Category: European Statecraft
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My work with the Real Instituto Elcano in 2023
Another year over. As a Non-Resident Fellow at the Real Instituto Elcano, I have had the great pleasure of working closely with my colleagues in the Brussels office and at our headquarters in Madrid. I want to thank all of my colleagues and the Institute’s leadership. It has been a…
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My Work with CSDS in 2023 – A Year in Review
Wishing my followers a Happy New Year and all the best for 2024! Here’s a round-up of my work with CSDS in 2023. It was a productive year for publications. I published 3 peer-reviewed articles including: In Every Crisis an Opportunity? European Union Integration in Defence and the War on…
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Deterrence and Economic Security: A Dialogue in Japan
I spent the best part of a week in Japan as part of a NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) project we are running on future trends in the Indo-Pacific. It was an intensive week of events and meetings and I was privileged to exchange views with government(al) representatives…
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Grand Designs: The EU’s Future Political Structures in Times of Crisis and Geopolitical Transition
The advent of institutional change in the European Union will inevitably give rise to new and old ideas about bureaucratic design. As the clock runs down on the present legislature and European Commission, expect calls for new bodies and the reshuffling of existing structures. Before this author reflects on some…
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The EU Defence Industrial Strategy: Some Preliminary Reflections
Daniel Fiott In advance of the 2024 EU Defence Industrial Strategy, and before I write a more focused and substantial piece of analysis, I wanted to lay out some key themes and issues that will confront the drafters of the new Strategy. First, let me say that the Strategy itself…
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When the War Ends: Rebuilding Ukraine and European Security
€383 billion. This is the amount of investment the World Bank believes is required to reconstruct Ukraine over a 10-year period. Ukraine’s own government puts the post-war reconstruction bill at about €679 billion over 10 years. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development puts the figure at €250 billion for 5 years,…
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Kissinger on World Order
Kissinger’s first book was essentially a study of the corrupting effect of revolution on world – or, more specifically, European – order. Kissinger’s (thinly masked) parallel between Napoleon and Hitler made the point that revolutionary powers – defined as those states that seek to overturn the established global order –…
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The Juncker Commission and Europe’s Defence
The decision by the incoming President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to merge the internal market and industry portfolios under one commissioner is an intelligent move. Of course, it is not the first time this has been attempted. Some may recall that Étienne Davignon was the Commissioner for Internal…