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Enlargement Returns as Europe’s Most Strategic Gamble
After years of drift, EU enlargement is back on the table as a response to war, instability and shifting transatlantic politics. But reopening the door to the Balkans, Ukraine and others could remake
Europe’s Old Economy Is Learning to Move Again
The euro area’s biggest industrial story is no longer whether it can preserve the past, but whether it can finance a new one. With the ECB cautious, energy costs still structurally higher than in the
China welcomes Trump, but the message from Beijing was unmistakable
Trump’s trip to China produced the appearance of diplomatic warmth, but the substantive message from Beijing was far more cautious. The visit highlighted a familiar pattern in U.S.-China relations: ce
EU Enlargement Reboots: Montenegro Inches Toward Membership as Geopolitics Reshapes Accession Logic
For the first time since Croatia's 2013 accession, the EU is seriously considering new members, with Montenegro leading the queue. But the calculus has fundamentally changed—this isn't about gradualis
Civil Society Warns EU Democracy Shield Risks Becoming Surveillance State Lite
As the Commission rolls out its Civil Society Strategy amid democratic backsliding across member states, grassroots organizations are raising an uncomfortable question: will security measures designed
Von der Leyen's Independence Agenda Hits Turbulence as EU Fractures on Trade
The European Commission's signature push for EU strategic autonomy faces mounting resistance from member states unwilling to decouple from global supply chains. Geopolitical ambitions collide with eco
Hungary's Democratic Turnaround Unlocks Billions—But Tests EU's Commitment to Rule of Law
Viktor Orbán's political defeat opens the door for potentially billions in frozen EU funding to flow back to Budapest. Yet Brussels faces a thorny question: how much democratic backsliding can the blo
Investment, Security, and Sovereignty: Africa’s Development Bargain Is Getting Harder
From Macron’s African tour to the scramble over critical minerals and counterterrorism, foreign powers are reworking their pitch to Africa. But the continent’s leaders are increasingly asking a harder
The World Economy’s New Malaise: Inflation Without Relief, Growth Without Confidence
The global economy is entering a more dangerous phase: inflation is easing in some places but not disappearing, growth is slowing, and policy makers are being asked to fight the last crisis while prep
2026: Europe's Make-or-Break Year in a Fractured World
New surveys flag top threats to EU security, from Ukraine to global risks, as Brussels grapples with uncertainty, tech upheaval, and climate crises. A pan-European poll reveals expert fears shaping po
Europe's China Reckoning: From Dependence to Defiance
Shaken by US-China rivalry and Beijing's Russia ties, the EU is rethinking its economic embrace of China. Leaders push de-risking to shield tech, trade, and security without full divorce.
EU's 2026 Priorities: Defense Cash and Competitiveness Crusade
Brussels bets big on MFF reform and red-tape cuts to fuel defense by 2030 and economic revival. Amid uncertainty, simplification and resilience top the legislative hit list.
