Beyond Europe | Vocal Europe

Moving Beyond the MEPP: How a New European Neighbourhood Policy can Save the Two State Solution

02/12/2016 Israel

by Hugh Lovatt The European Neighbourhood Policy's engagement for a two state solution proves to be outdated. Its revitalisation could form an integral part of international efforts to resolve the conflict. The EU’s European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)…

Economic crisis knocks at Turkish government’s door

29/11/2016 Turkey

Yavuz Baydar

by Yavuz Baydar The Peri Tower Hotel is the latest to throw in the towel. “By the end of November, we will shut our doors to tourists,” said Nazif Demir, the manager of the hotel, which…

Is Trump a Friend of Israel?

21/11/2016 Israel

Marie Shuqha

by Marie Shuqha With almost two weeks past the US elections and Trump’s victory, it might be time to shed some light on what this unforeseen outcome might mean to relations between Israel and the EU…

Piri ‘persona no grata’ and Steinmeier is ‘privileged’, and nothing conceals the EU-Turkey deadlock

19/11/2016 Turkey

Yavuz Baydar

by Yavuz Baydar 'I feel like Diyarbakır does: dreary, angry, resentful. But still standing...' This comes from a 'local rapporteur' from the southeastern corner of Turkey; devastated, battered - both morally and physically. I will explain. These are…

The Art of the (Trump-Putin) Deal

15/11/2016 Russia

Vocal Europe

by Vladimir Milov Immediately after Donald Trump was elected 45th President of the United States, many commentators have suggested that his policies toward Russia will not be as accommodating as his campaign rhetoric on Vladimir Putin,…

NATO Needs Realistic Goals Toward Russia

07/11/2016 Russia

Vocal Europe

by ANDREW A. MICHTA These days, Europe is a place where uncertainty seems to be the norm. Regional differences over how to deal with Russia are fast becoming enduring rifts, with fissures emerging across Europe’s political…

Turkey in crisis: ‘Moment of truth’ for the EU?

07/11/2016 Turkey

Yavuz Baydar

by Yavuz Baydar If reported accurately, the European Commission will on Wednesday issue its annual so-called 'Progress Report' on Turkey, a 'report card' of sorts outlining whether or not its performance is in line with…

Minsk reloaded: why Putin’s Russia is winning and Europe is not

05/11/2016 Russia

Vocal Europe

by Viktoria Jancosekova "We don’t understand one another, we don’t trust each other, but we are at least able to meet." This was one of the most memorable quotes from last week’s meeting of the Normandy group…

As the EU crumbles, Israel should rejoice

05/11/2016 Israel

Vocal Europe

by Michael Freund October 2016 may well be remembered as a pivotal month, a further milestone in the downfall of the Tower of Babel that is the EU. Barely a week has passed since the start…

Turkish Government Endorses Boom of Licensed Arms as Political Tension Rises

05/11/2016 Turkey

Yavuz Baydar

by Yavuz Baydar It happened on a special day. After the Republic Day celebrations, on October 29, Bülent Tezcan, the vice chairman of Turkey's main opposition party, CHP, was sitting at a dinner table together…