• Opinion piece by Charles Grant
    Financial Times, 16 August 2009

    The European Union is justly proud of its "soft power" – its prosperity, stability and commitment to multilateral institutions have won admirers the world over.

  • Opinion piece by Tomas Valasek
    Foreign Policy, 12 June 2009

    Governments across Europe are about to slash their defense budgets - but they need to ensure they cut correctly.The economic crisis has wracked government budgets across Europe, as revenues have fallen and spending on stimulus and bailouts has soared.

  • Bulletin article by Richard Gowan, 01 June 2009

    The EU likes to highlight its commitment to tackling failed states, addressing humanitarian disasters and bringing order to unstable regions.

  • Policy brief by Clara Marina O'Donnell, 01 June 2009

    For decades Europeans have been fighting side by side. Yet governments have maintained a broadly national approach when purchasing their military equipment.

  • Insight by Clara Marina O'Donnell, 28 November 2008

    The EU is in the middle of a little noticed – but potentially important – debate about defence markets. For the first time, the European Commission could be authorised to help reduce barriers amongst the EU’s segmented national defence markets.

  • Opinion piece by Charles Grant
    Financial Times, 24 March 2008

    Gordon Brown will welcome Nicolas Sarkozy to London on March 27. Almost 10 years ago, their predecessors as British prime minister and French president, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac, launched the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) at St Malo. At this week's Franco-British summit, defence co-operation will once again be on the agenda.

  • Bulletin article by Edgar Buckley, 01 August 2006

    In European Union defence, Britain and France spend the most money (45 per cent of the total), maintain the largest and most effective expeditionary forces, run the biggest defence industries and manage the most important research facilities.

  • Opinion piece by Charles Grant
    The Guardian, 25 May 2005

    China's foreign policy establishment likes the idea of the EU. In Beijing, senior ministers turn up to speak at conferences with titles such as "The Future of EU-China Strategic relations".