Diplomacy & Defense Think Tank News

Unter dem Motto "Demokratie lebt vom "MITdenken! MITreden! MITmachen! Nur wer sich einmischt, kann etwas verändern" trafen sich Ende Mai 250 Jugendliche.

Nur im Dialog kann man auch eigene Überzeugungen deutlich machen, so Pöttering nach dem umstrittenen Staatsbesuch von Ägyptens Präsident al-Sisi.

Meeting, Learning and Sharing: GCSP's Security Policy Conference and 20th Anniversary Festivities Close on High Note

Research Fellow of ELIAMEP Dr Eleni Panagiotarea gave an interview on ARTE discussing the evolution of the Greek crisis. The interview was played out on 2 June 2015.

In an article he wrote for Welt Trends Journal devoted to foreign policy Director General of ELIAMEP Dr Thanos Dokos analyses Greek policy towards the Middle East. You can have here access to the journal.

Director General of ELIAMEP Dr Thanos Dokos and Research Fellow of ELIAMEP and Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, Bilkent University, Dr. Ioannis N. Grigoriadis analyse the Turkish election of 7 June 2015 by responding on four questions on ELIAMEP website. The content is available in Greek.

At the upcoming G7 Summit held in Elmau, G7 members should seize the opportunity and push for a successful outcome of the major multilateral events of 2015 dealing with development finance (Addis Ababa), the post-2015 agenda for sustainable development (New York) and climate change (Paris). We identify opportunities for action at three different levels. •   The G7 should introduce changes at home with a significant global impact: (i) G7 leaders should commit themselves to formulate national, time-bound plans for implementation of the universal post-2015 agenda that are linked to existing national processes such as sustainable development policies and strategies; (ii) they should be frontrunners in tackling unsustainable consumption and production patterns and (iii) specify national contributions on how to limit global warming to 2°C. •   The G7 should support sustainable development in low- and middle-income countries (LICs and MICs): (i) The G7 should scale up support for national public health systems in LICs and help create a health contingency fund; (ii) reconfirm and specify commitments to contribute to global public finance, including         official development assistance (ODA) and climate finance and (iii) promote the transfer and development of technology for LICs and MICs. •   At the global level the G7 should promote global rules for global commons: (i) the G7 should implement reforms of the international financial architecture; (ii) advance the reform of the international tax system by promoting multilateral agreements to foster international cooperation among tax authorities and (iii) encourage an enabling international trade system for developing countries including a development friendly Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The post-2015 agenda for sustainable development reaffirms the universality of human rights and other core G7 values. While the current draft proposal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is not perfect, it could trigger urgent collective action which is needed now to maintain and secure prosperity and wellbeing of current and future generations within planetary boundaries. Furthermore, the sustainable development agenda provides an example of how to deal with collective problems: in a rules-based partnership, based on ideas of fairness, equity and common but differentiated responsibilities. The G7 must play their part and help the negotiations succeed.

President of ELIAMEP, Professor Loukas Tsoukalis will speak at a conference organised by the Council for the United States and Italy, on June 5 and 6, in Venice. He will participate at the opening panel discussion on ‘Europe and the 2015 elections: Greece, UK, Denmark, and Spain’. Among the many distinguished speakers who will participate at the conference: Joaquin Almunia, former Vice-President of the European Commission; Peter Sutherland, Chairman, Goldman Sachs International; Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Google; Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, Chairman of the Board, SNAM and Chairman of the Board, Société Générale, along with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paolo Gentiloni and the Minister of Economy and Finance, Pier Carlo Padoan.

Bei den Wahlen in der Türkei sind alle Augen auf die pro-kurdische "Demokratische Partei der...

The main issues highlighted in the report of IRMA research programme are the role of asylum as primary reason for migration, and the importance of capital as the main parameter of successful migration. The smuggler is the key actor underscoring all discussions, holding multiple roles; from facilitator of mobility, to source of information, or disruptor to the migratory project. The choice of destination and the limited information informants actually have, are discussed, as well as the role of Turkey as a hub for collection of information, but mostly of money to continue the journey. The border crossing for both entry and exit is discussed in relation to policies in Greece and particular border fencing and increased deterrence of entry. Finally, the text highlights the issue of detention, as the key policy in place at the time of writing that appears to have  impacted heavily both the migratory route but also the decision of Afghans to leave Greece, either via transit (where possible) or via return to Afghanistan.

IRMA case study on Afghanistan

The debate on the position of the United Kingdom in the European Union, as it has evolved over the last three years, is based on the logic of withdrawal (Brexit). The United Kingdom under the pretence of a potential withdrawal is now trying to exert strategic influence over the future direction of the EU, thereby rendering itself a vigorous player in European integration process (Brexin). Therefore, while the public debate continues to focus on the risk of a Brexit, a more detailed analysis invites us to mainly consider a trend that is likely to spread towards a change of the European policy mix, and therefore affecting the course and the nature of European integration, on the basis of the British claims (Brexin), as a prerequisite for the UK to stay within the EU. This article first analyzes the characteristics of this renewed British Euroscepticism which is developing into a domestic political environment with strong centrifugal tendencies (British neo-Euroscepticism). Then it lists the political demands raised by the United Kingdom to the European Union and discusses whether they challenge fundamental principles of the European acquis (Brexin). Finally, it provides theoretical explanations stemming from intergovernmental analysis in order to define the strategy of Brexin as well as to assess the prospects of the Euro-British bargain within a context now where transnational support for effective federal integration is at its lowest (inherent Euroscepticism).

Working Paper 62/2015: British neo-euroscepticism in European governance: The rhetoric of Brexit and the strategy of Brexin

Authors: Dr Filippa Chatzistavrou and Mr George Dikaios

Pierre Jacquemot est chercheur associé à l’IRIS, président du Gret. Il répond à nos questions à l’occasion de la parution de son ouvrage « Le dictionnaire du développement durable » (Sciences Humaines Éditions) :
– Qu’est-ce que le développement durable ? Pourquoi avoir choisi la forme d’un dictionnaire pour appréhender ce sujet ?
– Comment le développement durable se décline-t-il au niveau de la gouvernance mondiale et au niveau étatique ?
– A l’heure de la COP21, les États et en particulier la France ont-ils pris la mesure des enjeux climatiques ?