Commentaries
Courage in the Face of Tyranny – Remembering Alexei Navalny
“A concrete kennel, measuring 2.5m x 3m. Most often, it is unbearable due to the cold and dampness. Water collects on the floor, and the window is tiny. The walls […]
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
In Danger of Falling Short: The EU, the Global South, and the Reform of Multilateralism
In recent decades, the world order has shifted from the bipolarity of the Cold War and the unipolar moment dominated by the United States to a multipolar setting. China has […]
Strengthening the Political Credibility of NATO Extended Nuclear Deterrence
Due to Russian nuclear signaling during its war against Ukraine, there is renewed interest in strengthening nuclear deterrence in a Euro-Atlantic context. The changes in the agreed language in the […]
From Carrots to Sticks, to Carrots Again? The EU’s Changing Sustainable Trade Agenda
Although sustainability criteria include references to human, social and labour rights as well as broader environmental concerns, this policy brief will focus on measures related to carbon emission reduction in […]
Commentaries
No Fast Track to a Stable Rules-based International Order
The third EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Brussels on 2 February 2024 confirmed that EU cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region is alive and well. *****
External publications
China in the Middle East: Consequences for Europe
After being disappointed in the failure of the Oslo Accords between the Palestinians and Israelis to achieve a lasting peace, and after being disappointed in the outcomes of the Arab […]