is predicated on positive change within today's Russia carries a big risk of failure. There is scope for constructive co-operation in energy and climate change. But the EU should cut back on summits, go slow on a new treaty and be prepared for disagreements over the common neighbourhood.
The new Commission's economic philosophy policy brief by Katinka Barysch, Charles Grant, Simon Tilford and Philip Whyte, February 2010
The broad orientation of the Commission's economic policy is unlikely to change. It will continue to defend the single market, free trade and a tough competition policy. However, the economic policies of the Commission and the EU as a whole will inevitably reflect the economic backdrop of slow growth and high unemployment. The most pressing immediate challenge for the Commission is to help prevent Greece or another eurozone member defaulting on its debt. Another will be to draw up a convincing 'EU 2020' programme of economic reform. A third challenge will be to reconcile pressure from member-states for more activist industrial policies with a defence of the single market and adherence to an independent competition policy.