EU strategic autonomy in the context of Russia’s war on Ukraine [What Think Tanks are thinking]

Written by Marcin Grajewski.

Many politicians and analysts have been arguing in recent years that, being highly vulnerable to external shocks, the European Union should boost its ‘strategic autonomy’ and/or develop a higher degree of ‘European sovereignty’. These concepts encompass a greater potential for independence, self-reliance and resilience in a wide range of fields – such as defence, security and trade, as well as in industrial, digital, economic, migration and health policies.

Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine gives this issue great urgency. In energy, the European Commission has now published plans to cut EU dependency on Russian gas by two-thirds this year and end its reliance on Russian supplies of the fuel well before 2030. And the debate is moving on to ideas and projects involving significantly more integration, solidarity and stronger joint security and defence. The EU’s strategic compass, a medium-term defence and security strategy, is being quickly updated to take into account the biggest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.

This note offers links to recent commentaries, studies and reports from international think tanks on the European issues related to European strategic autonomy and sovereignty.

The European Peace Facility: Supporting Ukraine and bolstering the EU’s strategic responsibility
Centre for European Policy Studies, March 2022

The EU and the Ukraine war: Making sense of the rise of a ‘geopolitical’ Union
Istituto Affari Internazionali, March 2022

What Russia’s war in Ukraine means for Europe
Carnegie Europe, March 2022

Russia’s war against Ukraine ends Europe’s self-deception
Carnegie Europe, March 2022

European strategic autonomy in light of Ukraine
Clingendael, February 2022

Why the Ukraine crisis should push the UK and EU into a tighter embrace on security policy
Centre for European Policy Studies, February 2022

Could EU-endorsed ‘coalitions of the willing’ strengthen EU security policy?
Centre for European Reform, February 2022

Global Gateway: Positioning Europe for a sustainable future
Clingendael, February 2022

The return of US leadership in Europe: Biden and the Russia crisis
Istituto Affari Internazionali, February 2022

Ukrainian crisis: Rethinking security in Europe
Notre Europe: Jacques Delors Institute, February 2022

The UK must not dismiss European ‘strategic autonomy’
Chatham House, February 2022

Elevating the EU’s added value as a security provider
Foundation for Progressive European Studies, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Fondation Jean-Jaurès, January 2022

EU strategic autonomy: A perennial pipe dream?
European Policy Centre, January 2022

The European Army project: The answer to the Union’s strategic shrinkage?
Europeum, January 2022

Strategic autonomy: Not without integration
Egmont, Foundation for Progressive European Studies, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Fondation Jean-Jaurès, January 2022

Strategic Compass: Towards EU space strategy for security and defence
Polish Institute for International Affairs, January 2022

In the shadow of war: Ukraine and the limits of a ‘geopolitical’ EU
Centre for European Policy Studies, January 2022

Construire l’autonomie stratégique de l’Europe face à la Chine
Institut Jacques Delors, December 2021

The future of European strategy in a changing geopolitical environment
The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, December 2021

Strategic Autonomy: Views from the North
Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies, December 2021

Strategic Compass: New bearings for EU security and defence?
European Union Institute for Strategic Studies, December 2021

Europe’s Strategic Compass: Merits and shortcomings
Istituto Affari Internazionali, December 2021

Multipolarity and EU Foreign and Security Policy: Divergent approaches to conflict and crisis response
Istituto Affari Internazionali, December 2021

The Global Gateway: A real step towards a stronger Europe in the world?
Bruegel, December 2021

The need for cooperative security In Europe
Brussels School of Governance, December 2021

European strategic autonomy in defence
Rand Corporation, November 2021

European reactions to AUKUS and implications for EU strategic autonomy
Istituto Affari Internazionali, November 2021

Instruments of a strategic foreign economic policy
Bruegel, Kiel Institute for the World Economy, DIW Berlin, November 2021

An architecture fit for strategic autonomy
Foundation for Progressive European Studies, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Fondation Jean-Jaurès, November 2021

Unpacking open strategic autonomy
Clingendael, November 2021

An architecture fit for strategic autonomy: Institutional and operational steps towards a more autonomous EU external action
Foundation for European Progressive Studies, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Fondation Jean Jaures, November 2021

European strategic autonomy and Spain’s interests
Real Instituto Elcano, November 2021

L’autonomie stratégique, cet obscur objet du désir
Institut de relations internationales et stratégiques, October 2021

Building European strategic autonomy vs. Turkish strategic depth: Macron’s diplomatic gamble
Institut français des relations internationales, October 2021

Seven steps to European defence, Transatlantic equilibrium, and Global Europe
Egmont, October 2021

The Strategic Compass: Entering the fray
Egmont, September 2021

Europe’s open strategic autonomy
European Trade Union Institute, September 2021

Read this briefing on ‘EU strategic autonomy in the context of Russia’s war on Ukraine‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.