Making an impact
In 2022, Clingendael reached out to various audiences in The Hague, Brussels and across Europe. Through our thorough analyses, conferences and roundtables, we successfully engaged with key stakeholders, including cabinet ministers, European Commissioners and senior-level policymakers. Additionally, we actively engaged with the broader public through physical, digital as well as hybrid events, providing a platform for public discussion and reflection on international affairs with top-tier thinkers and officials from across the continent.
We actively contributed to the public discourse with over 1800 media appearances in both national and international outlets – an unprecedented achievement for Clingendael in terms of media engagement
On 30 September 2022, Clingendael expert Niels Drost analysed President Vladimir Putin’s speech on the Dutch news programme EenVandaag.
However, perhaps our most significant influence came from our day-to-day media commentary on crucial global events, such as Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, the rising tensions with China and developments unfolding across the Middle East. Throughout 2022, we actively contributed to the public discourse with over 1800 media appearances in both national and international outlets – an unprecedented achievement for Clingendael in terms of media engagement. This further cemented Clingendael’s position as a trusted go-to resource for comprehensive knowledge and expertise on international affairs.
Left: Closed expert roundtable with the former President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, and Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia, H.E. Lauri Kuusing, about how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is affecting the region.
Right: Clingendael Newsroom: Ukraine.
Highlights
In the past year, Clingendael responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by publishing Alerts on the broader impact of the war, including on food security, Chinese-Russian relations and Germany’s Zeitenwende. Additionally, our experts extensively explored the implications of key elections in Germany and France, and provided initial reflections on the newly formed Dutch coalition government.
“When it comes to trade policy, however, national security appears to be taking precedence over the pursuit of a level international playing field, at least in Western Europe (…) This is raising fundamental questions about the nature of globalization, which is leading to a conversation about how trade can or cannot — or should or should not — be a means to pursue national security.”
– Rem Korteweg to Reuters on 27 April 2022
Notably, we had the privilege of presenting our publication on migration as a foreign policy tool to vice president of the European Commission Margarítis Schinás. “States are vulnerable for the ‘weaponisation of migration’ exactly because migrants are not weapons. You don’t destroy them like incoming rockets. They even have rights to enter your territory. States will have to develop a geopolitical toolbox to deal with the challenge of instrumentalised migration”, Clingendael director Monika Sie stated during the event.
Furthermore, Clingendael’s Barometer survey for the first time identified international developments that spawned the most hope – instead of fear – among the Dutch population, shedding light on their perceptions and expectations.
In September 2022, we organised the closed roundtable meeting ‘The Dutch position on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)’ at Huys Clingendael.
In 2022, we also focused on trade and industrial policy, including a timely call for a Dutch industrial strategy, in-depth research on technology transfers to China and a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between climate and trade. Our experts also developed an international series of trade podcasts and spoke at high-level conferences and expert roundtables.
Additionally, we welcomed ministers Wopke Hoekstra and José Manuel Albares for the fourth annual Spanish-Dutch bilateral roundtable, fostering valuable dialogue between the two nations on pressing issues such as European defence, the energy crisis and the impact of the war in Ukraine. Clingendael also had the opportunity in 2022 to moderate the Dutch-British bilateral conference ‘North Sea Neighbours’ in London.
Clingendael director Monika Sie and Foreign Affairs ministers Wopke Hoekstra and José Manuel Albares at the fourth Clingendael-Elcano Roundtable. Photo by David van Dam.
Our magazine, the Clingendael Spectator, celebrated its 75th anniversary by having renowned experts analyse noteworthy publications from its archives. With 90 articles published throughout the year, the magazine increased its number of unique pageviews on its website from 640.000 in 2021 to 740.000 in 2022.
Looking ahead
Clingendael’s strategic priorities for 2023 are to enhance our understanding of policy developments with respect to China, the transatlantic relationship and Europe as the political, military and economic tremors of the war in Ukraine reverberate across the global system. We also aim to add an extra sparkle to our analyses, activities and events as Clingendael celebrates its 40th anniversary.
