News Archive

Most EU members have increased their defense spending in the past year or plan to do so soon. However, whether an EU defense union is politically achievable remains controversial. In the new issue of EconPol Forum, our authors take a critical look at the needs of the common EU defense policy. They examine how it should be efficiently financed and coordinated at EU and national level.

In the new legislative period, the EU Commission will need a well-thought-out economic policy agenda to respond to the changed geopolitical challenges and to strengthen its competitiveness. This policy brief analyzes the main economic challenges ahead.

Rising protectionism and geoeconomic tensions pose a major challenge, especially for the EU. In many cases, however, the key to strengthening economic security lies in deepening international trade relations, not in protecting domestic production. This policy brief presents four propositions on the future direction of the EU’s foreign economic policy.

Climate change has an effect on all areas of development in poor countries due to its impact on the agricultural sector. EU development policy should support innovative financial mechanisms for family farms. Another goal should be the opening of product markets and the free movement of people.