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    EU can help Pakistan's new PM tackle tough agenda  

    By Shada Islam As Pakistan’s next prime minister, Nawaz Sharif faces daunting domestic and foreign policy challenges. While attention is inevitably focused on Sharif’s relations with the United States, India and Afghanistan, the election of a new democratically elected government also opens up new avenues for stronger EU-Pakistan relations. The EU should move fast to forge stronger and more comprehensive ties with Islamabad, including the convening of a third EU-Pakistan summit to hammer out a new agenda for deeper long-term relations. Read more



  • RECENT EVENT

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    Saving Europe's "Lost Generation"  

    15 May 2013 The main message of this Friends of Europe and Debating Europe European Policy Summit is that, in order to tackle the unacceptably high levels of youth employment in the EU, there needs to be a shift in the EU’s educational culture.

    “We are teaching the wrong things,” underlined Ruarí Quinn, Irish Minister for Education and Skills. “So far as education has a role to play in a world where skill sets are made obsolete in 5 years, it must be used to teach basic skill sets and promote flexible thinking and an entrepreneurial spirit.” Read more



  • REPORT

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    EU Emissions Trading System: The challenge of restoring credibility

    		  

    It's the world's first and biggest experiment with trading in carbon dioxide, but the European Union's emissions trading system (EU ETS) has the dubious honour of satisfying neither the energy industry nor environmentalists. Calls are already mounting for its overhaul as the economic crisis helps to expose flaws of design, less than a decade after the system was agreed. Read more

    Download the full report here: EN


    

RECENT EVENT
Gearing up for China's urban billion

23 April 2013 As urban development in China continues on an unprecedented scale, the possibilities for strong new policies under China's new leadership seem increasingly likely, stressed Tom Miller, Managing Editor at GK Dragonomics, at Friends of Europe’s Policy Spotlight entitled "Gearing up for China’s urban billion". Read more

POLICY BRIEFING
EU-Myanmar: Charting a course for the future

Relations with Myanmar are back on the European Union (EU) agenda: EU foreign ministers on April 22 face a choice between a complete lifting of all sanctions, except the arms embargo, on Myanmar or a more cautious move under which last year's decision to suspend sanctions would be extended for another year. Read more

Download the full briefing here: EN



Video Corner

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Debating Europe is an online discussion platform that lets citizens debate their ideas with experts and policy makers. Read more

News

Greece, Portugal and tax evasion on EU agenda
A number of important decisions were taken at two meetings of finance ministers from the European Union on the 13th and 14th of May.
Africa's progress leaves many behind
The 2013 Africa Progress Report, released by the Africa Progress Panel at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town on May 10th, paints a mixed picture of  possible social and economic developments in Africa in the coming years.
International donors pledge 3 billion euros for Mali
International donors have pledged more than €3billion to help rebuild conflict-hit Mali. The funds will cover most of the costs of a reconstruction plan of €4.3 billion drawn up by Malian government, which includes re-establishing government institutions and the military, holding a dialogue with rebels in the north, rebuilding roads and schools, and reviving the economy.
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Guest Contributions

Soft skills head list of qualifications for young job-seekers
Many would argue that the current generation feels jilted and left behind amidst the economic chaos engulfing Europe. At ThinkYoung, a non profit think-tank based in Brussels, we have researched the topic and believe that the “adolescent generation” is as mobile, enthusiastic and highly-skilled as it has ever been.
Fast education and business
By Péter "HP" Halácsy and Peter Arvai. For years, books were our primary source of learning. Libraries overflowed with page after page of valuable information and Europe was the centre of the educated world. With the Internet now connecting more than 2.5 billion people to an inestimable amount of knowledge, the world has outgrown the printed page and our continent risks being left behind. This and other similar topics will be discussed during our May 15 “Saving Europe’s ‘Lost Generation’” summit.
Strengthening mutual trust in China-EU relations
By H.E. Mr. Wu Hailong. Since China and the European Union established diplomatic relations 38 years ago – and especially over the last ten years of our comprehensive strategic partnership - China-EU relations have become more mature, extensive and interdependent. This is because we have made relentless efforts to constantly overcome our differences with trust.
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Europe's World



A more modern, robust and flexible intellectual property framework would offer a faster route towards economic growth
by Birgitte Andersen Intellectual property is one of the cornerstones of today’s knowledge economy, but the legal regime which upholds it is becoming more and more outdated.

Europe’s energy cross-roads is dangerously close
by Fatih Birol Only greater efficiency will determine whether by 2020 energy will be a serious brake on the EU’s economic growth or an engine of recovery.

ALL articles

Op-eds

A roadmap for strengthened EU-ASEAN ties
By Shada Islam Relations between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are finally picking up much-needed momentum.
EU can help Pakistan’s new PM tackle tough agenda
By Shada Islam As Pakistan’s next prime minister, Nawaz Sharif faces daunting domestic and foreign policy challenges. While attention is inevitably focused on Sharif’s relations with the United States, India and Afghanistan, the election of a new democratically elected government also opens up new avenues for stronger EU-Pakistan relations.
All op-eds

Publications

Prioritising prevention: Case of seasonal influenza vaccination
By Shada Islam, Danuta Slusarska and Louise Smyth.Access to high-quality healthcare is hailed across Europe as its central defining feature. European healthcare is also viewed as among the best in the world. However, current challenges linked to Europe’s changing demographic situation as well as the continuing economic downturn have revealed the unsustainability and inefficiency of many aspects of the system.
After the crisis: Some thoughts on a global EU – or how to turn a crisis into regeneration
Good ideas sometimes spring out of crises. The European Union itself was ‘invented’ from a crisis, conceived in the rubble of the Second World War. It is less frequently recalled that the European integration project took shape at a time of great change and of redefinition of Europe’s global role.
EU-Myanmar: Charting a course for the future
By Shada Islam and Patricia Diaz Relations with Myanmar are back on the European Union (EU) agenda: EU foreign ministers on April 22 face a choice between a complete lifting of all sanctions, except the arms embargo, on Myanmar or a more cautious move under which last year's decision to suspend sanctions would be extended for another year.
All publications
Friends of Europe – Les amis de l'Europe is a leading think-tank that aims to stimulate thinking on key global and European political challenges. Our insightful and timely publications and animated debates provide access to sharp analysis and information. We promote the confrontation of ideas that is vital to policymaking and encourage wider involvement in Europe’s future.

Upcoming Events


Trustees speak out

Can Germany bail out all of Europe?
By John Bruton. There is a tendency, whenever a euro zone country gets in to difficulty, and needs help from its neighbours, to blame Germany for the severity of the terms imposed, and to say there is bullying involved.
Thoughts on the Cyprus deal
By Robert Cox. Quem deus vult perdere, dementat primus - whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.
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