European Union

After years of hesitation, the EU – driven by geopolitical shifts – is finally moving forward. The special summit in Brussels shows momentum in defence policy. But Europe remains vulnerable without a big step forward.

Three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Paul Hockenos compares the efforts of the EU and the US in view of weaning from Russian fossil fuels. On the ground, Ukraine’s transition to distributed renewables already rhymes with resilience against the aggressor.

Trump is back. And so is his erratic shock and awe style of politics. One day he announces tariffs on Mexico and Canada, the day after he puts them on hold. Who knows what he’ll do next. Europe cannot afford to be paralysed by panic, divided by discord or swept up in performative outrage. Instead of being shocked and awed, the EU must stay calm, adapt and – most importantly – act.

After a rocky 2024, electoral prospects look bleak for members of the European Green Party. However, with at least seven national parliamentary and 10 head-of-state elections, as well as dozens of local and regional elections in 16 countries, there is plenty of opportunity for a Green surprise. This article reviews the 2025 electoral prospects for European Green Party members in Europe.  

The EU still has strong rules for the major digital platforms. However, under Donald Trump and his allies – above all powerful tech CEOs such as Musk and Zuckerberg – the USA is becoming an open opponent of these regulations. 

Elections were held in over 70 countries in 2024, with over half the global population going to the polls. This report assesses the outcomes of these elections and offers reflections on what the impact of the ‘election super-year’ is likely to be on key policy issues and on the deeper systemic state of democracy.

Poland takes on the EU Council Presidency in January 2025. What does this role mean, and what challenges lie ahead? Our latest article explores the key context and what to expect during this pivotal six-month period.

In 2023, Germany’s Federal Foreign Office and its Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development published guidelines for a feminist foreign and development policy. Political headwinds, however, are jeopardising the implementation of the concepts.

35 to 72 million people across the EU are facing energy poverty. These issues already have powerful implications today from a public health or productivity point of view. Over the years, the EU has constructed a series of policy instruments to assess better and comprehensively address the phenomenon.