Ankara-Kyiv-Washington: Ukraine’s Diplomatic Offensive
At a first glance, three developments over the past several days (a NATO summit, a government reshuffle in Kyiv, and the announcement of the Washington’s sanctions package aimed at Russia) are separate stories. Looking at them together, they follow a common theme of an alliance trying to secure more support for Ukraine as the individuals […]
New Silk Road Rivalry: Bridging Eurasia with the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
Two and a half years after it was announced during the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor is still one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the world. In practice, it remains a memorandum of understanding rather than a functional trade route. The events of the past years, including […]
The Transatlantic Connection: Evaluating the EU-US Alliance at 250 Years Since the Declaration of Independence
On 4 July, the United States celebrates 250 years since it declared independence from Great Britain. The American revolution in the second half of the 18th century was caused mainly by disputes over taxation and representation, as well as the right to govern without a faraway monarchy that would dictate the terms. This founding idea […]
The Road to the Élysée Palace: Assessing the 2027 French Presidential Election
The France is approaching one of the most important election cycles in the Fifth Republic. Scheduled to take place in April next year, the upcoming presidential election marks the end of the Emmanuel Macron era and a test for the stability of the European single market. With the President Macron constitutionally prohibited from seeking a […]
The Brussels Effect Explained: How EU Regulations Shape Global Markets
Economic influence and massive tech hubs are a part of what defines a global superpower. But there is a quieter form of power that comes from a different source – in particular, the rulebook. It’s called the Brussels Effect, and it is the reason why the European Union has become a global regulatory power. The […]
The Voice of Nature: Rights for Ecosystems and Power Saving for Data Centers
The European citizens are demanding that the EU grants legal personhood to the natural ecosystems, changing the way the lawmakers view terms such as forests and lakes. Simultaneously, the Commission is announcing a less flexible regulatory environment for the AI companies willing to develop in Europe, stating that they should be using predominantly sustainable energy […]
Market Power as Diplomacy: Trade as the EU’s Tool to Shape Global Foreign Policy
The EU has signed a trade deal with Mexico on 22 May during the first joint summit in more than ten years. This agreement follows the developments in the trade sector with countries such as India, Malaysia, and the Latin American bloc known as Mercosur and shows the often forgotten voice of European power on […]
How Countries Qualify for the Euro: Eurozone Convergence Criteria Explained
The Eurozone is the name for the countries that use euros as the official currency, and it is very similar to a massive group project on European monetary policy. Before you let someone join the team, you’d want to make sure they’re working at the same pace and are following the same rules. In the […]
Lithuania Restricts Airspace Following Drone Incursion
On 20 May, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence issued a high-level air danger warning after the radar detection of a drone approaching from Belarus. The airspace over Vilnius Airport was closed for approximately an hour and train and public transit networks were suspended. Concurrently, public emergency broadcasts directed residents across the central regions to seek […]
Fast-Moving Consumer Goods
The European FMCG and grocery retail sector enters 2026 confronted with one of the most consequential regulatory realignments of the past decade. Legislative initiatives advancing simultaneously across packaging, sustainability, food safety, health policy and controlled categories are no longer incremental adjustments; they amount to a fundamental transformation of how products are designed, sourced, marketed and […]