There is no EU foreign policy without the engagement of EU member states and the impulse of EU bodies. The experience of the last Trio Presidency highlights the many challenges facing the common foreign and security policy of the Union.
Like in the Arab world, new forms of communication are also changing civil society in sun-Saharan Africa. Donors need to support these new organisations, many of which can become key drivers of democratic consolidation.
Last year, FRIDE ran a competition in which we asked young Spaniards to reflect on Spain’s international role after the economic crisis. This essay was chosen as the winning entry.
Spain's profile in the Mediterranean has diminished in recent years. Current events provide an opportunity for Spain to lead an enthusiastic European policy backing potential democratisation.
EU-Russia consultations to advance human rights and political reform in Russia have been ineffective and have coincided with a period of worsening political conditions in Russia. The EU should review its efforts and adopt higher level political pressure and engagement.
Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements are supposed to be a major driving force for pursuing reforms in EU candidate and potential candidate countries, but results so far have been mixed.