Category: Foreign Affairs

The ECtHR Decision in ND and NT: New Human Rights Limits for Frontex?

Valentina Rioseco Vallejos On 3 October 2017, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) handed down its judgement in ND and NT v Spain. It held that the immediate refoulement of two persons from sub-Saharan Africa, carried out by the Spanish Guardia Civil at the Melilla border in August 2014, had violated Article 4 of …

America Decides: Foreign Policy Implications for Europe

Anthony Salamone Following the US elections, American foreign policy in Europe is set to enter a period of unpredictability, writes Anthony Salamone. He argues that the US government’s approach to Europe could vary from inert policy stability to more dramatic change in policy and priorities, and that the Trump presidency could be the first administration …

The UK Gives up Foreign Policy Role and Influence, Post-Brexit

Kirsty Hughes In-Depth Analysis While much of the discussion around Brexit has focused on the Single Market and trading arrangements, foreign policy is another essential area that will be redefined by EU withdrawal, writes Kirsty Hughes. She argues that the UK will have minimal influence in the strategic direction of the EU, and that its …

The EU’s Sanction Policy towards Russia – Much Ado about Nothing?

Anna-Sophie Maass The EU’s approach to Russia since the onset of the Ukraine crisis has been characterised by internal divisions of opinion among the Member States, writes Anna-Sophie Maass. She argues that its relations with Russia, and in particular the issue of sanctions, will test whether the EU can achieve the objectives in its Global …

Early Brexit Questions: The Paris Agreement and Climate Policy

Annalisa Savaresi The early entry into force of the Paris Agreement raises immediate Brexit-related international policy questions for the UK, writes Annalisa Savaresi. She argues that, as the UK considers its future relations with EU climate policy, it is also faced with existential questions concerning its own climate policy and how it is formulated, including …

Brexit – What Can Be Learned from Greenland?

Maria Ackrén Although the ‘reverse Greenland’ model has often been cited as a possible means of Scotland remaining in the EU while the UK leaves, the situations facing Greenland then and Scotland  now are not that comparable, writes Maria Ackrén. She suggests that, while Scotland might not find much inspiration in Greenland’s relationship with the …

Brexit and the Balkans: Implications for Future EU Enlargement

Eamonn Butler In-Depth Analysis The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union has the potential to impact EU enlargement to the Western Balkans in a multitude of ways, writes Eamonn Butler. He argues that, while EU leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to enlargement, accessions are likely to be pushed back several years and the remaining EU …