February, 2024

• 16 February

  The Maghreb Maze: Harmonizing Divergent European Policies In North Africa – Analysis

  

  Introduction The countries of the central Maghreb – Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia – are increasingly difficult partners for Europe. Over the past few years, their leaders have become more assertive in trying to set the terms of relations with the European Union and its member states, using both their countries’ …

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• 16 February

  Le lancement de l’axe Paris-Berlin-Varsovie pour le réarmement de l’UE déjà mort-né?

  

  Paris lance – dans une précipitation suscitée par la peur d’être lâché par les États-Unis dans le conflit ukrainien – l’idée du réarmement de l’UE avec le Triangle de Weimar, une réunion constituée de la Pologne, de la France et de l’Allemagne, mais qui n’a jamais montré ses preuves depuis …

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• 16 February

  The ‘E’ is Missing from North Macedonia’s ‘E-Services’

  

  North Macedonia’s public services have gone digital. Only they haven’t.Digitalisation has become a buzz word in North Macedonia, where for two decades politicians have rolled out digital reforms, opened so-called ‘One-Stop Shops’ and promoted ‘E-services’. Yet public registries remain unconnected, procedures are complicated – bordering on absurd – and the …

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• 16 February

  Book Review – Enver Hoxha’s Long Shadow: Travels in Albania

  

  John Watkins’ new travelogue offers an intriguing snapshot of a country still scarred by the legacy of its brutal dictator.Over the past 10 to 15 years, it would be easy for someone with only a passing knowledge of history to think that Albania is just another part of what has …

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• 16 February

  Ukraine : L’effondrement est imminent – et ensuite ?

  

  Dans le dernier sitrep Ukraine, j’évoquais le choix du général Oleksandr Syrsky comme nouveau commandant en chef des forces armées ukrainiennes. Il est probable qu’il soutiendra les choix agressifs du président ukrainien Zelensky. Pour des raisons essentiellement de relations publiques, Zelensky exige des attaques constantes contre les forces russes et …

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• 16 February

  Judy Asks: Is Defense a Priority Across Europe?

  

  Defense is at the top of the policy agenda in European capitals, but the sense of urgency varies. Governments must quickly move from rhetoric to action for Europe to be able to defend itself. Stefanie Babst – Strategic advisor and former NATO deputy assistant secretary general With a few exceptions, …

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• 16 February

  Israel Kills Senior Hezbollah Commander, Deputy in Strike

  

  Latest Developments An Israeli airstrike killed two senior Hezbollah operatives overnight in retaliation for the Iranian-backed terrorist group’s lethal shelling of IDF Northern Command’s headquarters in Safed. Israel published the identities of the targets of its airstrike, which hit the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh: Ali Muhammad al-Debes, a regional …

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• 16 February

  The Final Countdown: Will Russia and Ukraine Renew Gas Transit Deal?

  

  Extending the transport of Russian gas via Ukraine after 2024 would likely benefit both Russia and Ukraine. Stopping the flow of gas, on the other hand, would be painful for whichever side initiates it. At the end of 2024, a five-year agreement expires governing one of the oldest and biggest …

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• 16 February

  Lebanon may not want a war, but one could be on its way

  

  A broken economy, a political vacuum and spreading regional violence have left the Lebanese people stuck between the Israeli military and Hezbollah “Disastrous”, “decimated” and “impoverished” – these are just some of the words used by Nasser Saidi, a former economy minister and deputy governor of Lebanon’s central bank, to …

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• 16 February

  China is testing its freeriding strategy in the Red Sea

  

  In April 2023, many foreign observers found themselves startled when senior diplomats from Iran and Saudi Arabia met at a China-brokered summit in Beijing—the first high-level meeting between both inveterate foes in several years. Beijing appeared to demonstrate a new diplomatic prowess—an active willingness to mediate tensions in one of …

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