Centre For European Reform

This week's CER podcast is the final episode in the series from the CER's annual economics conference, usually hosted at Ditchley Park but this year held as a webinar series. The podcast features event speakers, Sergei Guriev of Sciences Po, Beata Javorcik of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan of the University of Maryland and Abebe Aemro Selassie of the International Monetary Fund. They discussed the EU’s relations with its neighbours including Russia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, the Western Balkans and sub-Saharan Africa, identifying common themes, challenges and lessons. Katherine Pye, the CER's current Clara Marina O'Donnell fellow also spoke to Katarína Mathernová, Deputy Director General at DG Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission about the EU's relations with Eastern Partnership countries. They talked about the reform process, frozen conflicts, and recent elections in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by

This week's CER podcast is the fourth of five episodes on the CER's annual economics conference, usually hosted at Ditchley Park but this year held as a webinar series. The podcast features Caroline Freund of the World Bank, Anu Bradford of Columbia University, Gabriel Felbermayr of the Kiel Institute of the World Economy, and Alan Beattie of the Financial Times. John Springford, CER's deputy director, also speaks to Soumaya Keynes, The Economist's trade and globalisation editor, about US trade policy and the Biden administration’s approach towards China. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

This week's CER podcast is the third of five episodes released in conjunction with the CER's annual economics conference, usually hosted at Ditchley Park but this year held as a webinar series. Christian Odendahl, CER's chief economist, speaks to Stephanie Flanders, head of Bloomberg Economics, about Europe position in the worldwide tech race, the merits of Europen competition policy and Europe’s ability to drive up standards in the digital world. They also discuss the comments from event speakers Hal Varian, Google's Chief Economist, Monika Schnitzer, Economics Professor at LMU in Munich, Thomas Philippon, Finance Professor at NYU Stern School of Business and Merle Maigre, Senior Expert on Cyber Security at the e-Governance Academy in Estonia. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

This week's CER podcast is the second of five episodes released in conjunction with the CER's annual economics conference, usually hosted at Ditchley Park but this year held as a webinar series. Sophia Besch, senior research fellow at the CER, speaks to Sir John Sawers, former diplomat and head of MI6 and now senior adviser at Chatham House and executive chairman at Newbridge Advisory, about his thoughts on the triangular relationship between Europe, the US and China. They also discuss the comments from event speakers Manuel Muñiz Villa, Secretary of State for Global Spain, Jean Pisani-Ferry, Professor at the European University Institute, Sciences Po and Bruegel, Daniela Schwarzer, Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations and Nathalie Tocci, Director of the Italian Institute for International Affairs. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

This week's CER podcast is the first of five episodes released in conjunction with the CER's annual economics conference, usually hosted at Ditchley Park but this year held as a webinar series. The CER's chief economist Christian Odendahl speaks to Megan Greene, senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, about her thoughts on the post-COVID global recovery. They also discuss the comments from event speakers Olivier Blanchard, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Catherine L Mann, global chief economist at Citi; Elina Ribakova, deputy chief economist at the Institute of International Finance; and Maarten Verwey, the European Commission's Director-General for economic & financial affairs. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week's podcast episode, Ian Bond, the CER's director of foreign policy, speaks about the forthcoming US election with Sir Nigel Sheinwald, former British Ambassador to the US, Kori Schake, director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute and Rachel Ellehuus, deputy director and senior fellow with the Europe program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. They discuss what a second Trump term or a Biden administration would mean for Europe in terms of transatlantic trade and foreign and defence policy, as well as what the transition process from Trump to Biden would look like. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

This week's podcast accompanies the launch of the CER policy brief 'Europe, the US and China: A love-hate triangle?', which examines the complex triangular relations between Europe, Beijing and Washington, and considers both what the EU can do to reduce the risks of a China-US conflict, and what it should do to protect its own interests against pressure from both sides. Leonard Schuette, researcher at the University of Maastricht and former Clara Marina O'Donnell Fellow at the CER speaks to Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China in the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, as well as fellow co-authors of the paper Sophia Besch, senior research fellow at the CER and Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the CER. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

In this podcast episode, CER director Charles Grant and Catherine Barnard, professor of EU law at Cambridge University and senior fellow at UK in a Changing Europe discuss the controversial Internal Market Bill, its impact on the UK and the likelihood of a UK-EU trade deal. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

The European Commission has unveiled its much-awaited ‘new migration pact’. But just how much of it is new? Will the EU finally agree on a common migration policy? In this podcast episode, CER senior research fellow Camino Mortera-Martínez and Giulia Laganà, senior analyst at the Open Society European Policy Institute, discuss the Commission's latest proposals and look beyond the headlines to legal migration, the EU budget and farming reforms. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

In this year's State of the Union address, Ursula von der Leyen laid out her plans for the EU's transition "from fragility to a new vitality". But is the Commission president being too optimistic here? In the latest Centre for European Reform podcast, Charles Grant, Christian Odendahl and Camino Mortera-Martinez discuss the Commission's outline for the next year and what it says about how well it is leading the EU.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s regional ambitions and push for control of gas resources in Eastern Mediterranean have put Turkey on a collision course with the European Union. Dangerous military incidents involving Turkey, Greece and France have raised the risk of conflict. EU member-states have been split on how best to manage relations with Ankara – France wants a tougher stance while Germany is urging caution. But the more Turkey continues its current course of action the likelier it is that the EU will shift towards imposing economic sanctions. CER research fellow and regional expert Luigi Scazzieri discusses the latest developments and implications of the rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean with senior research fellow Camino Mortera-Martinez.

Lukashenka has rigged his re-election as president of Belarus, and begun a violent crackdown on protesters rejecting the result. The EU, US and Russia face dilemmas in responding to events. Charles Grant and Ian Bond discuss Sunday's election.

Growing economic tensions, COVID-19, cyber attacks, disinformation, intellectual property theft, a security clamp down in Hong Kong, treatment of the Uyghurs, and restrictions on Huawei: the CER’s director Charles Grant and director of foreign policy Ian Bond examine Europe’s increasingly troubled relationship with China.

Lukashenka is certain to win Belarus’s presidential election. But his suppression of dissent poses a dilemma for the EU: punishing Lukashenka could help Russia to extend its sway over the country.

European Union leaders will meet in Brussels on July 17-18 to discuss plans for a new recovery fund and long-term budget to help Europe bounce back from the COVID-19 crisis. The CER’s chief economist Christian Odendahl and deputy director John Springford discuss how the EU should spend the money.

Following Monday’s meeting between Boris Johnson and the three Presidents of the EU, has a deal between the EU and UK become more or less likely? Charles Grant and Sam Lowe discuss.

Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic is creating new friction in the transatlantic relationship and exacerbating existing differences on China, trade and defence spending. Tensions will get worse if Trump is re-elected in November.

On 18th May, Merkel and Macron proposed a €500bn recovery fund for the EU. John Springford and Christian Odendahl discuss why it's needed, and whether reluctant countries will back it.

As 2020 started, Vladimir Putin’s economic, political and diplomatic position looked strong. Now he faces recession, an exploding COVID-19 pandemic and declining domestic support. What does that mean for the West?

Charles Grant and Sam Lowe discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on the EU-UK trade talks, and whether the pandemic will lead to the transition period being extended, taking into account the arguments for and against.