Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes ECFR at 18: Has European foreign policy come of age?
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Nov 28, 2025 
In a thought-provoking discussion, guests Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden, Norbert Röttgen, German Bundestag member, and Lykke Friis, former Danish minister, reflect on the evolution of European foreign policy since ECFR's founding. They explore the shift from optimism in 2007 to today's geopolitical fragmentation and rising tensions. Notably, Röttgen highlights Germany's defense policy transformation, while Friis emphasizes the integration of climate and migration into foreign strategy. The panel envisions Europe's resilience over the next two decades amid ongoing challenges.
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From Optimism To Global Disorder
- 2007 felt like a final year of optimism when Europe believed it could shape the world through liberal values and integration.
- That optimism has given way to disorder as global order weakened and rivals act more openly against liberal norms.
2008 As The Inflection Point
- Carl Bildt calls 2008 the start of a new age of disorder with Kosovo, Georgia and the financial crisis accelerating decline.
- He argues the liberal global order is now less liberal, less orderly, and less global than before.
Germany's Strategic Transformation
- Norbert Röttgen describes Germany's profound shift from pacifism to a major defence spender after years of relative reticence.
- He stresses this change is driven by a brutal Russian war and a sense that Europe must now fend for itself.