Publications

Perspective

Brain Drain in the US – Brain Gain for Europe?
What the EU can do

As researchers in the United States face budget cuts and political interference with their work, European universities see opportunities to attract more talent to Europe. Bernd Parusel, senior researcher in political science at SIEPS, and Lisa Lundgren, intern at SIEPS, ask what the EU could do to support such initiatives.

Bernd Parusel, Lisa Lundgren April 2025 April 2025
European Policy Analysis

The Facilitation Proposal:
assessing the EU’s response to the smuggling of migrants

The decision-making bodies of the EU are negotiating a revised EU-framework to prevent and counter the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and stay – a phenomenon commonly called smuggling of migrants. In this analysis, Gabriella Sanchez (Georgetown University) takes a critical look at the planned legislation.

Gabriella Sanchez March 2025 2025:6epa
European Policy Analysis

The impact of enlargement
on the balance of power in the Council

How will the EU’s decision-making processes be affected if the number of member states grows significantly? This issue has been discussed since enlargement once again became a priority for the EU. In this analysis, Piret Ehin (University of Tartu) assesses the effects of three enlargement scenarios on the balance of power in the Council.

Piret Ehin March 2025 2025:5epa
OP

Key Concepts
for the Future of the EU

EU speeches and policy documents feature many political concepts, both recurrent and new ones. What do these concepts imply – and what is it that EU leaders and institutions want to achieve by using them? SIEPS has asked leading experts to take a critical look.

Alberto Alemanno, Judith Arnal, Amandine Crespy, Elena Korosteleva, Hans Kundnani, John Morijn, Thu Nguyen, Roderick Parkes, Bernd Parusel, Viola Shahini, Monika Sus, Patricia Wadensjö March 2025 2025:1op
European Policy Analysis

Gender Equality at a Crossroads:
Implications of the 2024 European Parliament Elections

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.

Johanna Kantola February 2025 2025:4epa
European Policy Analysis

Germany votes
– will its EU policy change?

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.

Valentin Kreilinger February 2025 2025:3epa
European Policy Analysis

The Implications for FDI Location
of Future EU Enlargement

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?

Colin Wren February 2025 2025:2epa
Other

Making a success of EU enlargement:
three proposals

EU leaders have asserted that enlargement is an investment ‘in peace, security, stability and prosperity’. However, for such an investment to pay off, the promise of EU membership must be credible, writes Christophe Hillion (Professor, University of Oslo and College of Europe).

Christophe Hillion January 2025 Fit for 35 Forum Post 9
European Policy Analysis

Towards a European
Total Defence Union?

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.

Katarina Engberg January 2025 2025:1epa
Other

Ready, set, go?
How to prepare EU democracy for enlargement

Can the EU accommodate an increased political and cultural diversity after a next round of enlargement? In this contribution, Saskia Hollander (Senior Research Fellow at Clingendael) assesses the impact of EU enlargement on the EU’s capacity to uphold democracy and the rule of law and project core values within its borders.

Saskia Hollander December 2024 Fit for 35 Forum Post 8