Towards a European Defence Union

After years of hesitation, the EU – driven by geopolitical shifts – is finally moving forward. The special European Council summit of 6 March shows momentum in defence policy. But Europe remains vulnerable without a big step forward.

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Industrial policy

The European Commission unveiled on 26 February the Clean Industrial Deal, a competitiveness-driven approach to decarbonisation, aimed at securing the EU as an attractive location for manufacturing, including for energy intensive industries, and promoting clean tech and new circular business models. Check out our content on industrial policy!

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100 days in office: Assessing main initiatives of the von der Leyen II European Commission

Analysis
This week marks 100 days of the von der Leyen II European Commission. A deadline by which President von der Leyen promised a range of initiatives, as outlined in her 2024-2029 political guidelines. We take a look at the main initiatives launched, in a time when Europe is adapting to shifting geopolitical paradigms.
By Jörg Mühlenhoff, Zora Siebert , Anton Möller, Hannah Goerlich and Joan Lanfranco
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Illustration: Ein Titelblatt mit EU-Sternen auf blauem Hintergrund. Text: „Rebuilding Credibility in EU Enlargement Policy“ von Marina Vulović.

Rebuilding credibility in EU enlargement policy

Policy paper
The European Union has many candidates for membership. It is currently conducting negotiations with Albania, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the accession processes are complicated. The current policy paper on the reform debate analyses the arguments for and against a rapid enlargement of the EU and provides recommendations for policy-makers.
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How to build and fund a better EU green industrial policy

Study
This study shows that Europe’s clean tech industry is a bright spot for a continent fretting about its declining competitiveness. It proposes a strategy for the EU to revamp its industrial policies, ensuring the EU does not cede clean tech leadership to China as Trump’s America backtracks from decarbonisation goals.
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EU defence industrial policy in a new era

E-paper
The 2024 re-election of Donald Trump as US president, and the realignment of US security strategy that is expected to follow fundamentally changes Europe’s security outlook. The EU cannot become Europe’s security provider, but it can, through its defence industrial policy, support the funding and organization of the rearmament effort.
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