Publications

Migration is a decisive topic in both national and European elections. In the absence of an alternative discourse, anti-immigration rhetoric has gained traction in more mainstream, centrist spaces too. This didn’t happen overnight: the far right has gradually won over the debate, while the EU stood by. Now, some national governments propose migrant-targeted policies directly violating founding EU values such as human rights, equality and dignity. If the EU really takes these values seriously, it must counter far-right rhetoric. Otherwise, it will face an identity crisis, where its Member States compromise the EU’s core principles.

The EU has learned to defend its borders, but not always its principles. While it invests in weapons, cyber tools and deterrence, it disregards the founding principles that make our societies resilient, such as trust, the rule of law or civic participation. It’s easy to forget that democracy isn’t a slogan, it’s Europe’s first line of defence.

Security doesn’t flourish in isolation – especially with Russia nearby and Washington increasingly detached. And yet, Europe’s defence procurement progresses at a snail’s pace, mired in bureaucratic rumblings and antiquated systems. Although Europe has helped plug the most pressing holes in Ukraine’s security, it hasn’t adequately addressed its own ever depleting arsenals.

Immigration isn’t driving the far right’s rise — fear is. And the EU now has a chance to break that cycle. Debates around the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum focus narrowly on resettlement quotas and ‘burden-sharing’. Governments fear increasing arrivals will boost support for the far right, creating a political tug-of-war for Member States to take in as few people as possible. Systems are strained, societies are polarised and the EU’s instinct has been to keep people out at all costs.

Another day, another story on how a tech giant has breached – yet again – on one of the EU’s digital regulations. This news isn’t not a big surprise; it was only recently that the European Commission flagged that TikTok and Meta were in breach of the Digital Services Act and that Apple and Meta breached the Digital Markets Act. While enforcing these regulations doesn’t seem to be a problem, compliance raises a red flag.

While Europe and the rest of the world are still debating over how to regulate AI, Italy has taken an ambitious move to steer AI governance efforts. On October 10, 2025, Italy’s AI Law came into force, marking the first comprehensive national AI law in the EU, which complements the EU’s AI Act to build a more comprehensive governance framework.

In pursuing the vaguely defined goal of increasing ‘competitiveness’ and under pressure from the US, the current European Commission has been recently taking an axe to some of its legislation. The six Omnibus bills, the first of which (targeting climate and due diligence legislation) was passed by the European Parliament in November, embody this simplification trend.

The future of over four million Ukrainian refugees in the EU remains uncertain as the EU’s temporary protection scheme will expire in 2027. In September 2025, the European Commission proposed steps towards more lasting solutions but much will depend on decisions made by host nations and Kyiv.

Without involving Ukrainian refugees in shaping return and integration policies, the process risks their marginalisation and deepening political polarisation.

Despite persistent concerns raised by civil society groups, the European Commission has started to gradually implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The Pact was one of the most contentious pieces of legislation within the EU bubble during the 2019-24 legislative cycle and is expected to be fully in force by mid-2026, ushering in a new migration and asylum regime for Europe.

AI is everywhere, quietly making decisions that impact our daily lives – from the level of healthcare we receive to whether we get approved for a job. But what happens when the very system designed to make our lives easier actually reinforces discrimination?

Extreme weather events driven by climate change increasingly threaten farmers’ land and yields. The consequences of this are intensifying food insecurity, the risk of famine and soaring food prices.

The debate over migration policies in Europe is awash with misinformation, particularly regarding migrants’ impact on the European economy. Yet delving deeper into the details reveals that migrants could actually be key to securing Europe’s economic future.

Disinformation about the EU and its enlargement plans in the Eastern Neighbourhood is a growing concern. As the EU considers expanding its frontiers to include countries such as Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, disinformation tactics are actively working to undermine these efforts.

The Mediterranean region is on fire – and Europe’s approach to it is only adding more fuel to the inferno. From Libya to Syria and Lebanon, conflicts in the Southern Neighbourhood threaten the long-term security of the entire region.

As the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act has started to land on policymakers’ desks, it’s a good reminder that we need to urgently bolster the EU’s strategic autonomy due to the unstable geopolitical situation we’re currently living through.

In summer 2023, Germany’s coalition government put forward one of the most radical pieces of climate legislation in the country’s history. According to the proposed bill, new heating systems would have to be powered by at least 65 % renewables, which effectively meant mandating the installation of electric heat pumps and banning gas boilers in private homes.

You are with a group of friends at the edge of a cliff, overlooking a dangerously ferocious river. About to jump, you realise you are wearing a bathing suit, your friend is in high heels and another is completely drunk. In that moment, it’s clear – you’re all not equally prepared to take the leap.