Our proposals

ESI is an independent non-profit think-tank with an agenda: to fight for a better, fairer and stronger Europe based on the rule of law and respect for human rights, and for a chance for its neighbours to join it. Our tools are arguments, our role is to develop, through serious research and analysis, concrete and well-explained policy proposals that can be implemented. We believe in factfulness, rational arguments and the value of intense debate. At this moment we are advocating for the following policy proposals:

Sir Keir Starmer. Photo: The Labour Party

Channel proposal for Labour

On safe third countries and the Channel

Unicorn. Photo: ESI

Council of Europe, Kosovo vote and a unicorn

Support Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe

Ilham Aliyev attended opening of Military Trophy Park in Baku. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Political prisoners and the Council of Europe

How to recover the soul of the Council of Europe

Grey Rhino. Photo: UCL – University College London

Preventing violence – transform Kosovo dialogue

Why this is critical for Kosovo

Caviar Diplomacy

Why every European should care

Syrian school children at the Temporary Education Center in Osmaniye, southern Turkey

EU-Turkey Statement 2.0

How the EU and Turkey must cooperate in their mutual interest

The island nation of Nauru: is this the future of the global refugee system? Photo: Shutterstock / Robert Szymanski

Humane Borders

Saving the Refugee Convention

Gerald Knaus. Photo: Nikos Pilos

Rumeli Observer blog

Observations on Europe

Two Ukrainian boys at peace demonstration in Berlin, March 2022: “My family wants to live“. Photo: flickr / Stefan Müller

Thank You Payments for hosting Ukrainian families

A powerful signal to Russia that its horrific blackmail will fail

Cash machine. Photo: Tomas Urbelionis / Shutterstock

Stop Orban’s silent cash machine

Addressing threats to economic cohesion and to democracy

Turtle face

End the turtle race

How the EU can address the crisis of the accession process

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Zelensky, 8 April 2022. Photo: Twitter / Ursula von der Leyen

Offer the four freedoms to the Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova

For a merit-based EU accession process with a credible goal

Minister Ziobro’s message for Commissioner Reynders, 18 November 2021. Photo: Twitter / Zbigniew Ziobro

How to save the rule of law in Poland

The European Commission should return to the ECJ

Ukraine's application for EU membership. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

New presentations

ESI proposals in video and audio

Refugee boat and Libyan coast guard, October 2016. Photo: flickr / Brainbitch

New deal with Africa

Regular access and fast return

Photo: Press service of Simonovsky District Court

Why Russia had to be expelled from the Council of Europe

Europe’s club of democracies needs to protect itself from countries blatantly violating its rules

Ukrainian refugee children in Lviv, Ukraine on 5 March 2022. Photo: REUTERS / KAI PFAFFENBACH - stock.adobe.com

An airlift 2022 for Ukrainians

And a European plan to help refugees in Moldova

Protest against pushbacks in Australia in 2015. Will such policies spell the global end of the Refugee Convention? Photo: Shutterstock / Dave Hewison Photography

UNHCR and the future of refugee protection

Establish humane control through cooperation

Anti-Corruption Report for the West Balkans

Measure corruption in order to fight it

Mostar.

How to teach war in the Balkans?

For a comprehensive analysis of 20th century history textbooks

AKP rally Istanbul

Red Lines for Turkey

Define clear standards. Assess them strictly

Ruin in Mostar

Abandon clichés about Bosnia

Push EU-related reforms instead of arbitrary conditions

Silly rankings don't help

The World Bank should change the methodology of its Doing Business ranking

Previous proposals

Orban cartoon

Why Orban had to leave the EPP

Europe's centre-right is better off without Fidesz