A long trend of increasing gender balance in the European Parliament was broken with the 2024 election results. Johanna Kantola, Professor at the University of Helsinki, analyses the state of gender equality in the European Parliament. (2025:4epa)

The stakes are high when Germany holds snap elections on 23 February 2025. For the EU, both domestic and European policies in the most populous country in the Union are of great importance. Valentin Kreilinger (SIEPS) analyses what the parties' positions, the possible coalitions and the upcoming policy decisions mean for Europe. (2025:3epa)

EU enlargement will have consequences for where foreign investment is made. Colin Wren (Newcastle University) examines past enlargements and draws conclusions about future ones: which countries will be most attractive to invest in as the EU grows? (2025:2epa)

Security and defence are high on the EU's agenda for the new political cycle. Katarina Engberg analyses the initiatives within the EU that point towards a total defence as well as the challenges and opportunities this brings. (2025:1epa)

The Eastern and Central European countries that joined the EU in the 2000s have experienced economic growth thanks to their membership. In this European policy analysis, Mariusz Próchniak and Ryszard Rapacki, professors of Economics, examine what is required of the current candidate countries to benefit from EU membership in a similar way. (2024:24epa)

For a long time, the EU has addressed but so far not prevented systematic violations of the rule of law in the member states. In this analysis, Katalin Cseres argues that EU competition law should be used more actively as part of the rule of law toolbox. (2024:23epa)

In an uncertain world, the relationship between Europe and the United States has become more important than ever. At the same time, it is in a state of change. Ahead of the US presidential election, Marianne Riddervold analyses the transatlantic link and discusses ways forward for Europe. (2024:21epa)

Agriculture will be a particularly difficult issue for the forthcoming enlargement of the EU. In this analysis professor emeritus Alan Matthews draws lessons from previous enlargements and considers possible options for the EU. (2024:20epa)

EU membership is transformational but also highly demanding. Visnja Vukov (University of Vienna) considers how the EU can strengthen state capacity in candidate countries so that they are ready to join and flourish as members. (2024:19epa)

In the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, EU enlargement acquired a renewed impetus: the security of both aspiring and existing members. Barbara Lippert explores how this put foreign and security policy at the heart of the accession process. (2024:18epa)