Dicing with Democracy
By Richard Youngs (30/06/2009) Comment
President Barack Obama’s Cairo speech has been hailed around the world. It struck just the positive tone needed to embark on a ‘new beginning’
AFP/Getty Images
The EU's approach to Israel and the Palestinians
By Clara Marina O'Donnell (22/06/2009) Policy Brief
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| AFP/Getty Images |
Despite divisions amongst Palestinians and the reluctance of the new Israeli government to work towards a viable two-state solution, this Policy Brief explores how the EU should do its utmost to support US efforts to bring both parties to the negotiating table.
Business and trade relationships between the EU and Central Asia
By Sébastien Peyrouse (18/06/2009) Working Paper
The European Union is seeking to establish a place for itself in Central Asia in the face of a Chinese presence that is growing exponentially and a Russian influence that continues to be strong. The EU Strategy and its commercial involvement in Central Asia offer an opportunity to further European goals in the region.
Publishing groups: EUCAM Project
Eastern dimension and the Balkans
The EU and Georgia's turmoil
By Balázs Jarábik, Tornike Sharashenidze (17/06/2009) Policy Brief
Ongoing protests against the government in Georgia are a real concern, but also present an opportunity to deepen the country's fragile democracy. With Georgia remaining brittle internally and threatened by further Russian aggression, this Policy Brief explores how the EU needs to seize the moment more proactively to help the country's reforms.
V.Shlamov/AFP/Getty Images
Central Asia and the global economic crisis
By Richard Pomfret (16/06/2009) Other publications
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| V. Oseledko/AFP |
In 2007 the EU published a Strategy for a New Partnership with Central Asia. This Policy Brief argues that the current global economic crisis does not alter the priorities of the EU Strategy, but it does require the EU to stick to existing obligations and also provides an opportunity for fresh initiatives to better achieve the Strategy’s fundamental goals.
Publishing groups: EUCAM Project
Freedom of association in the Middle East and North Africa
With the rise of transnational terrorism, recent years have witnessed freedom of association in many countries being suppressed in the name of national security. Recognising the fundamental significance of the civil society for the dynamics of democratisation, the Club de Madrid embarked on a project aimed at strengthening dialogue on freedom of association across the Middle East and North Africa region. FRIDE contributes to this project with a series of country reports, which identify outstanding challenges and civil society’s ideas on how to resolve them. The first three of them are already available:
Photo of FotoLibre.net
- Planting an olive tree: the state of reform in Jordan
- Morocco: negotiating change with the Makhzen
- Bahrain: reaching a threshold
- Freedom of association and civil society in Egypt
More on the project "Freedom of asociation in the Middle East and North Africa"
The EU' s approach to the development of mass media in Central Asia
By Gulnura Toralieva (16/06/2009) Other publications
This EUCAM policy brief identifies tendencies and problems affecting the development of free media outlets in Central Asia and proposes ways and means through which the EU could engage to improve the situation.
Publishing groups: EUCAM Project
Egypt and US: marriage of convenience
By Moataz El Fegiery, Kristina Kausch (03/06/2009) Comment
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| K.Desouki/AFP/Getty Images |
On 4 June, US President Barack Obama delivered his long-announced address to the Arab World from Cairo. The choice of venue for this historic speech was a diplomatic triumph for the Mubarak regime and suggests a return to US realpolitik in the Middle East and North Africa.
Islamist radicalisation: the challenge for euro-mediterranean relations
By Michael Emerson, Kristina Kausch, Richard Youngs (03/06/2009) Book
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Is the EU contributing to the radicalisation of Islamists? Issues relating to political Islam continue to present challenges to European foreign policies in the Middle East and North Africa. In this volume European and regional experts analyse trends driving the radicalisation of political Islam.
Eastern dimension and the Balkans
The EU's Eastern partnership: still-born?
By Natalia Shapovalova (20/05/2009) Policy Brief
A new initiative for the EU's Eastern neighbours is aimed at increasing the impetus for democratic and market reforms in post-soviet countries. Nonetheless, the EU's policy towards the region will remain ineffective as the Eastern Partnership does not offer relevant incentives for the Eastern partners.
AFP/Getty Images
Is there a better strategy for Afghanistan?
By David García Cantalapiedra (19/05/2009) Policy Brief
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| Loeb/AFP/Getty Images |
Afghanistan is approaching a tipping point. Its stabilisation hangs in the balance. Increased international commitment has been forthcoming for the August 2009 elections.
