Europe’s trade with the U.S. and defence policy have taken a big turn in the past few weeks. The U.S. has been making some tough decisions on tariffs, which suggests it is using economic pressure to try to change trade agreements. At the same time, the European Parliament has just given the green light to […]
The Munich Security Conference 2025: A Wake-Up Call for Europe
Last weekend, the world’s leaders, policymakers, and defence experts gathered in Germany for the Munich Security Conference. Europe received a wake-up call as discussions covered the war in Ukraine, NATO’s future, and global power shifts reshaping international security. The overarching message? Europe must urgently reassess its defence strategy, financial commitments, and geopolitical stance. A shift […]
AI Action Summit: Diverging Paths in Global AI Governance
Between Monday and Tuesday, Paris hosted the third global AI Action Summit, a crucial event for governments and stakeholders to discuss the future development of AI technologies and their political, economic and social implications. Hosted by the French government, the Summit provided an opportunity for the EU to demonstrate that it can leverage its potential […]
Trade at risk: What could Trump’s tariffs mean for Europe?
Over the weekend, Trump signed executive orders to impose tariffs on goods imported from China, Mexico and Canada. The countries taken together accounted for 40% of imports into the US last year. The measures, which Trump had already promised during his campaign, were allegedly introduced to boost American industries, protect jobs, and grow the US […]
Easing sanctions? The EU discusses the future of sanctions on Syria
In the past weeks, the EU has been increasingly discussing the possibility of lifting sanctions on Syria. Last Monday during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of EU Member States discussed to gradually ease sanctions on Syria to support economic recovery without finding an agreement. While some Member States have warned […]
The World Economic Forum in Davos after Trump’s inauguration: The EU in the global economy, AI and Ukraine
World economics, Ukraine and artificial intelligence were among the topics discussed by around 3,000 attendees of the World Economic Forum who met in Davos, Switzerland, this week under the main theme of Collaboration for the Intelligent Age. First founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab, the Forum has since become a crucial opportunity for global political, […]
B&K Newsletter: Swinging back on fact-checking, the TikTok ban and Senate hearings in the US
On 07 January, Mark Zuckerberg – CEO of the social media company Meta that includes Facebook, Instagram and Threads – announced a change in Meta policies which would include abandoning the use of independent fact-checkers on the platforms in favour of ‘community notes’. Meta’s fact-checking programme was launched in 2016 to create a network of […]
Security, Europe! The Polish presidency programme, IRIS² and national politics in the EU in the new year
Security, Europe!’ is the headline of Poland’s programme for its 6-month presidency of the Council of European Union starting on 01 January. The country is the first in the new presidency trio including Denmark and Cyprus, that will succeed it in June 2025 and January 2026 respectively. The focus of its programme will be security […]
Global Uncertainty Unfolds: Insights into the Key Geopolitical Developments of 2025
As we step into 2025, the world is teetering on the edge of unpredictability. Shifting power dynamics, regional conflicts, and emerging threats constantly reshape international dynamics. This analysis delves into the key trends and challenges that will shape the year ahead. Numerous countries held pivotal elections in 2024, sowing uncertainty. Now, the spotlight shifts to […]
Barnier: The Shortest-Lived Prime Minister
On Wednesday, the French government fell over negotiations on the new budget law, setting the stage for another political crisis in Europe, just a few weeks after the German Chancellor Scholz called for early elections. As widely reported in the last few days, the Parliament approved a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Michel […]