The Center Holds, But at What Cost?
European politics is braced for a potential right-wing surge at the 2024 European Parliament elections. The center-right European People’s Party (EPP) may face tricky decisions.
Why Macron’s Ukraine Offensive Is Unlikely to be a Winner at Home
President Emmanuel Macron is hoping that his tougher line vis-à-vis Russia will endear his party to voters. But the French care much less about foreign policy than one might think.
France’s Pivot to Europe
The European Union seems disoriented in 2024. The German chancellor is turning to Washington when leadership is needed. That leaves French President Emmanuel Macron.
Europe’s Hamiltonian Test Is Still to Come
The debate about further enhancing the EU’s financial firepower has led nowhere and might actually be regressing. It is time to discuss the future of the EU budget, its capacity to borrow and Europe’s taxing power with greater urgency.
What Europe Thinks … About Who to Vote for in the European Parliament Elections
The European Parliament elections may augur whether the rest of the West will swing in a populist direction.
The Bundeswehr Returns to the Indo-Pacific
Germany’s navy and air force are planning to beef up their participation in various military exercises halfway around the world in 2024. This speaks of a clearer strategy vis-à-vis China and the region.
Trouble at the Top
It’s not much of a secret that Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz are very different characters. Their deepening rift is damaging the Franco-German relationship—and Europe.
The European Union’s Hungary Problem
The Orbán government’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union has sparked criticism. More important, however, is the question of how the EU deals with a member state that breaks away from the principles of the rule of law.
Europe Needs a Nuanced Approach to Disinformation in African Elections
Africa is experiencing significant democratic backsliding in many countries. In their programs to support democratic elections, European funders should try to ensure they don’t play into the hands of authoritarians.
The Great Extraction
Competition for critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements is in full swing. If Europe wants to be a successful player, it must coordinate its efforts better.
The EU’s Quest for Critical Raw Materials Raises Familiar Questions
Brussels has signaled that securing critical raw materials for the green transition is a top priority. But it faces major challenges in its competition with China, of which the biggest is how to convince companies to prioritize geopolitics over the market.
The EU Is Close to Another Hamiltonian Moment
In 2020, the European Union spent big and agreed on a common vaccine strategy to survive the pandemic. Today, French President Emmanuel Macron believes EU cash and a common plan to arm Kyiv is what is needed to keep Russia at bay.