Programmes

ECFR's research work is organised around the following five programmes

Institutions, Money and Power

How can the European Union and its member countries increase their global reach? How should the EU pursue its interests and values through trade and aid policies? Can European civilian and military capabilities be deployed with greater effectiveness in the world’s conflict zones?

Russia and Wider Europe

Can the EU recast its relationship to its eastern neighbours and a resurgent Russia? What can be done to use the prospect of EU membership and economic, military and political cooperation to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law, resolve frozen conflicts and lessen the threat of energy dependence?

The Middle East and North Africa

What are the most effective ways for EU’s middle east and southern neighbourhood policy to serve European interests and values? How can the EU harness its economic and political power to promote political reforms in north Africa and the greater middle east, resolving conflicts, averting nuclear proliferation and tackling violent extremism?

Asia

This programme explores how the EU could pursue more effective strategies in its relations with Asia, engaging China, India and Japan on global issues like energy and climate change; development and human rights; nuclear proliferation and global governance. Also publishes the bi-monthly review, China Analysis.

Democracy, Human Rights and Justice

How can the EU and its member states best promote the values of democracy, human rights and justice across the spectrum of Europe's engagement with the world? What is the relationship of these principles to other objectives of European foreign policy, and what is the most effective way to support their further expansion? Also publishes as part of an ECFR-FRIDE joint project various case studies on European promotion of democracy and human rights.