Elena Lazarou heads the External Policies Unit of the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS). Her research focuses on EU foreign and security policy and transatlantic relations. Previously she headed the Center for International Relations of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), Brazil and the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory of the Hellenic Center for European Studies. She holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Cambridge and has held research positions at the University of Cambridge and the London School of Economics, as well as visiting positions in think tanks and universities in Europe and the USA. She has published edited volumes and articles in English, Portuguese and Greek. Dr. Lazarou is an Associate Fellow on the “US and Americas” programme at Chatham House (London) and a Senior Fellow at ELIAMEP (Athens).