A European commonality of destiny: Through social justice and strategic autonomy
On its course toward integration, Europe has now reached a plateau of impotence.
Europe in the World
In a world that is largely driven by competition and rivalry (and partnership, yet) between great powers, understanding the Grand Strategy of each of these powers is crucial. So is developing a Grand Strategy for the EU itself. An EU that acts as one, as one pole of the multipolar world on a par with the other powers, is the only way to safeguard the way of life that the Member States of the EU have chosen, based on democracy, the free market, and equality.
Power cannot be divided: a global player must have political, economic, as well as military power. To that end, the Europe in the World Programme analyses the diplomacy and defence of the US, China, and Russia, and of the EU, NATO, and their members. We also focus on geoeconomics, researching Open Strategic Autonomy and the Global Gateway as key EU instruments, as well as the geoeconomic approaches of the other powers.
Defence policy is our third main axis of research, with a particular focus on European defence and its interaction with NATO, but also on nuclear deterrence and the deterrence of hybrid threats. Throughout all three research axis, we devote special attention to the role of Belgium, including notably the development of its own National Security Strategy and diplomatic and military capabilities.
Publications
Commentaries
Sanctioning Russia through energy? Think twice
The EU–Russia strategic partnership is running out of gas. While Moscow is finalizing the annexation of Crimea – at the expense of Ukraine and international law – Europeans are responding […]
Commentaries
A new ‘special relationship’ between Washington and Paris: undermining or underpinning the CSDP?
François Hollande’s recent state visit to Washington featured in-depth discussions on international security and on military cooperation in particular. Is this signalling the emergence of yet another ad hoc framework […]
Commentaries
An ambivalent transatlantic partnership
Diplomatic relations evolved rapidly. A few weeks ago, tension was palpable between Europeans and Americans, following the Snowden revelations and the infamous ‘F..k the EU’ quote from a US official. Today, Brussels […]
The summit of our ambition? European defence between Brussels and Wales
When they meet at NATO’s Wales Summit in Newport on 4-5 September, the European Heads of State and Government should not see this as the first chapter of
From Lampedusa to the Post-Stockholm Programme: Difficult European solidarity in the field of migration
Solidarity is a founding principle of the European migration policy. To hold true, Member States must be faithful to their common commitment to European migration rules and implement fair burden