Commentaries
Two-Speed Europe: Yes, But
Yes to a two-speed Europe if that is the only way to deepen integration, but this does entail some risks. A Dutch version of this article was published on the […]
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
EU-China co-operation in global governance: going beyond the conceptual gap
This Egmont paper aims to identify ways of overcoming the deadlock that often characterises EU-China co-operation in multilateral institutions and processes due to their differing interpretations of global governance. The paper draws […]
Europe and the great powers: playing our Trump cards
On the eve of Donald Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping, we are all holding our breath. But should we rather not be proactive, using Europe’s diplomatic and economic power to […]
How the EU can save NATO
The European Union can save NATO. It really can. Trust me. (Photo credit: Pixabay)
Geopolitical influences on the future of Renminbi
The Chinese government has made great strides in its ambition to turn the Renminbi into a global reserve currency. The importance of Europe to China’s economy is unquestionable, so Brexit […]
Terrorism and counterterrorism in continental Europe
One year after the Brussels attacks, this publication reviews the major developments that have occurred in terrorism and counterterrorism in Europe in 2016.