Ecology

The global challenges for the European Union are huge. An ambitious strategic approach for the EU is needed and strengthening democracy is key to this: Internal and external challenges to democracy are threatening to undermine efforts to increase security and sustainable economic growth. Democracy contributes to such foreign policy objectives rather than competing or with them. This analysis first argues that democracy should feature more prominently in the Global Europe pillar of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), both in terms of objectives and of instruments. The second part locates democracy among the European Union’s external strategic objectives, arguing for a more central role as democratic governance has the potential to contribute to other policy objectives such as security and economic development. This is particularly important at a time when democratic conditions and support for democracy are shifting.

The new US shift on monetary and climate policy has created a rare opening for Europe. With strong green finance rules and the European Central Bank integrating climate risks, the EU can position the euro as the world’s leading green currency. This Böll EU Brief outlines how ‘green internationalisation’ could boost Europe’s strategic power.

The European Commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 MFF opens a chance to raise ambition on climate, social, economic and security goals. This framing paper outlines key budget needs, priority areas and governance reforms to equip the EU with a stronger, more effective long-term financial framework.

The next MFF proposes centralised National and Regional Partnership Plans, shifting power to national governments and the European Commission. While promising coherence, this risks weaker regional involvement and oversight. Effective governance will depend on strong Member State accountability and safeguarding inclusive, transparent delivery.

The 2028–2034 MFF proposal acknowledges social pressures but risks diluting the EU’s social dimension. Social spending is consolidated in new National and Regional Partnership Plans Plans without a dedicated European Social Fund line, while guarantees are weakened. Major challenges include limited funding, weaker local roles and competing budget objectives.

The European Commission’s new MFF proposal introduces five new own resources to fund Next Generation EU debt and modernise EU revenues. This paper assesses the package and argues for a balanced basket of genuine new resources to support EU goals, reduce net-position politics and close major funding gaps.

The MFF proposal sidelines climate and the environment, inflates green spending claims, and weakens safeguards through flexibilisation and programme mergers. This paper assesses the spending target, the Do No Significant Harm principle, and climate and environmental provisions in the proposal’s two largest programmes.

Europe’s electricity grid planning was designed for a slower, fossil-based energy system. Today, rapid renewable deployment, rising electricity demand and the emergence of hydrogen call for a new institutional framework. This factsheet outlines how forward-looking, coordinated planning can help achieve climate neutrality by 2050. It recommends that Member States develop spatial energy plans, that stronger unbundling rules prevent conflicts of interest, and that an Independent EU Energy System Planner be created to improve cross-border coordination and efficiency.