Europe
Turkey’s expedited European extraditions
Turkey’s ongoing effort to dismantle the supporters for Fethullah Gülen has underlined its influence in southeast Europe, where multiple countries have hurried to comply with requested Turkish extraditions. This raises hard questions
Challenges lie ahead for the European Union’s lofty new Africa plan
The European Commission’s renewed efforts to increase investment in Africa may signal a new commitment to take their economic partnership to the next level. But can the EU achieve its trade ambitions while being pulled in so many different directions?
The dragon over Visegrad: China in central Europe
China’s modern successor to the Silk Road – the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – has received heavy criticism from the West as a tool that could be used to divide Europe through economic influence. Just how well-established is China’s influence in Central Europe – and does Chinese investment represent a threat?
Can Spain’s new government resolve the issue of Catalan independence?
Spain’s new Socialist-led government has adopted a more diplomatic approach to the question of Catalan independence, but is defiant that Spanish unity will not be compromised. How will this strategy balance out and affect the political landscape in Catalonia and across Spain?
Matteo Salvini and the risk of populism
Recent disputes between Italy’s interior minister and the EU are symptomatic of the failure of member states and the EU as an institution to live up to their ideals.
Euroscepticism in the Czech Republic: A Central European disaster waiting to happen, or hot air?
The rise of Euroscepticism in Central Europe has been well documented, particularly in the Czech Republic. Among the nations of the Visegrad Four, anti-EU sentiments have long provided easy fuel for political actors willing to appeal to populist instincts to secure political power. But will this result in a ‘Czexit’?
The Energy Briefing: Will US gas exports to Europe surge?
As US LNG exports have increased, policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic have viewed them as a way to decrease Europe’s dependence on Russian natural gas. However, their ultimate success will be determined by market dynamics. At the moment, these dynamics generally favor Gazprom’s continued dominance.
FYROM referendum: The risks of a ‘no’ vote
The FYROM referendum will take place on the 30th September 2018. If the electorate votes ‘no’, the question becomes – will the government will comply?
The Security Briefing: Libya, Lebanon, and Italy’s new defense minister
The latest Security Briefing from GRI Senior Analyst Nicolò Donà dalle Rose focuses on the appointment of Italy’s new Minister of Defense and its impact on Italian involvement in Libya and Lebanon, as well as Italy’s broader foreign policy stance.
Italian government bond sell-off limits room for populist spending
The recent bond market sell-off reinforced concerns that investors have over the government’s spending plans. The Italian government is now likely to delay its plan to increase spending, in order to calm market jitters caused by the exposure of domestic banks to sovereign debt.
