Ecology

The Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), with the support of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union | Global Dialogue, selected 8 young climate leaders to join CEPS' annual flagship event, Ideas Lab, in Brussels on 2 and 3 March 2026.

This Böll EU Brief critically assesses the prospects of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Europe. It finds that most SMR designs remain in early development, lack regulatory approval in the EU, and are unlikely to deliver electricity at scale before 2050. Technical, economic and political challenges – including high costs, unresolved waste management, proliferation risks and heterogeneous designs – undermine claims of rapid deployment and cost reductions. The authors conclude that prioritising renewables, storage and electrification is a more credible pathway for timely decarbonisation.

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.

With the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF), the European Union defines its long-term budget – and with it, its political priorities for the years to come. In July 2025, the European Commission published its proposal for the MFF 2028-2034, and long and protracted negotiations will follow. Policy makers now have the opportunity to scale up ambi­tion and deliver on climate, social, economic and security objectives. With this web dossier, we want to give an overview over the different topics EU policy makers will need to address, and give space for commentary and analysis on the MFF.

Our energy networks materialise the EU’s power of cross-border cooperation. Thanks to a well-connected grid, affordable electricity flows across the continent to households and businesses. And despite the Iberian blackout of 28 April 2025, outages remain extremely seldom and limited in time in within the EU. With the rise of a renewable, more decentralised energy system, Europe’s energy infrastructure also needs to adapt. The EU Action Plan for Grids and the EU Grids Package try to tackle the huge technical, administrative and financial bottlenecks that risk delaying the growth of wind and solar power. How can policymakers and industry advance the update of our grids? Could this task become the laboratory for a deeper integration of energy policies, evolving into a truly European Energy Infrastructure Union?

How can citizens benefit better from the EU’s energy transition? Which tools can help them to access directly renewables and building renovation? The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and the Green European Foundation have worked with experts in energy and social policy to identify key areas where the EU could act to ensure that citizens and households are able to fully experience the benefits of the energy transition, in their homes, communities and pockets.  

The English edition of the Water Atlas, published by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, presents the complexity and urgency of global water issues in a visually compelling, accessible format. It provides facts, trends, case studies, and political context to inform public discourse and shape policy. From the unequal distribution of water and industrial pollution to climate-linked water insecurity and geopolitical tensions, the Atlas aims to sharpen understanding and support action toward more sustainable and equitable water governance.

The Clean Industrial Deal is the flagship project of the European Commission for the legislative term 2024-2029. Aiming to decarbonise and grow European industries, it covers a wide range of political projects, from renewable energies to state aid, and from international partnerships to the circular economy. Does this mark a new step towards a green economy in Europe? What aspects of the Clean Industrial Deal need particular attention to foster a green transformation? With this web dossier, we want to investigate this political megaproject, develop insights and share critical commentary.