Sophie Desmidt and Sara Gianesello argue that the EU should not treat defence, peace and democracy as competing or sequential priorities. The challenge is therefore not whether the EU should invest in defence, but how it can do so without narrowing its foreign policy to military preparedness.
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We are ECDPM – a leading independent 'think and do tank' that wants to make policies for Europe, Africa and other key partners work for inclusive and sustainable development. Our policy experts provide independent analysis, thorough research, fresh ideas, advice and training on topics related to climate, energy and food, economy and trade, geopolitics and development, governance, migration and mobility, digital cooperation and peace and security.
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Scaling investments in key African food corridors (2025-2026)
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The Netherlands’ food exports to fragile regions (2025-26)
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Building bridges in turbulent times (2025-2026)
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StEPPFoS project (2024 - 2027)
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DYNAMIG project (2023-2025)
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The political economy of clean economy transitions in African countries
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Africa-EU climate and energy diplomacy in times of geopolitical crisis (2022-2023)
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Africa-Europe relations: A balanced narrative and reality check project (2023)
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The Charter Project Africa (2021-2024)
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Cascading climate risks: Towards adaptive and resilient European societies – CASCADES project (2019-2023)
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Strategic evaluation of the EU cooperation with the Federal Republic of Somalia (2014-2021)
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AgrInvest project (2021-2022)
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The political economy of regional organisations in Africa – PEDRO project phase 2 (2021-2022)
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Sustainable Agrifood Systems Strategies – SASS project (2018-2021)
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Realising Europe’s soft power in external cooperation and trade – RESPECT project (2018-2021)
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The political economy of regional organisations in Africa – PEDRO project (2018-2020)
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Supporting peacebuilding in times of change project (2017-2018)
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The political economy of regional integration in Africa – PERIA project (2015-2016)
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The political economy of regional integration in Southern Africa – PERISA project (2012-2013)
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