Hezbollah’s Decline: A Window for EU Engagement in Lebanon and Its Impact on EU-Iran Ties
As Hezbollah navigates shifting Middle Eastern power dynamics after Assad’s collapse, its role as Iran’s proxy challenges EU foreign policy. How can the EU exploit Hezbollah’s weakness to influence its ties with Iran and the region?
From Protector to Bystander: Understanding France’s Declining Influence in Lebanon
In recent years, Lebanon has spiraled into crisis, marked by political instability, economic collapse, and regional tensions. Once a cornerstone of French influence in the Middle East, Lebanon now stands at a crossroads. How did France, the former protectorate power that shaped Lebanon’ s modern governance, become a mere observer?
Precedent-setter or Pawn? The Chinese-Lithuanian Dispute Over Taiwan’s Representative Office
Course: China’s Ambitions in the 21st Century (University of Amsterdam)
Energy, Diplomacy, and Change: The EU-GCC Partnership in a New Geopolitical Era
After decades of unsuccessful attempts at building closer ties, the EU and the GCC are now entering a new era of partnership
The EU’s Approach to Terrorism in the Middle East: Strategy and Partnerships
Can the EU’s approach to Middle Eastern terrorism truly address the root causes and secure lasting peace, or is it merely a temporary fix?
‘In Dire Straits’: The Challenges Faced by the EU Naval Operation in the Red Sea
Will the EU’s efforts at restoring safe passage in the Red Sea succeed or will it highlight the structural weaknesses of joint European security policy?
The EU’s Divided Response to Israel’s Military Actions in Gaza and Lebanon
As tensions escalate in the Middle East, the European Union faces internal rifts that weaken its ability to present a unified stance on Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
Are Sanctions Still Effective? Evaluating Their Role in Russia’s War on Ukraine
Russia’s economy has adapted in the face of sweeping sanctions, raising doubts about whether economic pressure is enough to influence geopolitical outcomes.
The EU and Kurdish Autonomy: Balancing Political Aspirations with Regional Stability
The EU finds itself in an awkward position regarding a specific issue within the Middle East: The Kurdish question.
The Turkey-EU Relationship: A Love to Nowhere?
As Turkey and the EU continue to drift apart politically and ideologically, the former’s now 60 year-old aspiration for Union accession becomes one increasingly in vain.
The EU as a Global Actor: The Enduring Relevance of de Gaulle’s Vision for Europe
As the rules-based world order is replaced by uncompromising power politics, the need for a coherent European foreign and defense policy independent of the US is increasingly urgent.
Democratic Deficit as an Obstacle to EU-Level Parliamentary Legitimacy in External Relations
The EU’s internal democratic deficit’s extent is debatable. Yet, it seems clear that democratic standards are lacking more in the EU’s external action. How so?

