What global role for the EU?

At times of multiple global crises, the European Union (EU) finds itself at a crossroads. Today’s polycrisis world. Following the 2024 European Parliament elections and ensuing leadership changes, the political decisions the EU will take will shape the future of the European project and the role of the EU as a global player in the years to come.

In light of growing nationalism, deglobalisation, populist movements and the increasing great geopolitical competition between the EU, the US, Russia, China and other influential members of the growing BRICS group, a strong EU foreign policy that is committed to maintaining a rules-based, cooperative and stable global order is needed. The EU introduced important reforms under the Green Deal to gradually transform and decarbonise its economy, as well as both diversify and green its sources of energy. Global Gateway, the EU’s global infrastructure initiative motivated by geopolitical considerations, and Team Europe, its latest attempt to better coordinate member state and EU institutions have shaped and transformed EU Development policy in the past years. However, it remains to be seen how these key reforms and initiatives will contribute to the EU taking greater responsibility for  global sustainable development and for this, balancing its strategic interests with needed support to long-term transformations in partner countries.

The German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) has been analysing the foreign and development policies of the EU for many years. IDOS provides scientific analyses and policy recommendations for developing political strategies for the EU’s international role. Moreover, it works closely with German and international partners, for example within the European Think Tanks Group (ETTG). On this site, we have gathered a selection our work on EU foreign and development policies.

Publications

The EU's support to democracy: recognising the democratising potential of the EU's foreign policy agenda
Vandeputte, Nathan / Fabienne Bossuyt / Niels Keijzer / Christine Hackenesch / Evelyn Mantoiu / Danio Di Mauro / Christopher Wingens / Stefania Panebianco / Julia Leininger (2024)

Mapping and Organizing Research on Dictatorships (M.O.R.D.O.R. project), Policy Brief

African-European relations
Erforth, Benedikt / Niels Keijzer (2024)

in: Seidu M. Alidu / Benedikt Kamski / Andreas Mehler / David Sebudubudu (eds.), Africa Yearbook Volume 20: politics, economy and society South of the Sahara in 2023, Leiden: Brill, 29-39

Challenges for the new EU Commission
Brandi, Clara / Ferdi De Ville / Clara Weinhardt (2024)
The Current Column of 2 September 2024

Towards an integrated approach to EU foreign policy? Horizontal spillover across the humanitarian–development and the security–migration interfaces
Bergmann, Julian / Patrick Müller (2024)

in: Journal of European Public Policy, first published 26.06.2024

Could the first political group with a vision please stand up?
Koch, Svea / Niels Keijzer / Christine Hackenesch
The Current Column of 13 May 2024

Multiple missions in the midst of war: integrating Ukraine's recovery and EU accession
Bergmann, Julian / Miriam Kosmehl / Julia Langbein / Gwendolyn Sasse (2024)

Policy Brief 11/2024

Virtuelles Pressebriefing
Europawahl 2024
Online, 23.05.2024

The European Union's new Ukraine facility: an important though insufficient step?
Bergmann, Julian (2024)

published on ettg.eu, 02.04.2024

EU-LAC cooperation on climate change and energy transitions
Riaño, Maria Alejandra / Damien Barchiche / Alexia Faus Onbargi / Niels Keijzer (2024)

in: ETTG Collective Report 2/2024, A common future for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Brussels: European Think Tanks Group, Brussels, European Think Tanks Group (ETTG), 15-26

Support for Ukraine: Europe must step up its efforts
Bergmann, Julian (2024)

The Current Column of 26 February 2024

Could the EU’s trade deal with Kenya strengthen the African Continental Free Trade Area?
Keijzer, Niels / Frederik Stender / Tim Vogel (2024)

published on blogs.lse.ac.uk, 08.02.2024

Conflict and unconstitutional change of government in Africa: is there still a role for the EU-AU Partnership?
Caruso, Francesca / Lidet Tadesse Shiferaw / Kawsar Laanani / Marta Driessen / Carola García-Calvo / Rukia Mohamed Bakari / Latyr Tyne / Benedikt Erforth / Julian Bergmann (2024)

ETTG Collective Report 1/2024, Brüssel: European Think Tanks Group (ETTG)

Bringing development policy (back) in the picture
Hackenesch, Christine / Niels Keijzer / Svea Koch (2024)
The Current Column of 29 January 2024

Working better together? A comparative assessment of five Team Europe Initiatives
Keijzer, Niels / Iliana Olivié / Marie Santillán O’Shea / Svea Koch / Gabriel Leiva (2023)

Madrid: Elcano Royal Institute

The European Union’s Global Gateway should reinforce but not replace its development policy
Koch, Svea / Niels Keijzer / Mark Furness (2023)

The Current Column of 27 February 2023

The (un)intended effects of EU development cooperation on democracy
Keijzer, Niels / Nathan Vandeputte (2023)

published on blogs.idos-research.de, 08.02.2023

The future of EU blended finance and guarantees: an assessment of cooperation strategies with least developed countries in Africa
Lundsgaarde, Erik (2023)

Discussion Paper 2/2023

Embrace multipolarity: Germany must act European for the Global Common Good
Kloke-Lesch, Adolf / Anna-Katharina Hornidge (2023)

published on fourninesecurity.de, 26.01.2023

Africa–Europe cooperation and digital transformation
Daniels, Chux / Benedikt Erforth / Chloe Teevan (Eds.) (2022)

London: Routledge

Entwicklungszusammenarbeit und humanitäre Hilfe
Keijzer, Niels / Julian Bergmann (2022)

in: Weidenfeld, Werner / Wolfgang Wessels (Hrsg.), Jahrbuch der Europäischen Integration 2022, Baden-Baden: Nomos

Achieving the SDGs: Europe’s compass in a multipolar world - Europe Sustainable Development Report 2022
Lafortune, Guillaume / Grayson Fuller / Leslie Bermont Diaz / Adolf Kloke-Lesch / Phoebe Koundouri / Angelo Riccaboni (2022)

Paris: Sustainable Development Solutions Network/SDSN Europe (2022)

Desert rose or Fata Morgana? The G5 Sahel and its partnership with the European Union
Bergmann, Julian (2022)

in: Johannes Muntschick (ed.), Regionalism in Africa and external partners, Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 127-154

The EU-CEAP impacts on developing countries: an analysis of the plastic packaging, electric vehicles and batteries sectors
To, Jenny (2022)

Discussion Paper 12/2022

The EU-CEAP impacts on developing countries – recommendations for development policy
To, Jenny (2022)

Policy Brief 10/2022

Rebuilding Ukraine: how the EU should support Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery
Bergmann, Julian / Iulian Romanyshyn (2022)

Policy Brief 6/2022

Germany and the UK: perspectives for deepening the bilateral dialogue on development policy
Keijzer, Niels / Ina Friesen (2022)

Briefing Paper 3/2022

What role should the EU Green Deal play in times of conflict?
Faus Onbargi, Alexia / Gabriela Iacobuta / Lukas Hermwille (2022)
The Current Column of 4 April 2022

The EU taxonomy for sustainable activities: an experiment
Hilbrich, Sören (2022)

The Current Column of 28 March 2022

The costs of making Egypt an intimate partner on security affairs
El-Haddad, Amirah / Jannis Grimm (2022)

The Current Column of 14 March 2022

The AU-EU Summit: resetting the continent-to-continent partnership
Erforth, Benedikt / Niels Keijzer (2022)

International Development Blog, 24 February 2022

Four proposals to strengthen Franco-German cooperation on Africa
Erforth, Benedikt / Julian Bergmann (2022)
The Current Column of 7 February 2022

Finanzierung der Transformation zur Nachhaltigkeit: Eine Herkulesaufgabe für die EU?
Berensmann, Kathrin (2022)

in: Zeitschrift für das gesamte Kreditwesen 75 (1), 33-38

Populist radical right parties' impact on european foreign aid spending
Hackenesch, Christine / Maximilian Högl / Hannes Öhler / Aline Burni (2022)

in: Journal of Common Market Studies, first published 05.01.2022

How the new German government could shape European development policy
Koch, Svea / Aline Burni (2021)
The Current Column of 6 December 2021

African–European Relations in 2020
Erforth, Benedikt / Keijzer, Niels (2021)

in: Victor Adetula / Benedikt Kamski / Andreas Mehler / Henning Melber (Hrsg.), Africa Yearbook (Vol. 17) , Leiden / Boston : Brill, 19-33

EU development policy as a crisis-response tool? Prospects and challenges for linking the EU’s COVID-19 response to the green transition
Koch, Svea / Ina Friesen / Niels Keijzer (2021)

Discussion Paper 27/2021

The rise of the Team Europe approach in EU development cooperation: assessing a moving target
Keijzer, Niels / Aline Burni / Benedikt Erforth / Ina Friesen (2021)

Discussion Paper 22/2021

Priorities for a development-friendly EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
Brandi, Clara (2021)

Briefing Paper 20/2021

The EU-UNDP partnership and added value in EU development cooperation
Lundsgaarde, Erik (2021)
Discussion Paper 20/2021

The external dimensions of the European green deal: the case for an integrated approach
Koch, Svea / Niels Keijzer (2021)

Briefing Paper 13/2021

Green transitions in Africa–Europe relations: what role for the European Green Deal?
Hackenesch, Christine / Maximilian Högl / Gabriela Iacobuta / Hanne Knaepen / John Asafu-Adjaye (2021)

ETTG-Paper, April 2021

Expert Workshop
Potentials and Challenges of a Future AU-EU Trade Agreement
Online, 12 May 2021

A pledge for a European digital strategy in Africa
Erforth, Benedikt (2021)
The Current Column of 8 February 2021

How the EU and AU should strengthen their cooperation
Bergmann, Julian

The Current Column of 23 November 2020

Strengthening the digital partnership between Africa and Europe
Daniels, Chux / Benedikt Erforth / Rob Floyd/ Chloe Teevan (2020)
ETTG-Paper, October 2020

What does a more assertive European Parliament mean for EU development policy?
Burni, Aline / Niels Keijzer / Benedikt Erforth (2020)
The Current Column of 26 October 2020

Strengthening the EU’s Crisis Prevention and Peacebuilding Capabilities
Bergmann, Julian / Mark Furness
The Current Column of 5 October 2020

How the European Green Deal should reshape Africa-EU relations
Högl, Maximilian / Christine Hackenesch / Gabriela Iacobuta (2020)

The Current Column of 28 September 2020

Advancing EU-Africa cooperation in light of the African Continental Free Trade Area
Berger, Axel / Clara Brandi / Frederik Stender / Edward K. Brown / Philomena Apiko / Sean Woolfrey (2020)
ETTG-Paper, September 2020

Why Germany should give high priority to supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area during the EU Council Presidency
Keijzer, Niels / Clara Brandi / Axel Berger / Frederik Stender (2020)

The Current Column of 7 September 2020

Germany’s EU Council Presidency faces a monumental task
Hackenesch, Christine / Niels Keijzer / Julian Bergmann (2020)

The Current Column of 1 July 2020

What the EU should do for democracy support in Africa: ten proposals for a new strategic initiative in times of polarisation
Hackenesch, Christine / Julia Leininger / Karina Mross (2020)
Discussion Paper 14/2020

What does the EU recovery plan mean for the European Green Deal?
Sturm, Janina (2020)
The Current Column of 17 June 2020

EU humanitarian aid: caught between nexus and independence
Friesen, Ina / Pauline Veron / Vera Mazzara (2020)
Brussels: European Think Tanks Group

How the EU and rising powers can shape their future sustainably
Grimm, Sven / Wulf Reiners / Benjamin Stewart (2020)
The Current Column of 6 April 2020

Optionen für eine deutsch-französische Führungsrolle in der internationalen Geberkoordinierung
Kaplan, Lennart (2020)
Analysen und Stellungnahmen 5/2020

The Future of European Development Banking: What role and place for the European Investment Bank?
Erforth, Benedikt (2020)
Discussion Paper 11/2020

Systemic challenges and opportunities of Franco-German development cooperation
Kaplan, Lennart (2020)
Discussion Paper 10/2020

The trade effects of the Economic Partnership Agreements between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States: early empirical insights from panel data
Stender, Frederik / Axel Berger / Clara Brandi / Jakob Schwab (2020)
Discussion Paper 7/2020

How seriously does the EU take values and standards in trade agreements?
Stender, Frederik (2020)
The Current Column of 16 March 2020

Europe can and must prevent a humanitarian disaster
Houdret, Annabelle / Mark Furness (2020)
The Current Column of 9 March 2020

Europe’s development model: The Third Generation
Marhold, Hartmut (2020)
International Development Blog, 4 March 2020

EU budget summit: Is the EU risking another “no deal”?
Keijzer, Niels/ Benedikt Erforth (2020)

The Current Column of 17 February 2020

EU budget negotiations: the ‘frugal five’ and development policy
Erforth, Benedikt / Niels Keijzer (2020)
published on ettg.eu 21 January 2020

Der Vertrag von Aachen 2019: Ansätze zur Stärkung der deutsch-französischen Zusammenarbeit für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung
Krüger, Laura-Theresa / Julie Vaillé (2020)
Analysen und Stellungnahmen 2/2020

The Treaty of Aachen of 2019: opportunities to strengthen Franco-German cooperation on sustainable development
Krüger, Laura-Theresa / Julie Vaillé (2020)
Briefing Paper 3/2020

Le traité d’Aix-la-Chapelle de 2019: des opportunités pour renforcer la coopération franco-allemande en matière de développement durable
Krüger, Laura-Theresa / Julie Vaillé (2020)
(Briefing Paper 4/2020)

Why the European Green Deal is inspiring courage for the 2020s
Scholz Imme / Adolf Kloke-Lesch (2020)
Die aktuelle Kolumne vom 13.01.2020

The future of European development finance – institutional reforms for sustainable solutions
Erforth, Benedikt / Lennart Kaplan (2019)
Briefing Paper 20/2019

The EU’s negotiation of narratives and policies on African migration 1999-2019
Schöfberger, Irene (2019)
in: European Foreign Affairs Review 24 (4), 513–532

Crisis, coordination and coherence: European decision-making and the 2015 European neighbourhood policy review
Furness, Mark / Thomas Henökl / Tobias Schumacher (2019)
in: European Foreign Affairs Review 24 (4), 447-458

Geopolitik für Nachhaltigkeit. Warum der European Green Deal Mut für die 2020er Jahre macht
Scholz Imme / Adolf Kloke-Lesch (2020)

Die aktuelle Kolumne vom 13.01.2020

Supporting or thwarting? The influence of EU migration policies on African free movement regimes in West and North-eastern Africa
Castillejo, Clare / Eva Dick / Benjamin Schraven

Briefing Paper 18/2019

How to strengthen the EU as a force for global peace
Furness, Mark / Julian Bergmann (2019)
The Current Column of 28 October 2019

The new Franco-German alliance for multilateralism
Kaplan, Lennart / Niels Keijze

The Current Column of 16 September 2019

The Treaty of Aachen: opportunities and challenges for Franco-German cooperation in development policy and beyond
Krüger, Laura-Theresa / Julie Vaillé (2019)

Discussion Paper 8/2019

Was die Europawahl für die Entwicklungspolitik bedeutet
Högl, Maximilian / Benedikt Erforth / Niels Keijzer
Die aktuelle Kolumne vom 04.06.2019

Die Unterstützung Nordafrikas durch die europäischen Länder ist inkohärent
Furness, Mark / Annabelle Houdret (2019)
Die aktuelle Kolumne vom 08.04.2019

Brexit: everyone loses, but Britain loses the most
Latorre, Maria C. / Zoryana Olekseyuk / Hidemichi Yonezawa / Sherman Robinson (2019)
Washington, D.C: Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE Working paper 19-5)

Migration: solid nations and liquid transnationalism? The EU's struggle to find a shared course on African migration 1999-2019
Schöfberger, Irene (2019)
Discussion Paper 1/2019

How Brexit affects Least Developed Countries
Olekseyuk, Zoryana / Israel Osorio Rodarte (2019)
Briefing Paper 2/2019

EU engagement with Africa on migration: a change of approach required
Castillejo, Clare (2018)
Briefing Paper 9/2018

Financing EU external action: understanding member state priorities
Castillejo, Clare / Niels Keijzer / Oscar Chmiel / Mariella Di Ciommo / Juha Jokela / Erik Lundsgaarde / Iliana Olivié / Aitor Perez / Sanne Thijssen / Julie Vaille / Zsuzsanna Vegh / Bernardo Venturi (2018)
European Think Tanks Group, December 2018

Feigned ambition: analysing the emergence, evolution and performance of the ACP Group of States
Keijzer, Niels (2018)
in: Mark Langan / Sophia Price (eds.), Sustainable development in Africa-EU relations, London: Routldege, 78-95

United in diversity? Analysing behaviour expectations of the European Union as a non-state member of the OECD’s development assistance committee
Keijzer, Niels / Joren Verschaeve (2018)
Contemporary Politics; 01 Feb 2018

From damage control to sustainable development: European development policy under the next EU budget
Koch, Svea / Niels Keijzer / Christine Hackenesch / Julian Bergmann (2018)
Briefing Paper 7/2018 

The EU and China in African authoritarian regimes: domestic politics and governance reforms (open access)
Hackenesch, Christine (2018)
Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave MacMillan

Motives, roles, effectiveness, and the future of the EU as an international mediator
Niemann, Arne / Toni Haastrup / Julian Bergmann (2018)
International Negotiation 23 (2), 319-330

A bridge over troubled water? The Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) and the security-development nexus in EU external policy
Bergmann, Julian (2018)
Discussion Paper 6/2018

EU migration policy: (how) can the next European Commission do better?
Schöfberger, Irene / Niels Keijzer (2018)
ettg.eu December 10, 2018

Eight myths on the migration–development nexus that European and African policymakers need to reconsider
Schöfberger, Irene / Bernardo Venturi (2018)
European Think Tanks Group (ETTG) 10 July 2018

A European peace facility could make a pragmatic contribution to peacebuilding around the world
Furness, Mark / Julian Bergmann (2018)
Briefing Paper 6/2018

EU budget reform: opportunities and challenges for global sustainable development
Hackenesch, Christine / Julian Bergmann / Niels Keijzer / Svea Koch (2018)
Briefing Paper 4/2018

Same table, different menus? A comparison of UN and EU mediation practice in the Kosovo-Serbia conflict
Bergmann, Julian (2018)
International Negotiation 23 (2), 238-257

Should the European neighbourhood instrument be included in the proposed ‘single instrument’?
Furness, Mark / Niels Keijzer (2018)
ettg.eu June 14, 2018

The engagement of Visegrad countries in EU-Africa relations
Chmiel, Oskar (2018)
Discussion Paper 24/2018 

The European Fund for Sustainable Development: changing the game?
Lundsgaarde, Erik (2017)
Discussion Paper 29/2017

The EU-South Africa strategic partnership: waning affection, persisting economic interests
Grimm, Sven / Christine Hackenesch (2017)
in: South African Journal of International Affairs

What next for the Economic Partnership Agreements? Thoughts on deepening the EU-Africa trade partnership
Brandi, Clara / Merran Hulse / Niels Keijzer (2017)
Briefing Paper 9/2017

Capacity Building in Support of Security and Development (CBSD): securitising EU development policy?
Bergmann, Julian (2017)
Briefing Paper 24/2017

The rise and demise of European budget support: political economy of collective European Union donor action
Koch, Svea / Stefan Leiderer / Nadia Molenaes / Jörg Faust (2017)
Develpment Policy Review 35 (4)

Brexit: impact, risks and opportunities for European development policy
Henökl, Thomas (2017)
Briefing Paper 8/2017

Events

High-level policy debate
Renewing the mission of EU development policy in times of global polycrisis

Brussels, 16.04.2024

Virtual book launch
Africa–Europe Cooperation and Digital Transformation virtual book launch

Online, 14 March 2023

Virtual workshop
Exploring the maritime dimensions of EU-Africa migration

Online, 4 November 2022

Virtuelles Pressebriefing
Ergebnisse des EU-AU-Gipfels
Online, 24 February 2022

Virtual MGG Conference
The EU and global green transformation(s)
Online, 29 November 2021

Expert Meeting
Next steps towards a comprehensive Africa-EU partnership
Online, 3 November 2021

Plenary session of the 17th Annual HiCN Workshop
Migration and Security Policy: African and EU Perspectives
Online, 12 October 2021

Virtual Workshop
Evidence-based Policy Making in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice
Online, 29.03.2021 bis 30.03.2021

Virtual high-level debate
Germany’s Council Presidency
Online, 14 December 2020

Virtual Event
EU-West Africa cooperation on One Health
Online, 8 December 2020

Online Event
Agenda for an AU-EU partnership for investment
Online, 13 July 2020

Online panel discussion
Nachhaltigkeitspolitik in Europa und COVID-19-Pandemie
Online, 7 July 2020

Webinar
How can the EU contribute to making AfCFTA work?
Online, 24 June 2020

Webinar
AfCFTA – how to make it a game changer?
Online, 17 June 2020

Webinar
Towards a digital partnership between the EU and the AU: Entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors
Online, 11 June 2020

Webinar
Towards a digital partnership between the EU and the AU: National Policy-Makers
Online, 3 June 2020

Webinar
Towards a digital partnership between the EU and the AU
Online, 28 May 2020

Online Press Briefing
EU-Konjunkturprogramm, Covid-19, Nachhaltige Entwicklung und Klimawandel
Online, 11 May 2020

Panel discussion
How to walk the Green Deal talk in EU external cooperation? - Harnessing development cooperation to foster European climate leadership
Brussels, 18 March 2020

Public Panel Debate
European Development Policy under the von der Leyen Commission: A Union that Strives for More
Berlin, 19.12.2019

Workshop
The next EU budget: challenges and opportunities for financing a geopolitical Union
Berlin, 20 November 2019

Panel event and discussion
An Agenda for Europe in the world

Brussels, 31 October 2019

Workshop
European development policy at the crossfire

Bonn, 30 - 31 October 2019

Panel discussion
EU Democracy Support in Africa in an Era of Uncertainty
Brussels, 30 April 2019

Panel discussion
Die EU als globaler Akteur
Bonn, 11 April 2019

Panel discussion
Friedensprojekt Europa!?
Berlin, 09 April 2019

Workshop
Options for closer cooperation and joint leadership of France and Germany

Berlin, 05 April 2019

Conference
Neuer Aufbruch für Europa - Nachhaltigkeit als Formel für soziale Gerechtigkeit und inneren
Zusammenhalt in Europa
Berlin, 07 March 2019

Bonner Impulse
Global Europe vs. Empire 2.0?

Bonn, 27 February 2019

Conference
Neuer Aufbruch für Europa - Neue Chancen für Wachstum und Globalisierung

Berlin, 18 February 2019

Video: Europe 2024 has voted

Highlight

Challenges for the new EU Commission
Brandi, Clara / Ferdi De Ville / Clara Weinhardt (2024)
The Current Column of 2 September 2024

Highlight

EU-LAC cooperation on climate change and energy transitions
Riaño, Maria Alejandra / Damien Barchiche / Alexia Faus Onbargi / Niels Keijzer (2024)

in: ETTG Collective Report 2/2024, A common future for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Brussels: European Think Tanks Group, Brussels, European Think Tanks Group (ETTG), 15-26