The EU’s global strategy [What Think Tanks are thinking]

Written by Marcin Grajewski,

The European Council decided last year that the EU needs a new, comprehensive global strategy to face the growing challenges of globalisation, shifts in economic and political power and expanding zones of conflict and instability. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is to present such a strategy during the European Council meeting in June 2016.

Phenomena such as the digital revolution, climate change, competition for resources, growing inequality and aging populations will require smart policies and tough decisions if the EU is to avoid a decline of its global leverage. Some useful analysis of the challenges and choices facing the Union were presented in a 2015 report by the European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS), an inter-institutional project, entitled ‘Global Trends to 2030: Can the EU meet the challenges ahead?’

This note offers links to recent commentaries and reports from major international think tanks on the EU’s global strategy and related issues.

Towards an EU global strategy: Consulting the experts
European Union Institute for Security Studies, April 2016

Who is afraid of European economic diplomacy?
Clingendael, April 2016

Europe is on the frontline of new global security threats
Friends of Europe, April 2016

The European Union global strategy: How best to adapt to new challenges?
International Centre for Defence Studies, March 2016

The EU and the Global Development Framework: A Strategic approach to the 2030 Agenda
Instituto Affari Internazionali, March 2016

The global strategy: Reinvigorating the EU’s multilateral agenda?
Egmont, March 2016

The European Union and peacebuilding
Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, March 2016

From hybrid peace to human security: Rethinking EU strategy towards conflict
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, February 2016

Partnering for global security: The EU, its strategic partners and transnational security challenges
Egmont, February 2016

EU guidelines on human rights as a foreign policy instrument: An assessment
Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, February 2016

EU global strategy
Egmont, January 2016

How economic dependence could undermine Europe’s foreign policy coherence
German Marshall Fund of the United States, January 2016

Crafting the EU global strategy: Building blocks for a stronger Europe
Finnish Institute of International Affairs, December 2015

‘One belt, one road’: An opportunity for the EU’s security strategy
Clingendael, December 2015

The EU strategic partnerships with emerging powers
Egmont, December 2015

Upstream of future crises: A comprehensive approach to European (External) Action
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, November 2015

An EU global strategy for foreign and security policy… and even defence
Egmont, October 2015

From Seville to Brussels: The architecture of global presence
Real Instituto Elcano, October 2015

Towards an EU global strategy
European Union Institute for Security Studies, September 2015

Global and operational: A new strategy for EU Foreign and Security Policy
Istituto Affari Internazionali, July 2015

Why Europe needs a global strategy
European Think Tanks Group, July 2015

The road back to European power
European Council on Foreign Relations, July 2015

Global strategy choices (GSC): Prognosis and strategic planning for European foreign and security policy
Austrian Institute for International Affairs, July 2015

The EU’s strategic partnership agreements: Balancing geo-economics and geopolitics
Egmont, June 2015