The Industrial Accelerator Act: The Shortcut to Competitiveness

Can Europe Find Its Way Back to the Top? Europe’s share of global manufacturing has been dropping for several years in a row. It is now estimated to be as low as just 14.3% of the EU’s GDP. We are currently in a race where the rules have changed. The Industrial Accelerator Act is the […]

Defence, Energy and Copyright: In the Spotlight of This Week’s Plenary Session

The MEPs will have a rather packed schedule this week, tackling topics such as energy, defence, technology, copyright, and geopolitical uncertainties. Defence, Energy and Copyright: In the Spotlight of This Week’s Plenary Session This week, the European Parliament gathers in Strasbourg from Monday to Thursday for a plenary session that will touch upon a myriad […]

The Middle East and the EU’s Seat at the Table

The conflict in the Middle East escalates after the US and Israel take decisive action in Iran for a regime change, while the EU is sidelined in crisis response as Cyprus is attacked. The Middle East and the EU’s Seat at the Table ​If the geopolitical world had a tipping point, it was likely crossed […]

Help Is (Not) on the Way: Four Years of Roadblocks

On the fourth anniversary of Moscow launching a full-scale war against Ukraine, the EU is once again stuck trying to send financial aid to Kyiv and restrict business with Russia.  Help Is (Not) on the Way: Four Years of Roadblocks Today, on 24 February 2026, marks precisely four years since the world was stricken by the news that Russian tanks […]

The Munich Stress-Test: The New World Is Emerging

Yet another Munich Security Conference is behind us, and these were the key events that took place over the course of last weekend. The Munich Stress-Test: The New World Is Emerging The halls of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof are usually filled with the polite hum of strategic patience. This year, at the 2026 Munich Security […]

Portugal Chooses a Left-Leaning President – What’s Next?

After three weeks of uncertainty between rounds one and two of Portuguese presidential elections, a moderate candidate scored a win against his right-wing opponent, but what does that mean for the country and the Continent? Portugal Chooses a Left-Leaning President – What’s Next? In the photo-finish of the second-round runoff on 8 February, Portugal has […]

Berlin and Rome Rewire Europe’s Security Architecture

Executive Summary The signing of the “Agreement on Enhanced Co-operation on Security, Defence, and Resilience” in Rome on 23 January 2026, represents a fundamental shift in European power dynamics. Beyond a standard defence treaty, this document formalises a partnership focused on three high-stakes geopolitical arenas: the African continent, orbital strategic autonomy, and transnational cyber resilience. […]

The Commission Unveils the New Cybersecurity Act

On 20 January, the European Commission unveiled a proposal for the new Cybersecurity Act, signaling a switch in how the Union views the digital component of its economy. While the original 2019 Cybersecurity Act was characterised by a focus on softer measures, including voluntary certification schemes and the institutional strengthening of European Agency for Cybersecurity, this revised version is a far more assertive legislative instrument. […]

The Digital Networks Act: A Single Framework for Digital Connectivity

The Digital Networks Act, which is being unveiled in January 2026 by the European Commission, is the European Union’s attempt to pull together all the main standards that govern digital connectivity into one single, predictable framework. This will be the beginning of a lengthy process towards final approval, which we can expect in about a […]

The Cyprus Presidency: Breaking Down the Agenda

On 1 January 2026, the Republic of Cyprus assumed the rotating Presidency at the Council of Ministers, taking over the role from Denmark. This was the last transition of the current three-piece Presidency (consisting of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus) and comes at a moment when the Union is facing several challenges, most notably regarding competitiveness […]