• Opinion piece by Edward Burke
    Politico, 24 April 2012

    The recent furore over the closure of closure of the Irish Embassy to the Vatican drowned out any discussion over the withdrawal of other embassies, including that in Tehran last month. Almost unnoticed, Iran has been lumped in with Timor Leste as one of two other Irish diplomatic missions that is surplus to requirements.

  • Insight by Tomas Valasek, 23 March 2012

    The incoming Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is no angel but rumours of Central Europe's capitulation to populism and euroscepticism have been greatly exaggerated.

  • Policy brief by Clara Marina O'Donnell, 09 March 2012

    In failing to respond to Poland's proposals on EU defence, European governments are missing an opportunity to improve Europe's ability to tackle military crises abroad.

  • Insight by Balázs Jarábik, 23 February 2012

    The West should not isolate Hungary's Viktor Orban. While some of his instincts are deeply undemocratic, he is also a pragmatist, capable of adjusting course.

  • Insight by Katinka Barysch, 03 February 2012

    Greece's new bail-out package needs less austerity and more structural reforms. A bloated and immobile public sector remains a drag on growth.

  • Insight by Katinka Barysch, 13 January 2012

    Germany and France tend to pre-cook euro rescue plans. Smaller EU countries resent being sidelined. Slovakia and Finland have threatened vetoes and demanded concessions. Which country is next?

  • Opinion piece by Charles Grant
    Foreign Policy, 04 January 2012

    Think 2011 was a bad year for Europe? 2012 could be a whole lot worse - if EU leaders don't get serious and deal with these 6 problems.

  • Opinion piece by Hugo Brady
    The Sunday Business Post, 18 December 2011

    EU officials are putting the final touches to the first draft of a 'fiscal stability' treaty to be ratified by eurozone countries by the end of 2012. The treaty - which commits each euro government to run balanced budgets in perpetuity -  will be one of the oddest ever signed up to by an Irish government.