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    Gulf of Guinea: pirates and other tales

    Threats to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea range from piracy, armed robbery and oil theft to illegal fishing and trafficking in illicit goods. Their impact on economic development, human and food security is not to be taken lightly.

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    Balkan foreign fighters: from Syria to Ukraine

    This Brief focuses on the phenomenon of foreign fighters originating from the Western Balkans, and how countries in the region apply double standards in this regard, categorising Islamist foreign fighters as terrorists, whereas right-wing nationalist combatants who have fought in...

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    Illiberalism in the Western Balkans?

    This Alert examines recent negative political developments in the Western Balkans, against the backdrop of a worrying drift towards illiberal authoritarianism in countries of the region. It argues that if local political actors do not take tangible steps towards reform to address...

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    Fostering resilience in the Western Balkans

    This Brief shows that, in the case of the Western Balkans, improving resilience requires a careful analysis of how the enlargement process can be adapted and improved in order to maintain its transformative power, as well as ensure that reforms are both sustainable and...

  • MPCC: towards an EU military command?

    This Brief looks at the new ‘military planning and conduct capability’ (MPCC) structure. How did this come into existence? And what does it mean for the EU in terms of command structure?

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    Haiti: what resilience for the least resilient

    This Alert looks at the challenges facing Haiti’s resilience given its status as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and particularly in light of repeated natural disasters. The Alert also states that domestic and international development efforts should focus on...

  • After the EU Global Strategy – Building resilience

    As well as introducing new decisions and actions in the field of security and defence, the EU Global Strategy (EUGS) stresses the imperative to build resilience in the EU neighbouring countries and surrounding regions. As the EUGS approaches its first anniversary, and shortly...