European Union - International Studies of Strategic and Geopolitics

Opinion: France’s Political Crisis and Its Ripple Effects Across Europe

4Dec

By José Carlos PalmaNo Comments

José Carlos Palma, Strategic Horizons by José Carlos Palma

Opinion: France’s Political Crisis and Its Ripple Effects Across Europe

By José Carlos Palma* The ousting of French Prime Minister Michel Barnier by an unprecedented alliance of the left and far right represents more than just a domestic political crisis; it signals a seismic shift with profound implications for the European Union’s stability and cohesion. As Europe grapples with multifaceted challenges—a political stalemate in Germany, the war in Ukraine, and the impending presidency of Donald Trump in the United States—France’s internal turmoil could exacerbate the fractures in an already fragile union. France’s Role in European Leadership France, alongside Germany, has traditionally been a cornerstone of the European Union. President Emmanuel Macron’s vision of a “sovereign Europe” has sought to counterbalance external pressures from Russia, China, and...

Navigating the Global Power Shift: Europe’s Imperative for Resurgence

20Dec

By ISSGNo Comments

Europe, Regions

Navigating the Global Power Shift: Europe’s Imperative for Resurgence

By José Carlos Palma* In the ever-shifting landscape of global power dynamics, Europe finds itself at a critical juncture. The rise of an assertive China, coupled with an increasingly protectionist and unpredictable United States, presents a formidable challenge to Europe's traditional position as a global leader. To maintain its relevance and influence, Europe must undergo a transformative process, embracing a more centralized foreign policy, strengthening economic competitiveness, and forging cohesive alliances with like-minded partners. The Rise of China and the Challenge to European Hegemony China's rapid economic growth and assertive foreign policy have significantly altered the global power balance. China's Belt and Road Initiative, a vast infrastructure development program spanni...

New Political Parties in Europe: Kremlin’s Tactics to Infiltrate Agents into the European Parliament

12Nov

By ISSGNo Comments

Europe, Russia and Eurasia

New Political Parties in Europe: Kremlin’s Tactics to Infiltrate Agents into the European Parliament

By José Carlos Palma* In recent years, Europe has witnessed the emergence of a plethora of new political parties, many of which espouse populist, nationalist, and anti-EU sentiments. While some of these parties stem from genuine grassroots movements, others are believed to be mere fronts for Russian interests aimed at undermining the European Union and its institutions. This article delves into the Kremlin's sophisticated strategies to infiltrate its agents into the European Parliament and influence European politics. The Kremlin's Strategy of Political Influence The Russian government has a long-standing history of employing political influence to advance its interests abroad. In the context of Europe, the Kremlin has forged ties with far-right and Eurosceptic parties, providin...

Hungarian Prime Minister’s Visit to Georgia Raises EU Candidacy Questions

15Oct

By ISSGNo Comments

Europe

Hungarian Prime Minister’s Visit to Georgia Raises EU Candidacy Questions

By ISSG with agencies The Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, recently visited Georgia in a show of support, sparking concerns about the impact of Hungary's influence on Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union (EU). Orban's two-day visit on October 11 and 12 marked the strengthening of a partnership between Hungary and Georgia. He has notably formed a close relationship with Georgia's Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili. Both leaders have increasingly emphasized social conservatism, embracing the idea of a European identity based on Christianity and traditional values, while diverting from the conventional European emphasis on liberalism and democracy. Georgia and Hungary signed a strategic partnership agreement last year, and Garibashvili was a keynote speaker at the Buda...

Geopolitical and Technocratic: EU International Actorness and Russia’s War Against Ukraine

16Mar

By ISSGNo Comments

Europe

Geopolitical and Technocratic: EU International Actorness and Russia’s War Against Ukraine

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 marked the start of the largest and most brutal war at the heart of the European continent since World War II. It inevitably came as a "cold shower" for the EU and Member States' politicians, demonstrating with absolute certainty the fragility of the international and European security order. The EU responded to the invasion with unprecedented sanctions against Russia and Belarus and multi-faceted resolute support to Ukraine. The latter included the breaking of many previously existing taboos, such as the first ever use of the European Peace Facility to procure weapons for a third country at war or offering collective protection to about 8 million Ukrainian citizens and residents, fleeing the war. The war prompted EU leaders to...

14Jan

By ISSGNo Comments

Europe

Europe’s Geopolitical Confusion

Those calling for a more “geopolitical” European Union rarely define exactly what that means. By Hans Kundnani There is a consensus—which has further strengthened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February—that, as the European Union finds itself increasingly threatened, it must become more “geopolitical.” But there is little clarity about what “geopolitics” means. It is used in at least five different ways: Firstly, as a straightforward synonym for international politics; secondly, in the strict, original sense focusing on the role of geography in international politics; thirdly, to refer to the strategic use of military tools (as opposed to “geo-economics”); fourthly, as a synonym for “power politics” (as opposed to rules in international politics); and fifthly, to capture a shift ...

EU Global Health Strategy to improve global health security and deliver better health for all

29Dec

By ISSGNo Comments

Global Health

EU Global Health Strategy to improve global health security and deliver better health for all

The Commission adopted a new EU Global Health Strategy to improve global health security and deliver better health for all in a changing world. With the Strategy, the EU deepens its leadership and reasserts its responsibility for tackling key global challenges and health inequalities head-on: the unfinished agenda in global health and combatting health threats in the age of pandemics. The Strategy positions global health as an essential pillar of EU external policy, a critical sector geopolitically and central to EU strategic autonomy. It promotes sustainable, meaningful partnerships of equals drawing on the Global Gateway. As the external dimension of the European Health Union, the strategy is designed to guide EU action for ensuring better preparedness and response to health threats in ...