What global role for the EU?

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.

Team

Publications

Events

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

Highlight

Support for Ukraine: Europe must step up its efforts
Bergmann, Julian (2024)
The Current Column of 26 February 2024

ETTG Network

[Translate to English:] Photo: Flags of the European Union

European Think Tanks Group (ETTG)

In the media

Reforming development finance
Berensmann, Kathrin / Yabibal M. Walle / Christoph Sommer / Sabine Laudage Teles
D+C Development and Cooperation

In the media

Analysts See New EU Rules Hurting China Exports, Further Straining Ties (voanews.com)