Latest Reports

Global Europe, Publication, Report
14/05/2012
Culture, perceptions and media in EU-China relations
Chinese society is changing very quickly. Recent changes in state policy have led to an increase in governmental support for arts and culture, aiming to enhance China’s ‘soft power’ in the international community. Many analysts in the Western media, however, do not really understand China; it is important to establish closer social links between the two.
Global Europe, Publication, Report
20/04/2012
Greening China's cities of tomorrow
China is undergoing a vast process of urbanisation at a scale that is creating large economic, social and environmental challenges for Chinese policymakers and their partners in the EU and beyond. As China moves towards its projected ‘urban billion’ by 2030, pressure is increasing to address the problems of resource consumption, environmental degradation and sustainable urbanisation.
Global Europe, Publication, Report
13/04/2012
Pakistan: Charting a course for revival
As part of Friends of Europe’s Asia Programme, this first-ever conference held in Brussels on Pakistan looked beyond the headlines to discuss a way to reinforce civilian institutions, tackle governance and development issues and find the best way forward for relations between Pakistan and the international community.
Future of Europe, Publication, Report
29/03/2012
EU 2050: Europe's tech revolution
The speed at which technology is developed and put into use creates both opportunities and challenges. Faced with an ageing population, complex and slow-moving social institutions, and the threat of climate change, a balance must be struck between the rapid progress of technology and the slower capacity of humankind to adapt to change.
Social Europe, Publication, Report
new27/03/2012
Encouraging healthy eating and active living in the family setting
Changing health behaviours or encouraging healthy practices is a complex undertaking. Typically, behaviour change interventions target individual, social and environmental factors. One important influence that partly straddles all three is that of the family.
Global Europe, Publication, Report
21/03/2012
Europe and China: Rivals or strategic partners?
"The 21st Century is the Asia-Pacific Century” Zoltán Martinusz, Principle Adviser on External Relations to Herman Van Rompuy, said at the Understanding China Policy Summit. Asian perspectives are moving up the global agenda, he told the meeting of European and Chinese policymakers, business leaders and academics.
Greening Europe, Social Europe, Agriculture and Food, Climate and Environment, Food, Publication, Report
new21/03/2012
LiveWell for LIFE: Eating our way to a healthy planet

The 'LiveWell for low impact food in Europe (LIFE)' project was launched in Brussels on 28 February

2012 with a policy debate with stakeholders. The project tackles head-on two of the big challenges

facing modern society - rising levels of chronic diseases and runaway climate change – and looks for

solutions that will tackle both simultaneously.
Greening Europe, Future of Europe, Publication, Report
16/03/2012
One year after Fukushima: The future of nuclear energy in Europe
The exact composition of Europe’s future energy mix remains a subject of contention and the problem of the ‘energy gap’ persists, for if nuclear sources are phased out before a full transition to renewable resources, it is apparent that meeting the European energy demand may be problematic.
Global Europe, Future of Europe, Publication, Report
02/03/2012
Streamlining Serbia as an investment destination - if the EU says "yes"
Though the economic crisis caused a decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) into Serbia, the EU’s decision to grant the country candidate status will greatly improve its desirability to foreign investors, agreed panellists at this timely debate just a few days before EU foreign ministers granted Serbia official candidate status.
Greening Europe, Global Europe, Competitive Europe, Social Europe, Future of Europe, Publication, Report
new01/03/2012
40 under 40: European Young Leaders’ work plan on Europe’s future
Key messages from the first European Young Leaders (EYL) seminar in Paris: think European but work trans-nationally, re-engage with European citizens yet look beyond Europe’s borders. ‘40 under 40’ promotes a European identity by engaging 40 of the EU's brightest young minds from a wide range of backgrounds.
Competitive Europe, Publication, Report
13/02/2012
Europe's data protection future: Prospects and implications for business
Around two-thirds of EU citizens do not trust the manner in which their personal data is handled. This is not good news for the economy affirmed Martin Selmayr, Head of Cabinet to Viviane Reding, addressing this debate on the recent European Commission data protection proposals.
Global Europe, Future of Europe, Publication, Report
13/02/2012
G20 - Spurring on a global green recovery?
The overarching goal for this year's G20 Summit is to set the course for “strong, sustainable and balanced economic growth.” Roberto Marino, Special Representative for Mexico’s G20 Presidency, argues for the promotion of sustainable development and of the green economy, stressing that modern-day challenges require global coordinated solutions. In this climate, the private sector is increasingly called upon to play a more important role, and emerging economies have to be encouraged to embrace concepts of green growth too.
Global Europe, Future of Europe, Publication, Report
06/02/2012
Balkans scorecard: Assessing the region's key pointers
"If we compare the current state of affairs in the Western Balkans with the conflicted reality of twenty years past, the region's progress has been frankly miraculous," stated Štefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement, at Friends of Europe's annual Balkans European Policy Summit. However, the region is not without its problems.
Greening Europe, Energy Revolution, Climate and Environment, Publication, Report
03/02/2012
Europe's uncertain energy future
Friends of Europe’s annual Energy Summit took place against a backdrop of turmoil in Europe, in energy markets and in climate change policy. While governments are distracted by the ongoing financial crisis, energy and climate change are slipping down the policy agenda, said Fatih Birol, Chief Economist of the International Energy Agency. This is clear to see in the low expectations of a deal at the most recent climate conference in Durban, which took place the week after the summit.
International Development, Development Cooperation, Publication, Report
01/02/2012
Policies for promoting the private sector's role in development

The Development Policy Forum (DPF) debate on the role of the private sector in development cooperation focused on the current development cooperation landscape, different types of private sector intervention, the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of the private sector as a new development player and its impact on the development agenda.
Greening Europe, Agriculture and Food, Climate and Environment, Food, Publication, Report
31/01/2012
The future of farming

The recent round of proposed reforms to the European Union's (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was the subject of an animated roundtable discussion in Brussels last November. As part of its Greening Europe Forum, Friends of Europe welcomed more than forty experts in the field of European agriculture to debate the ecological, political and social aspects of the CAP reform.
Global Europe, Publication, Report
26/01/2012
Latin America's new dynamic

The relationship between Europe and Latin America is changing and must evolve further heard the participants of a one day Policy Summit on EU-Latin America relations entitled ‘Latin America’s new dynamic’.
Competitive Europe, Future of Europe, Publication, Report
14/12/2011
The State of Europe: Re-thinking the European project
The State of Europe is dominated by the financial crisis in the eurozone and this was reflected in Friends of Europe’s annual State of Europe roundtable, which brought together ministers and EU Commissioners, members of the national and European Parliaments, senior policymakers, business leaders and opinion-formers for a no-holds-barred discussion on prospects for rethinking the European “project”.
Global Europe, Competitive Europe, Publication, Report
28/10/2011
China’s 12th five-year plan and Europe 2020: Creating new EU-China synergies

Entitled ‘China’s 12th Five-Year Plan and Europe 2020: Creating new synergies’ the China Advisory Council within the Understanding China programme, which is co-funded by the European Commission, was organised in Beijing by Friends of Europe and EUROCHAMBRES.

Global Europe, Publication, Report
19/10/2011
Asia 2050: Challenges ahead
The opportunities and challenges presented by Asia’s vibrant economic growth was spotlighted at the latest Friends of Europe debate entitled 'Asia 2050: Challenges ahead'. Participants examined the findings of a recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) study on 'Realising the Asian century', exploring issues ranging from climate change to gender equality, governance to development policy.
International Development, Publication, Report
05/09/2011
Africa: Building on growth
A new, more assertive and confident Africa is making its mark on the global stage. The continent’s economies have, for the most part, grown over the past decade; African governments have become more democratic and many countries have integrated achievement of the Millennium Development Goals into their national aspirations.
International Development, Food, Publication, Report
02/09/2011
Europe's development policy comes of age
Friends of Europe's Development Policy Forum organised a roundtable on 17 May which was especially timely because it took place against a background of an impasse in the World Trade Organisation’s Doha discussions, the United Nations taking a new approach to the Least Developed Countries, negotiations on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, and the EU considering new ideas on the Generalised System of Preferences. The key issue was how to reconcile development and trade policies.
Greening Europe, Publication, Report
09/08/2011
The future of oil: how realistic is a post-oil society?

The European Union’s radical plan to cut its domestic CO2 emissions by 80-95% by the middle of this century set the context for a roundtable discussion on “How realistic is a post-oil society” organised by Friends of Europe on 15 June 2011 at the Bibliotheque Solvay in Brussels. 
Greening Europe, Publication, Report
09/08/2011
Europe's scarce resources strategy
The scarcity of resources will define the 21st century even more than climate  change, Friends of Europe’s Policy Summit on Europe’s scarce resources  strategy heard during the European Commission’s Green Week 2011.
Global Europe, Publication, Report
09/08/2011
Europe and the Asian Century
The successful first Friends of Europe high-level Policy Summit on EU-Asia relations highlighted the need to forge deeper ties between the two regions. Increasing strategic cooperation between the EU and Asia however, requires commitment and visionary thinking by both regions.
Greening Europe, Energy Revolution, Publication, Report
05/08/2011
Signals and Signposts - Shell Energy Scenarios to 2050
Civil society, businesses and government all have an important role to play in securing sustainable energy supplies for the future, participants in a recent Friends of Europe's discussion heard.
Competitive Europe, Publication, Report
10/07/2011
Taming the turmoil: New rules for global finance
Rebuilding Eurozone credibility, following recent bailouts agreed to ease the sovereign debt crisis in Greece, Ireland and Portugal, will take time, energy and hard work. The Greek government’s success in securing parliamentary approval of a medium-term fiscal bill has lessened fears over a disorderly default of Greek debt, which had weighed heavily on the single currency, and cleared the way for a second rescue package from the International Monetary Fund for Athens.
Greening Europe, Publication, Report
22/06/2011
Is Europe on a path to 100% renewable electricity by 2050?

Significant progress has been made in deploying renewable energy across Europe in recent years, but there are still many hurdles and challenges to overcome if the EU wants to fully decarbonise its electricity sector by 2050. That was one of the key messages to come out Friends of Europe Café Crossfire debate, co-organised with the Smart Energy for Europe Platform (SEFEP) on Europe's renewable energy future on 31 May 2011.
Future of Europe, Publication, Report
07/06/2011
The EU’s “newcomers” weigh the costs and benefits
European Union (EU) expansion to 27 member states has undoubtedly shifted the bloc’s centre of gravity. However, while the European Commission is confident the admission of 12 new members since 2004 has been a huge success, some argue that the “newcomers” are not really making the best of EU membership. The financial crisis has thrown to the fore tensions between the new EU members, including Romania and Bulgaria which joined in 2007, and their more established counterparts.
Greening Europe, Publication, Report
20/05/2011
Opportunities and challenges of greening ICT
Europe must take advantages of the opportunities offered by cloud computing if it is to rise to the challenges presented by climate change and realise the economic vision contained in its Europe 2020 strategy. So heard participants in the roundtable discussion on "Opportunities and challenges of greening ICT" - organised by Friends of Europe's 'Greening Europe Forum' - which looked at how a revolution in the ICT sector could help the EU maintain a competitive edge while protecting citizens' data and reducing Europe's climate and energy footprint.
Greening Europe, Competitive Europe, Green Economy, Trustees Speak Out, Future of Europe, Publication, Report
13/05/2011
The nature of growth: In search of a new framework for progress and prosperity
This special publication combines the outcomes, highlights and recommendations that are a reflection of the views of a number of Friends of Europe Trustees and other high-level discussants, as well as a selection of growth-critical authors and thinkers who debated and pondered the future of economic growth in the wake of the autumn 2008 global financial crisis.
Global Europe, Publication, Report
09/05/2011
Investing in Latin America’s boom: Can its “jaguars” catch up with Asia’s “tigers”?
Latin America’s “jaguars” were the subject of our one-day Policy Summit on EU-Latin America relations, held in Brussels on Tuesday, 15 March 2011, organised within the framework of the AL-Invest IV Programme and co-organised by Friends of Europe and EUROCHAMBRES.
International Development, Development Cooperation, Publication, Report
03/05/2011
What can the world expect of the new EU-U.S. development cooperation?
The decision made in Washington in 2009 to “reinvigorate” the development dialogue between the two was spurred by a desire to “improve the quality and effectiveness” of development assistance in light of the 2015 deadline for meeting many of the MDGs and since then, USAID Deputy Administrator Donald K. Steinberg has witnessed what he describes as the “single most fundamental shift” in U.S. development policy in his lifetime.
Global Europe, Publication, Report
29/04/2011
Making sense of the Asian century: Indonesia’s ASEAN priorities in 2011
Ngurah Swajaya, Indonesia’s ambassador to ASEAN and current chair of the ASEAN Committee of Permanent Representatives, told the meeting that making concrete progress towards establishing an ASEAN Community is one of the key priorities that his country has identified during its year-long presidency of the organisation.
Greening Europe, Green Economy, Energy Revolution, Publication, Report
19/04/2011
Solar photovoltaic power: On the threshold of competitiveness?
Following a passionate hour long debate, the forecast for solar photovoltaic was, by and large, a sunny one. That was the sentiment expressed by the panellists taking part in the ‘Café Crossfire’ debate organised by Friends of Europe in association with the European Photovoltaic Industry Association on 19 May.
Global Europe, Publication, Report
28/03/2011
Greening China: Outlook for European SMEs
In 2011, China overtook Japan to become the world’s second largest economy. The country has rebounded quickly from the global economic crisis: its economy grew at a rate of 9% in 2009 and an estimated 10% in 2010. 
International Development, Publication, Report
14/03/2011
Combating global poverty: How climate and financing policies can help
Environment and development policies must go hand-in-hand in the continuing battle to eradicate global poverty. That was the overarching view of the panellists taking part in the Friends of Europe ‘Café Crossfire’ debate on 14 March, which considered the issue of climate financing and the quest for sustainable, low-carbon growth.
Social Europe, Publication, Report
09/02/2011
Should the EU try to save Europe's quality press?
The EU must promote the value of copyright and not restrict advertising if it wants to maintain a free and independent press. The debate, which brought together MEPs, European Commission officials, journalists and media specialists, looked at the key challenges facing Europe's fourth estate, as newspapers struggle with falling advertising revenue and growing competition from the internet. The panel also addressed issues including EU subsidies for the media, and how Brussels can use its copyright and competition laws to protect quality journalism in an increasingly volatile market.
Greening Europe, Energy Revolution, Publication, Report
02/02/2011
Securing the EU energy supply - Turkey and countries of the Caspian Region as key players

Willy De Backer, Head of the Greening Europe Forum of Friends of Europe, called on policymakers to maintain sight of the environmental challenges amid discussions on energy security. "We should also consider climate change," he said. "We're trying to decarbonise our societies and yet this is all about gas – so we're locking ourselves into a fossil-fuel future." 
Global Europe, Publication, Report
10/12/2010
Doing business with China in the wake of the crisis
The Understanding China programme second annual EU-China Policy Summit took place against a political and economic backdrop that sees Europe in much reduced circumstances from last year’s meeting, but that also highlights the interdependence of the world’s major powers that globalisation has created.
Global Europe, Publication, Report
09/12/2010
Winning China's Markets: an SME Investment Guide
This Policy Brief is written from the perspective of European small and medium-sized enterprises considering operation in, or already operating in China. However, it also takes into account the wider context of EU-China relations, as they may influence Chinese company policy. This brief starts off from this wider horizon, beginning with the observation that senior management is advised to invest time and resources in learning about the country’s complex transformation.
Global Europe, Future of Europe, Publication, Report
09/12/2010
Beating the Balkans blues
There is clear acknowledgement by leaders of the Western Balkans that progress on a path of reconciliation and increased regional cooperation benefits citizens. EU representatives emphasise the need to see continuing progress by states in the region toward settling border disputes and conflict legacy issues including refugee and reconciliation problems.
International Development, Food, Publication, Report
06/12/2010
Can new technology feed a hungry world?
The increasing global population, dwindling natural resources and crunchy economic climate are among the challenges facing policymakers as they seek to secure food supplies. NGOs, aid workers and representatives from the biotechnology industry, among others, came together at the latest Friends of Europe Development Policy Forum to look at how technology could help face these issues and tackle world hunger. 
Greening Europe, Global Europe, Energy Revolution, Publication, Report
30/11/2010
The future of Europe's environment: Implications of global mega-trends
Friends of Europe’s Café Crossfire on November 30th, 2010 discussed the release of the European Environment Agency 2010 State and Output report on the European Environment. This report highlights the key global drivers of change (mega-trends) suggesting areas of focus for environmental policy makers today and into the next twenty years.

Competitive Europe, Publication, Report
29/11/2010
Europe's data protection divide: More rules or fewer?

On 29 November, Friends of Europe continued their series of “Policymakers’ Debates” with a discussion on European data protection legislation. The debate, entitled “Europe’s data protection divide: More rules or fewer?”, considered which position regulatory mechanisms should take in order to remain relevant in the context of speeding up and ever-changing technological advances in the world.
Greening Europe, Energy Revolution, Publication, Report
18/11/2010
Europe's Energy Revolution: Opportunities and constraints
Friends of Europe's 2010 Energy Summit, Europe’s energy revolution: Opportunities and constraints highlighted the challenges that Europe faces, both internally and externally. 
Social Europe, Publication, Report
14/11/2010
An innovative healthcare agenda for Europe
The European Commission acknowledges that healthcare is a critical issue as an ageing population has to contend with reduced budgets affecting every aspect of their lives. The Commission believes that more can be achieved with the same funding. Policymakers in individual countries and within the European institutions are urged to seek out and analyse the best examples of innovative healthcare from around the world and focus their efforts on replicating these. Download full report here: EN
Global Europe, Future of Europe, Publication, Report
28/10/2010
Counter-measures in the Balkans against organised crime and corruption
Much has been achieved in recent years in the context of legal and institutional changes to tackle the problems of organised crime and corruption in the Balkans. What is needed now is a crackdown on the black economy, and for wrong-doers to be caught, sentenced and deprived of the proceeds of their crimes, sending a clear message to civil society that the rule of law must be respected.
Global Europe, Competitive Europe, Social Europe, Future of Europe, Publication, Report
14/10/2010
The State of Europe: Tough questions for the EU
Opening Friends of Europe’s seventh annual State of Europe summit, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said that after the actions member states have taken to defend the euro and the European Union, it is time for them to move out of survival mode and focus on more forward-looking measures to stimulate innovation, enhance competitiveness and deepen market integration.
Social Europe, Publication, Report
28/09/2010
Just what the doctor ordered: An EU response to medication non-adherence
Medication non-adherence is costing EU governments an estimated 125 billion euros and contributing to the premature deaths of nearly 200,000 Europeans a year, heard the participants at Friends of Europe’s Policymakers Debate, ‘Just what the doctor ordered: an EU response to medication non-adherence’ on 28 September in Brussels.
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