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Briefs

Raising awareness of both existing and emerging foreign and security policy challenges facing the European Union, EUISS Briefs provide key information in a concise, focused format.

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    31January 2020
    Revitalising the NPT
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    In the run-up to the 2020 Review Conference of the NPT, this Brief assesses the EU’s record as a non-proliferation actor. In particular it seeks to identify how the EU can rebuild its credibility in this role given the difficulties encountered in obtaining a consensus at the 2015 RevCon. The Brief argues that in order to overcome divisions among a polarised membership, the EU could support the moderate faction promoting the middle ground and develop a modus vivendi with the ‘Ban Treaty’ – the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – with a view to fostering an agenda of gradual progress towards nuclear disarmament.
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    16December 2019
    The EU as a maritime security provider
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    Maritime security is one of the fundamental strategic interests of the European Union. This Brief focuses on the EU’s ambition to become a maritime security provider in the Indo-Pacific region and explores how might it go about accomplishing this. It shows how a more proactive European involvement in maritime security has the potential to boost ties with Asian countries, promote the Union’s foreign and security objectives in the region and enhance its strategic profile globally.
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    04November 2019
    Libya's conflict
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    This Conflict Series Brief focuses on the driving factors of conflict dynamics in Libya and on the shortcomings of the Libya Political Agreement (LPA) in addressing them. It shows how the approach ignored key political actors and realities on the ground from the outset, thereby limiting its impact.
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    08October 2019
    Resetting Ethiopia
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    Strengthening the resilience of the Ethiopian state and preventing an escalation of political violence are two policy priorities in view of the 2020 elections. But how can conflict risks be mitigated? And can the ambitious reform agenda be reconciled with concrete local needs and ethnic grievances?
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    25September 2019
    Three scenarios for Sudan
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    This Brief analyses the recent civil resistance in Sudan, and explores the reasons for the resilience and longevity that have characterised it compared to previous protest movements in the country. In particular, it examines how the events in Sudan demonstrate the potential of strategic non-violence to bring about societal change, even in the face of violent repression. It concludes by outlining three scenarios for the transition process.
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    03September 2019
    Stress tests
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    The EU increasingly makes use of crisis scenarios to forecast the future and identify capability gaps. This Brief shows how simulations and exercises can only add value to preparedness efforts when they are but one element of a wider crisis response architecture.
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    02July 2019
    Russia in the Western Balkans
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    Russia's grand aspirational objective is to bring back what is deemed in Moscow to be a more natural state of play for the Balkans: multipolarity. But what is the Russian modus operandi in the region? Is it confined only to coercion, as the headlines suggest, or is there a softer side to Russia’s power?
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    14June 2019
    The poison pill: EU defence on US terms?
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    In light of rising tensions between Washington and the EU over defence markets, this Brief looks at the asymmetry between US and European defence markets. It examines the web of regulations and laws which effectively provides the US government with the discretionary power to control its defence market and technologies.
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    03June 2019
    Connecting the dots: challenges to EU connectivity in Central Asia
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    This Brief looks into connectivity-related challenges and how they relate to the EU’s new Central Asia Strategy and its vision of connectivity. It examines the legacy of Soviet connectivity, the significance of regional informal networks, as well as the impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Russia’s Great Eurasian Partnership.
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    10April 2019
    Conflict prevention in Mozambique
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    This Brief demonstrates how a ‘pivot’ to conflict prevention in foreign assistance to Mozambique is needed, adjusting international donors’ support towards more targeted conflict-prevention objectives, and balancing the need for conflict sensitivity with the imperative of effective relief and recovery interventions in the areas hit by the cyclone. But it is important to realise that the ‘prevention window’ will not remain open indefinitely, and timely action is therefore of the essence.

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