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.
Commentaries
The coronavirus is a common threat to the public health of all human beings. But it is not wise to over-react. The virus itself must be taken very seriously indeed. […]
Commentaries
Dear readers, On April 1st, 2020, I took over from Ambassador Johan Verbeke as Director-General of the Egmont Institute. I would first of all like to thank my predecessor who […]
External publications
Two recent attacks in London, in November 2019 and February 2020, by two convicted terrorists released from prison resulted in a surge of concern about terrorist recidivism. However, statistics and […]
Commentaries
Ik weet wat quarantaine is. Elkaar helpen is de boodschap. Ik was zeven jaar. Het eerste leerjaar zat er voor mij net op. En plots veranderde alles, van de ene […]
Commentaries
Since my husband has taken to spraying the door handles with vodka, our apartment has begun to resemble Stalin’s politburo: you cannot leave when you want to, and there will […]
Commentaries
In this commentary, Egmont senior researcher and affiliated senior researcher with the Leuven Institute of Criminology (University of Leuven) Valérie Arnould examines the human rights challenges the Covid-19 crisis poses […]