

American contempt for Europe and European disapproval of America are combining to dangerous effect. Both sides of the Atlantic need to show a good measure of realism.

As the EU prepares to embark on a major review of its role in the world, Europe’s decisionmakers should remember that foreign policy strategy is about more than brass tacks.

Germany’s new defense minister wants stronger German international engagement. But Berlin’s position on military matters continues to be hampered by political schizophrenia.

Margaret Thatcher’s Euroskepticism still overshadows the British debate on Europe. The UK needs to move beyond Thatcher’s legacy to enable a more reasonable discussion.

Russia has one Achilles’ heel in its tough stance: its energy dependence. If the EU can hit that weak spot, the power equation between the West and Moscow will start to change.

Whether the EU can perform as a foreign policy player will depend on whether the brittle relationship between its member states and the EEAS can play out constructively.

The debate over the long-term direction of the European political experiment will take center stage in 2014.

In Strategic Europe’s final blog post of 2013, Jan Techau and Judy Dempsey discuss the major issues that are (and should be) on the EU’s foreign policy agenda.

The protesters in Kiev have a real chance of ushering in a more democratic system. If taking sides with them means taking a stance against Russia’s Vladimir Putin, so be it.

The EU is structurally incapable of using forceful, uncompromising methods to get what it wants. Yet sometimes the ability to play political hardball is just what the EU needs.