Research
Access denied: The EU's discriminatory visa regime is undermining its reputation in Africa
02 April 2025
EU leaders claim people-to-people links between Europe and Africa are a strength, but the EU’s visa policy tells a different story.
Donald Trump's return to office: Ten consequences
28 March 2025
Donald Trump’s second presidency is shaking up the geopolitical landscape. Most of the consequences are harmful, but some are beneficial.
One step forward for Europe's defence
26 March 2025
In an effort to adjust to the new strategic reality, the EU is trying to make it easier for member-states to strengthen Europe’s defences. Success or failure depends on them.
The EU budget in a larger Union: Key issues and open questions
25 March 2025
EU enlargement does not need to bust the EU’s budget. But the distributional effects of enlargement need to be addressed to ensure it has broad-based political support.
UK-EU relations: Time to raise the level of ambition
21 March 2025
Geopolitical turbulence has put UK-EU differences in perspective. Britain and the EU need much closer ties.
The new EU-Swiss deal: What it means and the lessons it holds for the UK-EU 'reset'
17 March 2025
The recent political agreement between the European Commission and the Swiss government promises to stabilise their long-troubled economic relationship. The British government should pay close attention.
How the UK and the EU can deepen defence co-operation
07 March 2025
The UK and the EU face daunting common security challenges. Linking Britain more closely to EU defence tools would strengthen Europe's security.
Freezing EU funds: An effective tool to enforce the rule of law?
27 February 2025
The EU cannot operate unless member-states respect the rule of law. Withholding EU funds is a powerful tool to enforce compliance, but it has yet to show its teeth.
Trump's tariffs – how should the EU react?
26 February 2025
The ‘Fair and Reciprocal Tariff Plan’ proposed by Donald Trump sounds innocuous but is a roadmap towards an all-out global trade war. To avert one, Europe must act firmly and speedily.
How to build and fund a better EU green industrial policy
19 February 2025
The EU should revamp its industrial policy for clean technologies not to cede leadership in clean tech manufacturing to China as Trump's America backtracks from decarbonisation goals.
Articles
Wcale nie Trump. Głównym przeciwnikiem gospodarczym UE są Chiny
28 March 2025
Oko Press
„Chiny są egzystencjalnym zagrożeniem dla europejskiej branży motoryzacyjnej” – mówi nam holenderski ekonomista Sander Tordoir.
Experts: What do Trump’s tariffs mean for global climate action?
27 March 2025
Carbon Brief
The Trump administration is walking back on US climate commitments, both domestically by threatening to cut back Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) support for clean-tech industries and internationally, [by] withdrawing from the Paris Agreement.
How should Britain step up to enhance European security?
21 March 2025
Britain's World
Seen from Rome, the UK is an essential partner and pillar of European security. The UK’s contribution to a stronger European security posture can be both political and practical.
Een Duitse begrotingsimpuls biedt de EU hoop
12 March 2025
NRC Handelsblad
Duitsland kan door het loslaten van de rem op staatsschulden investeren in defensie. De EU versterkt zo zijn strategische positie, stelt Sander Tordoir.
Filling the USAID gap: How Europe can step up to support democracy
11 March 2025
European Democracy Hub
The suspension and slashing of US democracy grants have left a yawning shortfall of approximately $2 billion per year, impacting thousands of civil society organisations and independent media outlets and placing many at risk of closure.
Heavy industry is Europe’s Trump card
07 March 2025
Foreign Policy
Whether or not the United States now qualifies as Europe’s adversary, it’s clear that its postwar role as guarantor of Europe’s security is over.
Press
Europe is preparing for possible war with Russia, without the US
04 April 2025
ABC News
Luigi Scazzieri, assistant director at the Centre for European Reform, said the EU had been neglecting the equipment, stockpiles and readiness efforts needed for high-intensity conflict. "It proved more convenient to rely on the US," he wrote in an EU defence brief.
Wat heeft Trump nu precies beslist, en wie wordt er het hardst getroffen?
03 April 2025
De Standaard
Volgens Sander Tordoir van de CER (Centre for European Reform) zijn er voldoende redenen om te geloven dat Europa evenwel minder hard geraakt zal worden dan de VS. Handelspartners als de EU, China en Japan hebben nog voldoende mogelijkheden om hun export te diversifiëren en nieuwe handelspartners te zoeken.
What's behind Russia's biggest conscription drive in years?
03 April 2025
The Week
It certainly highlights that Putin is probably not expecting to sign up to – or abide by – a ceasefire in Ukraine any time soon said Ian Bond, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform. Even if a long-term ceasefire is eventually agreed, Putin would be unlikely to stop there. "We can see what the Russian economy is being retooled to do," says Bond. "And it ain't peace."
EU's restrictive Schengen visa policies undermine relations with Africa, research warns
03 April 2025
Schengen News
New research from the independent think-tank, Centre for European Reform (CER), has warned that the EU’s visa regime is discriminatory against Africa, undermining the bloc’s reputation.According to the CER, while the EU leaders emphasise the importance of strong EU-Africa connections, the current visa policies suggest otherwise, Schengen.
Eine Trump-Bilanz, die auch ihr Positives hat
03 March 2025
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Charles Grant vom Centre for European Reform in London hat nun eine Schadensbilanz seit Trumps Amtsantritt am 20. Januar aufgestellt.
20 Prozent auf EU-Produkte: Trump startet den Handelskrieg
03 April 2025
Table Briefings
„Herr Trump sorgt zweifellos für die dramatischste Eskalation des Protektionismus seit der Großen Depression“, sagte Sander Tordoir Table Briefings. ...Ein Großteil des chinesischen Handelsüberschusses mit den USA wirdsomit auf andere Märkte umgeleitet werden. „Das wird noch mehr Druck auf europäische Produzenten ausüben, die ohnehin schon unter chinesischem Dumping leiden“, sagte Tordoir.
Starmer offers big US tech firms tax cuts in return for lower Trump tariffs
02 April 2025
The Guardian
John Springford, of the Centre for European Reform, said: “At a minimum, Trump’s trade wars make it even more likely that further spending cuts or tax rises are coming in the autumn budget – we just don’t know how much at this stage.”
What price will the UK pay for a trade deal with Donald Trump?
01 April 2025
Financial Times
Aslak Berg, trade policy expert at the Centre for European Reform think-tank, said the list of US trade grievances set out by the Trump administration was so extensive — covering not just tariffs but taxes including VAT and online and environmental regulations — that they could never be satisfied. “The US demands on regulation and taxation amount to regulatory subordination,” he said. “That’s not the kind of demand you’d make if you were looking to make a deal — it’s what you’d propose if you’re looking for an excuse to impose tariffs.”
You need us: the British strategy for pivoting towards Europe
01 April 2025
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
Luigi Scazzieri, the assistant director of the Centre for European Reform, describes it as ‘shallow’, with very limited co-operation on capability development. “The rules for third country involvement in PESCO [Permanent Structured Co-operation), the European Defence Fund and EDIRPA [procurement] are very complex. While in principle, third countries and third country entities are allowed to participate, in practice the EU’s rules limit their involvement.”
How Trump is forcing Europe to get real on steel
31 March 2025
Politico
Putting a historic industry at the center of policymaking while under pressure from an erratic US President Donald Trump, an expansionist Russian President Vladimir Putin and an ambitious Chinese President Xi Jinping, makes sense coming from Brussels, according to Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform.“I’d consider the EUCO a success, all things considered,” he said. “And the leaders are simply working well together at the moment. But there’s a lot still to be done.”
Podcasts
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: The future of EU-India relations
02 April 2025
Anunita Chandrasekar, Tara Varma and Amaia Sánchez-Cacicedo consider the trajectory of EU-India relations.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: Can Europe still rely on the United States?
11 March 2025
Charles Grant and Kori Schake discuss what America’s hostility to the rules-based international order means for transatlantic relations.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: A snapshot of the war in Ukraine
21 February 2025
Ian Bond and Iuliia Osmolovska discuss the war in Ukraine.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: How can Europe survive Trump's tariffs and a second China shock?
05 February 2025
Sander Tordoir and Zselyke Csaky discuss Trump's tariffs and the second China shock.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: Trump's inauguration: What's next?
24 January 2025
Luigi Scazzieri, Ian Bond and Constanze Stelzenmueller discuss Donald Trump's inauguration.
Events
CER/HSF hybrid discussion on 'The Weimar Triangle and Weimar Plus'
03 April 2025
Hybrid London/Zoom
With Michał Kamiński, Joséphine Staron, Nicolai von Ondarza and Peter Watkins. Watch the video of the event here.
CER/Delegation of the EU to the UK discussion on 'Can Europe become a tech power house?'
17 March 2025
London
with Priit Alamäe, Katherine Bennett, Gaelle Drory-Liaudet and Roberto Viola
27th birthday party, London
26 February 2025
London
With a keynote speech by the Rt Hon David Lidington CBE, former Minister for the Cabinet Office & Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster & Chair, RUSI. Listen to the audio of the speeches here.
Hosted by Inigo Lambertini, Ambassador of Italy to the United Kingdom.
Hosted by Inigo Lambertini, Ambassador of Italy to the United Kingdom.
CER/HSF hybrid discussion on 'Implications of the German election for the UK'
24 February 2025
Hybrid London/Zoom
With Markus Ferber, Christine Heuer, Marion Messmer and Christoph Meyer. Watch the video of the event here.
Hybrid discussion on 'What future for Ukraine?'
19 February 2025
London
With Iuliia Osmolovska and Richard Shirreff. Watch the video of the event here.