From SAFE to NATO: Rethinking Defence, Spending and Security
Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, defence spending and NATO’s role in global security are front and centre on the agenda. The EU has recently adopted a new joint defence procurement instrument, while NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly has been discussing the upcoming NATO Summit in June, set on strengthening the alliance’s resilience and readiness. SAFE for […]
Elections in Poland and Romania: The future of EU security and defence
As the EU discusses closer cooperation on security and defence, national elections can challenge the discussions happening in Brussels. Over the weekend, the presidential elections in Poland and Romania indicated that pro-EU candidates are still favourites, despite popular concerns about migration, the cost of living and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Poland’s Civic Coalition and […]
Vatican Welcomes Pope Leo XIV: A New Era for the Catholic Church
B&K Agency congratulates Pope Leo XIV on his election as the new leader of the Catholic Church. In this newsletter, we explore his stance on key matters and the potential role he could play in addressing today’s most pressing global and societal challenges. The Vatican Has Spoken Out Pope Leo XIV’s election—the first for an […]
The Road to Chancellorship: Friedrich Merz wins the second parliamentary vote
Friedrich Merz secured his win as Germany’s new chancellor in the second parliamentary vote. However, this was not an easy win. Today, we are looking at the events of the day and what they mean for Germany’s geopolitical leadership. Friedrich Merz wins the second parliamentary vote During the second parliamentary vote in the Bundestag, Germany’s […]
The Vatican’s Way of Shaping Global Diplomacy
In today’s newsletter, we touch upon the weekend’s events at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and their potential impact on the future of global diplomacy. A Reason to Seek Diplomatic Solutions On Saturday, the saddest day for millions of Christians around the world, the Vatican achieved a remarkable feat where Europe and its leaders […]
The First Omnibus Proposals: Simpler sustainable reporting, increased competitiveness
In this week’s newsletter, we touch upon the European Commission’s Omnibus proposals, which aim to simplify certain sustainability requirements for businesses to promote innovation and competitiveness in the EU. Enjoy! Omnibus I and II Proposals In February 2025, the European Commission presented the first two Omnibus proposals, the first deliverables in a package of so-called […]
From Space to AI: The US and the EU tensions in the global tech race
In this week’s newsletter, we look at the Blue Origin launch and what it reveals about the EU space market, along with the latest developments in European and US AI. Enjoy! The New Shepard Blue Origin launch On Monday afternoon, a crew of six launched into space for an 11-minute flight on a rocket belonging […]
Geopolitical Shifts: EU-Central Asia Partnership and Finland’s Response to Security Threats
This week, we explore the outcome of the first EU–Central Asia Summit, along with Finland’s strategic response to emerging security threats. Enjoy! The First EU-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand On 4 April, EU representatives met with the leaders of five countries from Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – at the first […]
Liberation Day Aftermath: The New Reality for European Trade
Today, we look at the new ‘reciprocal’ tariffs announced by the Trump administration, their potential effect on the European Union – focusing on the steel and aluminium industries – and the European response. ‘Liberation Day’ On 2 April, dubbed ‘Liberation Day’, the Trump administration presented a series of reciprocal tariffs on imports in a move […]
Türkiye and the future of European defence
This week, we look at the latest events in Türkiye that have heightened political tensions in the country, and the recently published White Paper that is set to change the future of European defence. Enjoy! Türkiye in turmoil – Protests over the arrest of Erdoğan’s rival Ekrem İmamoğlu On 19 March, Ekrem İmamoğlu, the current […]