Can Germany deliver on the transformative ‘Zeitenwende’ in foreign and security policy that Europe expects? This analysis examines Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s bid to overcome Germany’s traditional leadership restraint and position Berlin as a cooperative yet influential force in shaping EU strategy.
The EU and its Member States are increasingly using informal agreements with other countries to regulate and reduce migration. This approach can increase effectiveness but entails risks in a policy area that concerns fundamental rights.
The EU has made strategic autonomy its defining ambition. But to achieve true autonomy, the Union cannot continue relying on ad hoc fixes. This analysis thus argues for a profound treaty revision in three areas: fundamental values, the euro and defence.
The European Commission's proposed seven-year budget has already been criticized and is unlikely to be adopted in its current form. Economist Harry Flam welcomes increased flexibility in the budget but calls for stronger monitoring mechanisms.
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’.
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.
The Treaty of Lisbon (2009) introduced a permanent President of the European Council – a clear institutional setback for the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU. At the same time, the Presidency retains an important function in the EU political system, with opportunities to exert influence. Austė Vaznonytė, Researcher in Political Science, analyses this changing role.
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.