In recent years, there has been a shift in Swedish public opinion on the euro – the proportion of people who are in favour of introducing the European currency in Sweden has increased. This analysis examines how Swedish public opinion on the euro has changed over time, the ideological and socio-economic factors that influence it, and how the international situation appears to affect Swedes' views.
The EU is likely to eventually have up to thirty-five members and will need to adapt to accommodate them. SIEPS has asked leading experts what the Union can or should do to be ‘Fit for 35’.
The EU is pursuing an increasingly activist industrial policy. Amid rising global competition, the aim is to create a level playing field for EU and non-EU firms and to strengthen European companies in the global market. Harry Flam, senior advisor at SIEPS, examines the flagship projects in the fields of semiconductors and batteries and finds it unlikely that they will succeed.
France has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. What does this major Member State hope to achieve during its term? And what will be the impact of France’s general elections, which are to be held in April and June? These questions are discussed in a European Policy Analysis by Olivier Rozenberg, Associate Professor at Sciences Po, Paris.
When Germany’s new governing coalition agreed on an ambitious agenda for EU affairs, it raised expectations of a new momentum for the EU. But it will require compromises on multiple levels to fulfil the announced aim of a stronger Europe, writes Valentin Kreilinger, senior researcher in political science at SIEPS.
The Conference on the Future of Europe invites the citizens of the EU to debate the future of the Union. But other EU actors and institutions are involved in the intiative. This SIEPS report investigates the influence of the ‘Europarties’ on the Conference’s agenda and its work. Karl Magnus Johansson and Tapio Raunio are both professors of political science.
The EU and its Member States face many challenges, from security and migration to innovation and climate change. Some are existential, all require some common effort, and all are expensive to address. Against that background, SIEPS senior advisor Daniel Tarschys examines options for boosting the EU’s finances and makes the case for an EU Market Access Fee.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced millions of people to flee, most of them into the EU. In response, European leaders activated the Temporary Protection Directive, granting those fleeing the right to live in safety there. Valeriia Varfolomieieva, Research Assistant in Law at SIEPS, explains how this hitherto little-known directive works.
From the sovereign debt crisis to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU has taken a leading role in the management of crises. The essays in this anthology analyse the EU’s performance and suggest how it could improve as a ‘crisis manager’. Contributions by Christian Kreuder-Sonnen, Vivien A. Schmidt, Astrid Séville and Jonathan White.
The EU is struggling to agree sanctions on Russian energy supplies. By applying tariffs to oil and gas imports from Russia the Union could protect its energy security during a phase-out, while preventing Russia from financing its war in Ukraine. This could be agreed by qualified majority, and would mean the EU’s trade policy was aligned with its values, interests and obligations, argues Hannes Lenk, Senior Researcher in Law at SIEPS.