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From Fear to Friendship: Franco-German Relations in 1949 and 2019

For the last seventy years, the Franco-German “couple” has constituted the center of European integration and peace in Europe. Reflection on the early stage of the relationship and on contemporary …

From 16+1 to 17+1: The EU’s Challenge from the Rebranded China-CEEC Initiative

When Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenkovic welcomed Greece as the 17th European member of the Cooperation of Central and Eastern European countries and China at the fifth China-CEEC summit in …

Germany: Hegemon or Free Rider?

Germany has been the most pro-European of all the big players within the EU.  Europe’s largest country in terms of population and economic weight, Germany has always been reluctant to …

EU Cohesion Monitor 2019: The untold story of European resilience

The dominant narrative about the European Union over recent years has been one of fragmentation. Indeed, there are visible signs of a union struggling to mobilise collective action – on …

Dazed and Confused: Germany’s Inner Struggle to Mature

This year’s Munich Security Conference (MSC) once again illustrated the stark contrast in world views on matters of international security and defense. While it was to be expected that Western …

Does Germany Need a Plan B?

Thomas Bagger is one of the most thoughtful diplomats of his generation.  Currently the Director of Foreign Policy in the Office of the Federal President, he has previously served as …

Jeff Rathke on Voice of America’s “Encounter”

Jeff Rathke, AGI President, and Thomas Wright, Director of the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, join host Carol Castiel on VOA’s “Encounter” program to …

The Euro’s 20th Birthday: A Historical Perspective

The “euro” as a currency celebrated its 20th birthday on January 1, 2019. Like a typical millennial, the euro is the topic of many news stories, analyzing its dominance of …

A New Approach to Europe?

Jeff Rathke Speaks at Helsinki Commission Briefing November 1, 2018 European countries and institutions like NATO and the European Union are our partners of first resort. And it is clear …

EU Elections: The Center Cannot Hold, but Do We Want It To?

Populism has truly become a transatlantic phenomenon, transcending national borders and disrupting democracies throughout the Western world: from Brexit in the UK to the election of Donald Trump in the …

The Robustness of Franco-German Relations in an Unstable Europe

The European Union faces an existential crisis of dramatic proportions, occasioned by Brexit; nationalism and populism in several member states; internal sclerosis; and challenges from a chaotic international system created …

Keep Calm and Fill In the Gaps

A thoughtful response and an ambitious European agenda are Germany’s best options for the Trump era The world, America, and transatlantic relations have survived the first year of the Trump …