Carnegie Europe
- Follow Carnegie
- Search
- Global Resources
Global Centers
Languages
Pierini is a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, where his research focuses on developments in the Middle East and Turkey from a European perspective.
Marc Pierini is a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, where his research focuses on developments in the Middle East and Turkey from a European perspective.
Pierini was a career EU diplomat from December 1976 to April 2012. He was EU ambassador and head of delegation to Turkey (2006–2011) and ambassador to Tunisia and Libya (2002–2006), Syria (1998–2002), and Morocco (1991–1995). He also served as the first coordinator for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, or the Barcelona Process, from 1995 to 1998 and was the main negotiator for the release of the Bulgarian hostages from Libya from 2004 to 2007.
Pierini served as counselor in the cabinet of two European commissioners: Claude Cheysson, from 1979 to 1981, and Abel Matutes, from 1989 to 1991. He has published three essays in French: “Le prix de la liberté,” “Télégrammes diplomatiques,” and “Où va la Turquie?.”
Pierini is a member of the International Council of the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations in Marseille.
The EU should continue to increase its support to human rights defenders, independent media and civil society. This is probably an even more arduous task than before the election.
Upcoming elections in Turkey will determine whether democracy in the country can rebound or will be replaced by one-man rule.
The latest standoff over energy resources in the Mediterranean illustrates the renewed risk of a military miscalculation in the region. More than ever before, diplomacy should prevail over saber rattling.
The course that Turkish leaders choose to follow in the Syrian war will have long-term consequences for their country and for the world.
Ankara’s latest military offensive in Syria and its domestic agenda are leading to a cul-de-sac with the EU.
Turkey is haphazardly decoupling from Western norms and behavior, but the EU must remain an anchor for Turkish democrats.
Despite a deteriorating relationship, Brussels and Ankara will have to find a way to work together.
Turkey’s quandary will only be resolved by the country’s politicians and citizens. How much courage, consistency, and resilience they show will be of the essence.
EU leaders should use the next European Council summit to have a frank and sober discussion about Ankara’s future relationship with Europe.
It is becoming harder by the day to make sense of the strategy behind Ankara’s domestic and foreign policy choices—assuming there is one at all.
Sign up to receive Judy Dempsey’s Strategic Europe updates in your inbox!
Stay connected to Judy Dempsey’s Strategic Europe wtih a new smartphone app for Android and iOS devices
