European Think Tanks Group (ETTG)

Bridging Policy and Practice: Roundtable on the OECD EU Peer Review - newettg In Brussels we convened a rountable titled Bridging Policy and Practice roundtable to examine how European development cooperation is navigating an increasingly complex global landscape. Following the...

We convened today for Bridging Policy and Practice: Roundtable on the @oecd-ocde.bsky.social EU Peer Review.

We discussed how to align the EU’s strategic interests with its commitments to poverty reduction, inclusivity of Team Europe, and the HDP Nexus in fragile regions.

bit.ly/4klvwGz

The post-FfD4 Agenda on Financing for Development - newettg We hosted alongside  Elcano Royal Institute, with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD),  a high-level ...

From consensus to action: the SevillaPlatform ushers in a “post‑aid” era, bridging the $4T SDG gap with 130+ initiatives. Focus now: debt relief, smarter finance & tripling development bank capacity

Thanks to @rielcano.bsky.social & Spanish MFA for co-hosting these great discussions

bit.ly/4a87LNk

Greenland has moved from the periphery to the centre of EU strategic autonomy. It holds 𝟮𝟰 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨’𝘀 𝟯𝟰 𝗖𝗥𝗠.

🔋 ETTG research urges the EU to move beyond extraction in the Arctic, promoting 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻 / 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 w/ 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

bit.ly/4q96eNx

A snap of our first BoD meeting of 2026, hosted by @rielcano.bsky.social.

We synced activities w/ policy processes & held a dive into 𝗘𝗨 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 and 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 w/ technical i𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗨 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Our webinar on Reconstruction of Ukraine & MENA argues that rebuilding amidst volatility requires deep institutional reform, not just aid.

Experts from @ecdpm.org & @idos-research.bsky.social unpacked why bridging the humanitarian-development gap is now an operational necessity.

bit.ly/4oVY4Hr

The EU faces a "Sovereignty Paradox": trading fossil fuel dependence for Critical Raw Material vulnerabilities.

Our new CRM collection argues resilience requires a foreign policy shift: partnering on green industrialisation in the Global South, not just extraction.

Find it here: bit.ly/4q96eNx

Analysing the Global Europe Instrument - newettg December 2025 The European Commission’s proposal for a Global Europe Instrument (GEI) under the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework marks a pivotal shift in how the EU intends to fund its […]

The EU’s proposed Global Europe Instrument shifts development aid toward competitiveness.

Our brief by Alexei Jones & Karim Karaki (ECDPM) analyzes the risks: how to balance crisis agility with long-term partnership while protecting climate and gender targets.

bit.ly/44x8NAI

Revitalising the EU’s Role in a Contested Multilateral Order - newettg December 2025 The multilateral system is not collapsing, but it is fragmenting under the weight of shifting geopolitics, a crisis of trust, and a widening gap between stated values and […]

Multilateralism is fragmenting, the EU can no longer "muddle through."

Our brief argues the 2026 French 𝗚𝟳 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 "𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗿," bridging the finance and development gap between the South African and UK G20 presidencies.

bit.ly/4oWQf3W

EU-CELAC Partnership Under Pressure in a New Global Order - newettg December 2025 “A Partnership Under Pressure: Making EU–CELAC Cooperation Work in a New Global Order” Authored by: Maurico Bôhl Gutiérrez (IDOS) and María Santillán O’Shea (Elcano) Key Message: EU-LAC ...

12/60: The number defining the quiet crisis of EU-LAC relations.

A month post-Summit, our analysis shows Brussels losing ground. While the EU offers "shared values," Beijing offers scale ($9bn credit line).

Trade gap (2007-23): China +9.6%, EU -2%.

Read the analysis: bit.ly/48G8wxT

Explore our latest newsletter edition on:

• 𝗔𝗨-𝗘𝗨 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁: Parliamentary stocktake outlined the need for a partnership reset on 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹
• Mobilizing for 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝟯𝟬
• 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘆/𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮), 𝗘𝗨–𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗰𝗼 relations, and the 𝗘𝗨–𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗖 Summit

bit.ly/48CcI1o

From Cairo to Luanda: A 25-Year Parliamentary Stocktake of AU-EU Relations - newettg As leaders prepare to convene in Luanda for the 7th AU-EU Summit, marking the 25th anniversary of the partnership, the relationship stands at a pivotal, yet increasingly complex juncture. This […]

Ahead of the 𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗨-𝗘𝗨 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁, our brief argues the 𝟮𝟱-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 must move beyond symbolism to become equitable. Recommendations on:

  • Reframing 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲/𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆
  • 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 (𝗖𝗥𝗠𝘀): shift from extraction to local prosperity
  • 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹, 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, & 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀

bit.ly/4oUsmv1

ETTG was at the 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻-𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 (co-organised by Elcano Royal Institute ). This high-level forum exchanged perspectives on 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗔 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗟𝗔𝗖 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵.

Our Director Iliana Olivié provided expert input on the West and the Global South

Turkey, the EU, and China in the world: Does Turbulence lead to Convergence?  - newettg November, 2025 Authored: Niels Keijzer, Melis Baydag (IDOS) In today’s geopolitically buzzing and unstable world, what seemed unthinkable one month ago can be old news only weeks later. A small […]

How are the 𝗘𝗨, 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 adapting their international cooperation in a fragmenting world? Are their 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 converging or diverging?

Read the latest blog by @nikolajnielsen.bsky.social & @melisbaydag.bsky.social bit.ly/3K6tdJG (@idos-research.bsky.social)

Ahead of the 𝗔𝗨-𝗘𝗨 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁, we co-convened a 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟱 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗨-𝗘𝗨 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗻-𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

With the EU Parliament, PAP, OSF & others, we discussed 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗖𝗥𝗠𝘀 & 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, pushing for an equitable, citizen-centered partnership for the Luanda Summit.

Global Gateway and Mattei Plan: advancing EU–Africa digital cooperation for inclusive growth - newettg November, 2025 Our policy brief, authored by Marianna Lunardini and Darlington Tshuma, delves into the EU-Africa digital partnership through the lens of two key European policy instruments: the EU’s G...

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮?

Our new ETTG brief argues governance & local innovation are overlooked.

bit.ly/4oPzKXT

How can Africa's digital transformation advance when ~600 million people lack electricity? 🔌

Our new ETTG policy brief, "𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗚𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀," tackles this head-on, offering 7 key recommendations for bridging the divide.

Read it here: bit.ly/43BsQ08

This month, we're unpacking the 𝗘𝗨’𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. We're amplifying the call for 𝘀𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 and bringing new analysis on 𝗘𝗨-𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 and 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Latest: bit.ly/3InBJmZ

Join us: bit.ly/45PJVCM

In Paris, we convened EU & UN leaders for our 𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

We discussed challenges to multilateralism, alliances, and the MFF amid the polycrisis. An ETTG policy brief with insights will follow.

ETTG members convened in Paris for our 2nd Annual Retreat, hosted by @iddri.bsky.social.

We explored strategic priorities for global development, from the 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 to what comes after the 𝗦𝗗𝗚𝘀. These talks will define our network's next research agenda.

Together with @ettg.bsky.social, @globalisationboell.bsky.social, Caritas Africa & others, we’re discussing debt, climate & development ahead of the 7th #EUAU Summit. Lavina Ramkissoon, AU Amb: “We need to be revolutionary & transformational regarding the international finance architecture."

How is Europe's role in the world changing? 🌍

Our September newsletter unpacks it: from 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗨 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 and new 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮-𝗘𝗨 dialogues to timely analysis on Ukraine's reconstruction and a potential Trump 2.0.

Read the full edition: bit.ly/3InBJmZ
Join us if you haven't: bit.ly/45PJVCM

New Directions in Development: Comparing Turkey, the EU, and China - newettg On September 15-16, 2025, the ETTG, alongside the Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) and the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), co-hosted a two-day workshop in Istanbul. The event, “...

Great discussions in Istanbul at our "𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁" workshop!

  • We compared the EU, China, and Turkey's engagement with the Global South in a new era of politicised, transactional partnerships.

bit.ly/4mlYkOm

With keynotes from H.E. Grace Naledi Pandor, our Pretoria workshop critically examined the AU-EU partnership.

After 25 years, how do we move beyond Eurocentric structures? We discussed concrete steps for decolonising research & building truly equal, horizontal cooperation 🌍

bit.ly/4pplJkG

To be an effective global actor, the EU must move beyond a traditional aid model and incorporate a wider chorus of EU voices 🇪🇺

Our new publication explores how to:

- Integrate Central & Eastern European views
- Bridge the "East vs. South" divide
- A new vision for Global Europe

bit.ly/4pbaPPN

In a world of rising crises, EU's resilience strategy needs a strategic update. With shrinking aid budgets, tough choices must be made.

Our new publication explores:
- Where to focus aid: East or South?
- How to do "more with less"?
- Balancing EU values with pragmatism.

Read it: bit.ly/456ZTt1

The battle for EU's next budget has begun. Will urgent internal demands overshadow its ambitions as a global development actor? 🇪🇺

Our new blog unpacks the key debates for the 2028-2034 MFF:

- Geopolitics vs. Development
- The €2 trillion funding question
- Member state divisions

bit.ly/4kZQd9L

Unpacking the FfD4 conference in Seville! 🇪🇸

Our special newsletter covers mobilising private capital, a new tax coalition, our collective blog on the development finance agenda, and much more member analysis.

Read the latest edition: bit.ly/3GHgwTT
Subscribe: bit.ly/45PJVCM

The 𝗙𝗳𝗗𝟰 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 revealed a significant gap between the official agreement and the progress made on the sidelines. Our new ETTG blog provides a detailed analysis of the key outcomes.

The Sevilla Platform for Action signals a critical shift toward tangible commitments.

bit.ly/3IjGLQO

YouTube video by European Think Tanks Group (ETTG) ETTG | EP Event "The EU’s Development Policy at crossroads"

Revisit some of the key moments of last week’s event on “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨’𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀: 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮” on our highlights video.

bit.ly/3Grt2qB

This month we tackled the future of global development finance, hosted 𝗕. 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝗮 at the EP and discussed 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 / 𝗘𝗨-𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

  • This edition also covers member analysis on 𝗖𝗥𝗠𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 and much more.

bit.ly/44beKDy