Global politics flipped last year with Donald Trump's return, unveiling a US security strategy that distances America from Europe. The era of unquestioned transatlantic support is over, compelling the EU to secure its own prosperity, defence, and stability. Events like the Brussels Economic Forum and Europe 2026 conference hammer home the message: Europe must go it alone.
Facing geopolitical uncertainty, economic transitions, tech leaps, and climate pressures, the 2026 EPRS paints a Union in flux. AI economies race globally, with SMR strategies and defence lending as lifelines, but societal strains mount—inequality from green jobs, migration from conflicts, and tech divides.
Business leaders, startups, and SMEs are called to forge alliances and strategies at March's Europe Forward summit. Yet, without addressing internal fractures, external repositioning falters. Illiberal temptations rise as citizens question globalisation's toll.
2026 tests Europe's mettle: harness AI and autonomy for inclusive growth, or watch society splinter under pressure. The path forward demands not just policy pivots, but a renewed social contract to bind the bloc.
