European leaders speak a lot about reducing their energy dependence on Russia and increasing energy security. What most actually do is the opposite.
The EU has made mistakes in Ukraine, but its overall strategy is sound. With more targeted, effective policies, Europe can bring about a positive outcome to the crisis.
The European comfort zone is evident in the Ukraine crisis. Western Europeans don’t feel threatened—and without a common threat perception, they cannot make tough decisions.
Neither Russia nor the West is going to be able secure its goals for Ukraine all by itself or without serious bloodshed. Any attempt to “win” Ukraine will almost certainly lead to the country’s collapse and de facto partition.
After the May 25 poll, a new president of Ukraine will hardly inaugurate stability. One can only hope that Ukraine decides its future before it turns into a burnt-out case.
Barack Obama wants the Ukraine dossier off his desk. This means relying increasingly on Angela Merkel, whose leadership in Europe is crucial for dealing with Russia.
The EU is not punching its weight on the international stage. With crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, now is the time to reform and strengthen the union’s foreign policy.
It is a great pity that most of the eight Central and Eastern European countries that joined the EU a decade ago have made no contribution to its foreign and security policy.
On May 1, 2004, ten countries joined the European Union. Ten years on, many people in both the East and the West retain a skeptical view of that historic enlargement.
Migration of low-skilled workers into advanced countries remains a highly contentious issue, despite high demand for such workers to carry out a range of essential tasks, especially services.