Informal Groupings in EU Foreign Policy: A Sustainable Arrangement?

February 2021 • Amadio Viceré Maria Giulia

Analysis

The Lisbon Treaty aimed at a deeper integration of member states’ foreign policies at the EU level. Yet, EU external action is often steered by informal groupings of member states. Maria Giulia Amadio Viceré (EUI) describes these practices and assesses the implications through two criteria: effectiveness and accountability. (2020:2epa)

From self-doubt to self-assurance: The European External Action Service as the indispensable support for a geopolitical EU

January 2021 • Blockmans Steven, Hillion Christophe, Vimont Pierre

Report

The rivalry of today’s world should induce the EU to act as a cohesive force. Yet, EU countries are still struggling to focus on the common interest. The 10th anniversary of the European External Action Service thus constitutes an opportune moment to reconsider its contribution to EU foreign policy. This report on the EEAS is the fruit of a research cooperation to which SIEPS has contributed. (January 2021)

Protecting the rule of law in EU Member States and Candidate Countries

October 2020 • Bieber Florian, Kmezić Marko

Analysis

The respect for the rule of law is declining both in EU member states and in countries aspiring to membership. The EU therefore needs to step up its efforts and adopt a more inclusive, coherent, and transparent approach. This argument is developed by Marko Kmezić and Florian Bieber at the University of Graz. (2020:12epa)

Pre-allocated return flows vs. European public goods: How the veto impairs the quality of the EU budget

September 2020 • Tarschys Daniel

Analysis

The EU’s budget package adopted in July strengthens the Union’s financial capacity but contains concessions that imply cuts in investments for collective action. As long as each country has a veto right in the budgetary process, it will be hard to obtain resources for expenditures with a high European value added, argues Daniel Tarschys, senior advisor at SIEPS. (2020:10epa)

State Interests and Bargaining Power in the Reform of the Eurozone

August 2020 • Dellmuth Lisa, Lundgren Magnus, Tallberg Jonas

Report

Following the deep euro crisis, the EU governments agreed on eurozone reforms that constituted a substantial deepening of European integration. In this report, political scientists Lisa Dellmuth, Magnus Lundgren and Jonas Tallberg analyse the dynamics behind the eurozone reform and discuss implications for future policy. (2020:4)

EU:s uppbyggnad och styrning

EU Industrial Policy in a Globalised World - Effects on the Single Market

June 2020 • Andhov Marta, Bastidas Venegas Vladimir, Engberg Katarina, Hettne Jörgen, Papadopoulos Thomas, Wiberg Maria

Report

As the EU aims at strengthening the competitivity of European companies, the functioning of the Single Market comes to the fore. Is a more assertive industrial policy compatible with free and fair competition? This question is studied in a volume focusing on the legal instruments that govern the EU’s internal market. (2020:1op)

Green paths through a pandemic

June 2020 • Engström Mats

Analysis

The present pandemic crisis brings uncertainty to the European Green Deal – the ambitious plan for environmental and climate progress. What can policymakers do if they wish to keep the green momentum? Mats Engström, senior advisor at SIEPS, offers six courses of action. (2020:8epa)

EU:s framtid

Suspension of EU funds for breaches of the rule of law – a dose of tough love needed?

June 2020 • von Bogdandy Armin, Łacny Justyna

Analysis

The European Commission has proposed a possibility to suspend financial transfers to Member States with deficiencies as regards the rule of law. In an analysis of the proposal, professors Armin von Bogdandy and Justyna Łacny conclude that it has merits but raises legal doubts. Suspending EU funds could also harm the people they are meant to protect. (2020:7epa)

EU:s uppbyggnad och styrning

Geopolitics and the Covid-19 pandemic: a distorted turn in EU external relations

June 2020 • Youngs Richard

Analysis

Recently, EU leaders have repeated the message that the Union needs to be more “geopolitical”. What does this mean? Richard Youngs, professor of International Relations, analyses this ambition by questioning its underlying assumptions. Without a modern and innovative form of geopolitics, he writes, the EU’s international identity risks becoming more uncertain and ambiguous – a risk that the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to reinforce. (2020:5epa)

Externa relationer

The long-term budget after COVID-19: The EU politicians’ guide to the galaxy

May 2020 • Tarschys Daniel

Perspective

The long-term budget has been stable over time, hovering around 1 percent of GNI. Its core may remain in that neighbourhood, but the galaxy of satellites around it seems much more expansive. With an emerging mix of grants and loans following the COVID-19 crisis, we may soon see a long-term budget in the vicinity of 2 percent, argues Daniel Tarschys, senior advisor at Sieps and a former Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

EU:s budget