Foreign policy & defence

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The European Commission in EU Defense Industrial Policy

Sophia Besch
22 October 2019
Carnegie Europe
The European Commission has become more involved in EU defense policy. To see changes implemented, however, it must prove it can help the EU develop into a more capable defense actor.

No escaping an arms export policy

Sophia Besch
10 October 2019
Berlin Policy Journal
Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen is “enthusiastically working toward a defense union.” Without a co-ordinated stance on European arms exports, this could prove difficult. 

Judy Asks: Is post-1989 Europe building walls?

Ian Bond, Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska
07 October 2019
Carnegie Europe
Post-1989 Europe is building walls, but not of the Cold War kind. Then, repressive Communist regimes knew that if they gave their people a choice most would immediately move to the West, so they kept them in with walls.

Who should hold Europe's arms?

Sophia Besch
25 September 2019
Project Syndicate
Although the EU has one of the world's strongest arms-export frameworks, the rules are not enforced. If Europe is to have any chance of deepening defense co-operation, let alone creating a defense union, that must change.
Children, rubble school Yemen

Europe is at war over arms exports

Beth Oppenheim
18 September 2019
Foreign Policy
The EU must start enforcing its export controls, or else risk making conflicts around the world even worse.

Zusammen raufen

Sophia Besch
10 September 2019
DGAP - IP-Die Zeitschrift
Ursula von der Leyen will „energisch auf eine Verteidigungsunion hinarbeiten“. Ohne eine europäische Waffenexportpolitik wird das schwierig

Eine EU-Mission ist illusorisch

Sophia Besch
06 August 2019
Taz
Deutschland kritisiert gern vom Spielfeldrand, statt eigene Vorschläge zu machen. 

Gulf tension making it harder for EU to save Iran deal

02 August 2019
EU Observer
Tensions between Europe and Iran are rising after Iran's seizure of a British-flagged tanker transiting through the Persian Gulf in mid-July.

Trump, Kushner and Netanyahu are hellbent on destroying the two-state solution – the EU must not let them

Beth Oppenheim, Luigi Scazzieri
02 August 2019
The Independent
In typical Trump style, Kushner is pushing a $50bn Middle East ‘deal of the century’ to solve the Israel-Palestinian question. It won’t work and so the European Union should step in.

Transatlantic divergence in the Middle East

11 July 2019
E!Sharp
From Libya to Iran, Donald Trump has re-orientated US policy in the Middle East, opening a rift with Europe.

Missing in Libya

27 June 2019
Berlin Policy Journal
The civil war in Libya is getting worse, carrying the risk of spreading instability and extremism. Another refugee crisis could be looming. Yet so far the EU has been divided and passive.

Judy Asks: Is the Iran nuclear deal salvageable?

20 June 2019
Carnegie Europe
Probably not. Iran has warned it will violate the deal by the end of June unless the EU, Russia, and China deliver on their pledge to provide relief from US sanctions.

UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia have been found unlawful – this could end the war in Yemen

Beth Oppenheim
20 June 2019
The Independent
The UK knew the Saudi-led coalition was bombing Yemeni civilians and yet it carried on selling arms. Why has it taken legal action to force the British government to abide by national, EU and international law?

The importance of being protectionist: A long view of the European Defense Fund

Sophia Besch, Martin Quencez
13 June 2019
War on the rocks
In 2017, EU officials rejoiced. They claimed to have accomplished more in 10 months than in 10 years in the field of defense, having launched three new initiatives to strengthen defense industrial co-operation, first and foremost the European Defense Fund.

Judy Asks: Is Germany's political crisis dangerous for Europe?

Sophia Besch
06 June 2019
Carnegie Europe
Europe needs Germany to help the continent respond to external challenges such as the changes in the relationships with China and the United States, and to lead internal EU reform.

The special relationship may be awkward under Trump – but it is vital to Brexit Britain

31 May 2019
Euronews
President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK from 3 to 5 June may show the relationship between the UK and US is more awkward than special these days.

How the Kremlin sees the rest of the world

29 May 2019
The New Statesman
Russian analysts reckon the US will be less focused on intervening around the world and will be more nationalist, mercantilist and interest-focused.

QMV + CFSP = A-OK

09 May 2019
Berlin Policy Journal
It is too easy for individual member states to block EU sanctions or diplomatic statements. Extending majority voting to foreign policy would encourage greater unity. 

CER podcast: Europe and Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi

Sophia Besch, Beth Oppenheim
24 April 2019
Sophia Besch asks Beth Oppenheim whether the European-Saudi relationship has changed after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi last October.

Internal strife: NATO's greatest enemy is itself as it turns 70

Sophia Besch, Ian Bond
05 April 2019
Euronews
NATO’s first Secretary General, Lord Hastings Ismay, famously said the alliance’s purpose was “to keep the Russians out, the Americans in and the Germans down.”