Georg Riekeles
Georg Riekeles
Associate Director and Head of Europe's Political Economy Programme

Georg Emil Riekeles is Associate Director at the European Policy Centre.

Before joining the EPC, Georg served as diplomatic adviser to EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier during the four years of Brexit negotiations with the UK. He was in charge of relations with EU member states and the European Parliament during the withdrawal negotiations, and then took on responsibility for strategy and communication during the negotiations on the future partnership.

Previously, Georg was an adviser for security and defence at the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC), the European Commission’s in-house think tank. In that capacity, he worked helped initiate and develop significant new Commission initiatives in the areas of defense as part of President Juncker’s programme, and worked on EU-NATO relations.

Georg also served as member of cabinet to Commission Vice-President and Commissioner Michel Barnier in the period 2010-2014, working on digital and single market reforms, as well as inter-institutional relations in the context of the post-financial crisis regulatory agenda.

Before moving to Belgium, Georg worked in ministerial cabinets at the French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the French Ministry of Foreign and European affairs, as well as in the private and non-profit sectors in France.

Georg holds a master’s degree in political science from l’Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris, and studied economics and philosophy at the London School of Economics.

Besides Belgium and France, Georg has lived in the UK and the US. He is of Norwegian nationality and grew up in Oslo.

Georg enjoys skiing, cycling and the outdoors.

PROGRAMME

Europe’s Political Economy

PROJECTS

EU strategic investments
Brussels Economic Security Forum
Project Presidency - French Council Presidency 2022
An effective industrial policy for Europe
Conference Observatory
Maastricht Dialogues
The EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) ‘Track 2’ project
Europe’s Quantum Frontier
Europe’s mid-caps: Making the economic difference
Life after 30: A new Single Market agenda
EU as a crisis manager: Lessons from the evacuation of Kabul
Skills for Tomorrow: Addressing Labour Shortages and Boosting Competitiveness in the EU

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

International negotiations, trade, EU’s international role, security and defense, single market, digital policies, EU governance and interinstitutional relations, future of Europe

EDUCATION

Diplôme de l’Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po)
BSc Philosophy and Economics, London School of Economics

LANGUAGES

French, English, Norwegian, Italian, German (basics)

PUBLICATION
May 26, 2026
by Georg Riekeles, Elizabeth Kuiper, Paweł Świeboda, Varg Folkman, Fabian Zuleeg, Edward Fishman, Bart Hogeveen, Jessica Moss, Maria Demertzis, Bianca Baumler
MESSAGE
Dec 18, 2025
by Fabian Zuleeg, Janis A. Emmanouilidis, Elizabeth Kuiper, Emma Woodford, Maral Bedrossian, Almut Möller, Bianca Baumler, Corina Stratulat, Georg Riekeles
COMPENDIUM
Jul 17, 2025
by Philipp Lausberg, Liza Saris, Samuel Goodger, Danielle Brady, Fabian Zuleeg, Anna Crawford, Annalisa Buscaini, Brooke Moore, Eric Maurice, Helena Hahn, Svitlana Taran, Georg Riekeles
To the Point
May 07, 2025
by Corina Stratulat, Maral Bedrossian, Georg Riekeles, Elizabeth Kuiper, Emma Woodford, Almut Möller, Fabian Zuleeg, Janis Emmanouilidis
MESSAGE
Dec 19, 2024
by Corina Stratulat, Maral Bedrossian, Georg Riekeles, Elizabeth Kuiper, Emma Woodford, Almut Möller, Fabian Zuleeg, Janis Emmanouilidis
DISCUSSION PAPER
Apr 17, 2024
by Agustín González-Agote, Miguel Otero-Iglesias, Georg Riekeles, Philipp Lausberg
EXTERNAL PUBLICATION
Jan 26, 2024
by Georg Riekeles, Laurent Maurin, Julie Delanote, Huyen Tran, Philipp Lausberg
NEWS
Dec 21, 2023
by Maral Bedrossian, Georg Riekeles, Elizabeth Kuiper, Emma Woodford, Fabian Zuleeg, Ricardo Borges de Castro, Janis A. Emmanouilidis
COMMENTARY
Nov 22, 2023
by Georg Riekeles, Max von Thun
COMMENTARY
Oct 20, 2023
by Georg Riekeles, Frances G. Burwell
UPDATE
Jun 29, 2023
by Fabian Zuleeg, Georg Riekeles, Jacki Davis, Janis A. Emmanouilidis
PUBLICATION
May 30, 2023
by Georg Riekeles, Annika Hedberg, Frances G. Burwell, Olga Khakova, Philipp Lausberg
OUTLOOK PAPER
Feb 22, 2023
by Georg Riekeles, Amanda Paul, Shada Islam, Simon Dekeyrel, Svitlana Taran, Berta López Domènech, Maxime Sierro, Rita Mendonça Barbosa Amorim Lobo, Zeynep Güner, Iana Maisuradze, Andrew Duff, Marta Mucznik, Ivano di Carlo, Ricardo Borges de Castro, Philipp Lausberg, Mihai Sebastian Chihaia
OP-ED
Nov 24, 2022
by Georg Riekeles, Philipp Lausberg
EPC ROUND-UP
May 19, 2022
by Georg Riekeles, Annika Hedberg, Simon Dekeyrel, Guillaume Van der Loo, Frederico Mollet, Evin Jongen-Fay
DRAFT BLUEPRINT & TIMELINE
May 06, 2022
by Corina Stratulat, Georg Riekeles, Johannes Greubel, Janis A. Emmanouilidis
EPC ROUND-UP
Apr 05, 2022
by Georg Riekeles, Amanda Paul, Jamie Shea, Ionela Ciolan, Mihai Sebastian Chihaia
COMMENTARY
Mar 24, 2022
by Georg Riekeles, Frederico Mollet
REPORT
Feb 22, 2022
by Johannes Greubel, Corina Stratulat, Georg Riekeles, Perle Petit, Dominik Hierlemann, Theodora Famprikezi, Janis A. Emmanouilidis
OP-ED
Jun 15, 2021
by Georg Riekeles
Can the EU keep up with Donald Trump in a trade war?

Was quoted in the article.

Financial Times
Jan 21, 2026
With: Georg Riekeles
Stop sucking up to Trump’: US threat to meddle in Europe is fuelling pressure for a collective push-back

In an opinion piece on Monday, Georg Riekeles and Varg Folkman predicted that Washington will, as it draws back militarily, pull harder on other coercive levers to reshape Europe in the political direction the US wants. Not just on trade, either: as Mudde also noted, this could mean the US demanding protection for far-right free speech.

The Guardian
Dec 10, 2025
With: Varg Folkman, Georg Riekeles
Trump’s new doctrine confirms it. Ready or not, Europe is on its own

We can move from defensive crouch to position of strength but only if we use the economic cards we have against US coercion.

Europe is on a trajectory towards nothing less than “civilisational erasure”, the Trump administration claims in its extraordinary new National Security Strategy, a document that blames European integration and “activities of the European Union that undermine political liberty and sovereignty” for some of the continent’s deepest problems.

Guardian
Dec 08, 2025
With: Varg Folkman, Georg Riekeles
What do we want? Investment now!

Europe is becoming a continent of net investment outflows. And whilst the next budget includes a significant Competitiveness Fund, we need these investments now, not in 2028

Euractiv
Sep 10, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles, Philipp Lausberg
Ekspert: – Europa har tatt grep om Ukraina

Skjebnemøtet om Ukraina i London viser at Europa har tatt grep om den videre prosessen, mener analytiker Georg Riekeles.

Bergens Tidende
Sep 03, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Europe’s trade deal with the US was dead on arrival – it needs to be buried. Here’s how to do it

Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. The EU should now steel itself and reject the terms imposed by Donald Trump

The Guardian
Aug 02, 2025
With: Varg Folkman, Georg Riekeles
Kako se EU pokorila Trampu

Georg Riekeles, bivši zvaničnik Evropske komisije koji je učestvovao u pregovorima o izlasku Velike Britanije iz EU, rekao je da je posljednja prijetnja bloka da uvede 93 milijarde eura vrijedne protivmjere na američku robu došla prekasno.

Vijesti
Jul 29, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Negocieri cu spatele la zid: Cum a acceptat Bruxelles-ul taxele impuse de Washington

Fostul oficial european Georg Riekeles, care a participat la negocierile pentru Brexit, a subliniat că UE a reacționat prea târziu. Abia în iulie, Bruxelles-ul a formulat o amenințare cu represalii de 93 de miliarde de euro, dar Trump deja își impusese condițiile.

Puterea
Jul 28, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
How the EU succumbed to Trump’s tariff steamroller

Georg Riekeles, a former commission official who helped negotiate the UK’s exit from the bloc, said the EU’s most recent threat to apply €93 billion of retaliatory tariffs against US goods came far too late.

“With the benefit of hindsight, the EU would have been better off answering the US vigorously in April in a one-two combo with China’s retaliation against the US tariff hikes, which left markets and Trump reeling,” said Riekeles, now at the European Policy Centre think-tank.

The Irish Times
Jul 28, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Cómo sucumbió la UE a la arrolladora presión arancelaria de Trump

El alivio por haber evitado una guerra comercial se mezcla con el arrepentimiento por no haber adoptado una postura más firme desde el principio.

Expansión
Jul 28, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
L'accordo con Trump sui dazi: storia di una capitolazione

«Col senno di poi - dice al FT Georg Riekeles, ex funzionario della Commissione Ue e oggi membro del think-tank European Policy Centre - l'Ue avrebbe fatto meglio a rispondere vigorosamente agli Stati Uniti ad aprile, in un uno-due combinato con la ritorsione della Cina contro gli aumenti dei dazi statunitensi, che avevano lasciato i mercati e Trump sotto choc».

Corriere della Sera
Jul 28, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
‘He knew where to hit us’: Did Trump strongarm EU into signing trade deal? Steep price for shaky peace

Former Commission negotiator Georg Riekeles said the EU “would have been better off answering the US vigorously in April in a one-two combo with China"

The Times of India
Jul 28, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Professor Cornel Ban, from CBS, on the US-EU Agreement: A clear capitulation

Georg Riekeles, fost oficial al Comisiei care a participat la negocierea ieșirii Marii Britanii din UE, citat de Financial Times, arată că amenințarea recentă a Uniunii, de a impune tarife de represalii în valoare de 93 de miliarde de euro asupra produselor americane, a venit mult prea târziu. „Privind retrospectiv, ar fi fost mult mai bine dacă UE ar fi răspuns energic SUA încă din aprilie, într-un tandem cu represaliile Chinei la creșterile tarifare americane, care au lăsat piețele și pe Trump în derută,” a spus Riekeles, prezent la dezbaterile think-tank-ul European Policy Centre.

PS news
Jul 28, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Pe marginea negocierilor unui nou acord comercial UE – SUA. Întâi de august, punct și de la capăt

Georg Riekeles: "Statele Unite negociază cu Uniunea Europeană? Sau la mijloc este un fel de târguială? Ce am văzut de curând în cazul Braziliei, este tentația de a institui tarife comerciale din motive politice, o tendință de amestec în politica internă folosind tarifele comerciale ca instrument pentru a condiționa racordarea la exigențele doctrinare, ideologice ale Casei Albe."

Contributors
Jul 16, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
"Faire de l'Union européenne une puissance d'investissement stratégique"

Alors que la Commission européenne doit prochainement présenter ses orientations pour le budget à long terme, l’European Policy Centre (EPC), think tank indépendant, dévoile un rapport dans lequel Philipp Lausberg et Georg Riekeles donnent des pistes pour que l'UE se positionne comme une puissance et développe une "3ème voie".

Toute l'Europe
Jul 10, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles, Philipp Lausberg
Bruxelles, je t'aime ? : Droits de douane - Guerre commerciale en vue ?

Dans cette nouvelle édition de “Bruxelles, je t'aime ?", nous nous penchons sur les tarifs douaniers punitifs de Donald Trump qui devraient entrer en vigueur le 9 juillet. L’UE doit-elle pousser pour un accord commercial rapide ou continuer à se battre pour obtenir un meilleur compromis ?

Euronews
Jul 05, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Ο Καναδάς και η ΕΕ υπογράφουν αμυντικό σύμφωνο σε ένα βήμα προς την από κοινού προμήθεια όπλων

Ο Georg Riekeles, αναπληρωτής διευθυντής του think tank European Policy Centre, δήλωσε ότι η παγκόσμια αστάθεια και η φθίνουσα δέσμευση των ΗΠΑ στην παγκόσμια τάξη που βασίζεται σε κανόνες έσπρωξαν τον Καναδά και την ΕΕ να έρθουν πιο κοντά.

ECONOMICO. GR
Jun 24, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Norge er problembarnet som strør sand i maskineriet

– Etterslepet er blitt et brennpunkt, for både Norge og EU. Når man får et såpass stort etterslep så bryter det med grunnprinsippet i EØS om at man skal ha like regler for alle, sier Georg Riekeles.

Europower
May 26, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
La minaccia di Trump sui dazi al 50% all’Ue? “Classica tattica di intimidazione, minaccia per ottenere ciò che vuole”

“Se l’UE è pronta a reagire, l’intimidazione e l’escalation degli Stati Uniti sono in definitiva così autolesioniste che si può entrare nel territorio degli accordi”, commenta sempre al Ft Georg Riekeles, direttore associato dell’European Policy Centre di Bruxelles.

Il Fatto Quotidiano
May 24, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Europe’s quest for competitiveness

How can the European workforce be better leveraged to boost the bloc’s competitiveness?

POLITICO
May 19, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Punctele nevralgice ale unei negocieri cu Trump pe tarife: România este expusă pe industria auto, cea alimentară și pharma| ANALIZA

„Anunțul tarifar al președintelui Trump despre „ziua eliberării” nu este un conflict comercial în cadrul regulilor. Este o încercare deplină atât de a rescrie ordinea economică internațională, cât și de a constrânge Europa și alți parteneri comerciali să se supună", a spus Georg Riekeles, unul dintre autorii raportului Centrului de Politică Europeană, care susține că UE trebuie să pregătească o represalii masive.

Adevarul
Apr 08, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Financial Times: România, alături de Ungaria, Italia şi Grecia, se opune escaladării războiului comercial dintre UE şi SUA

Este o încercare în toată regula atât de a rescrie ordinea economică internaţională, cât şi de a constrânge Europa şi alţi parteneri comerciali să i se supună”, a declarat Georg Riekeles, unul dintre autori. Cu alte cuvinte, alegerea lui Meloni poate fi amânată, dar nu evitată.

Ziarul De IASI
Apr 07, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
From London to Lviv: how Trump’s new world order has shaken Europe

“It’s no overstatement to say that European countries are facing the most dire situation they have faced since the end of the second world war,”

The Guardian
Mar 17, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Advarer: - Vi er på «kaostoget»

- Europa står nå overfor den vanskeligste situasjonen siden slutten av 2. verdenskrig, sier Georg Riekeles.

Dagbladet
Feb 14, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
‘I sense Brussels is ready to be bold and ambitious’: hope mixes with anger on Brexit’s fifth anniversary

Georg Riekeles, a senior EU ­official at the time who had spent years working on the UK’s ­tortuously negotiated withdrawal agreement, remembers that time well: “For me it was very important as a day – ­certainly a moment of regret, [a] regretful achievement of sorts.” 

The Guardian
Jan 26, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Norsk energibråk vekker oppsikt i EU

- Folk er sjokkert, sier nestleder og ansvarlig for økonomisk politikk ved tankesmia European Policy Centre (EPC), Georg Riekeles, til NTB.

Nettavisen
Jan 23, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
The EU must stand up to 'belligerence' from incoming Trump administration - analysts

Demands by some in Trump's team for Europe to water down or abandon important social media regulations would weaken democracy and "won't guarantee Europe's security in the long run", according to think tank Bruegel's Guntram Wolff and the European Policy Centre's Georg Riekeles.

Euronews
Jan 16, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Elon Musk, Europe and the battle for online truth

"We've gone from these big tech operators having been accountable to no one to Musk himself being a super-spreader of innuendo, of conspiracy theories, or of outright lies," says Georg Riekeles, associate director at the European Policy Centre.

Rté
Jan 13, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
»Vi står nu og tager imod chokkene, som kommer udefra«

Europa står i den vanskeligste tid siden afslutningen af Anden Verdenskrig, og det vil kræve svære valg i 2025, spår Georg Riekeles, chef for europæisk politisk økonomi i tænketanken EPC.

Politiken
Jan 04, 2025
With: Georg Riekeles
Biden’s climate plan strains trade ties with Europe
Georg Riekeles was interviewed by CNN Business on the transatlantic economic partnership, the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act, and the likelihood of a US - EU trade war.

Read the full article here..
Dec 06, 2022
CNN Business
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