Muriel Asseburg and Paul Salem look at the prospects for Euro-Mediterranean initiatives against the current troubled backdrop of the Middle East, and in particular the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Clearly, the long-term objective of creating a Euro-Mediterranean Community will not be fulfilled without a lasting peace in the region. The authors put forward a set of proposals on how Europe should contribute to resolving the Middle East crisis.

Part of a larger project organised by three US think-tanks, the purpose of this seminar was to determine how the US and the EU can work more effectively on security cooperation, including a vast agenda of issues beyond the framework of NATO, as well as how 'societal resilience' can be improved in order to face the challenge thrown up by criminal and terrorist networks.

Following the announcement that Turkey and Armenia are entering into final talks to establish diplomatic relations, the author examines the long road which has led to a thawing in relations and the pragmatic reasons for this rapprochement.

In the last year, the EU has been conducting two major military operations in and around Africa as well as continuing its police mission in Afghanistan. This Summer issue looks at the EU's engagement in these regions. It also gives a bird's eye view of an ESDP operation as seen from the EU Satellite Centre and finally Karl von Wogau, Chairman of the European Parliament Sub-Committee for Security and Defence, takes stock of the development of ESDP.

Après les multiples assassinats et règlements de compte entre dirigeants politiques et militaires au printemps 2009, la situation en Guinée-Bissau est aujourd’hui beaucoup plus instable, volatile et imprévisible que lors de la phase de plannification de la mission UE RSS (Réforme du secteur de la sécurité).

The Institute organised a conference jointly with the Swedish Presidency of the EU and in collaboration with the Swedish Institute of International Affairs in Brussels, 28 July. Introductory speeches were given by EU High Representative Javier Solana and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. The event was also the occasion for the launch of the Institute's new book 'What ambitions for European defence in 2020?'

Paris, 22 July 2009: "What ambitions for European Defence in
2020?" is the title of a new volume from the EU Institute for
Security Studies (EUISS) to mark the tenth anniversary of the
European Security and Defence Policy.

This chronological compilation brings together official documents on European security and defence, including statements, decisions and other material from the relevant EU structures. It is a valuable reference tool for all those interested in the EU’s common foreign and security policy, allowing for quick identification of the key issues on the agenda for the year 2008.

Giovanni Grevi sketches out a new scenario for the changing international system: the interpolar world. He suggests that the shifts in global power will be shaped by the necessities of increasing interdependence - not least to confront shared challenges, from the economic crisis to climate change, and their political and security implications.

This article looks at the influence of Obama’s 4 June speech in Cairo on the parliamentary elections that took place in Lebanon several days later. It also considers how the positive overtures expressed in that speech might be translated into policy initiatives in the Middle East, and identifies some of the challenges for the US administration.