Editorial

In our special issue for the Munich Security Conference 2025 we focus on how to address the continent’s urgent defense tasks.

The “historic turn” Chancellor Olaf Scholz described in 2022 is ongoing—and far more encompassing and consequential than many in Europe continue to assume. Donald Trump’s re-election as US president requires a fundamental rethink.

Europe’s defense and security should be the number one issue for those countries that form “NATO’s European pillar” as well as those in the European Union. It is time to pull out all the stops to bolster the continent’s military capabilities.

Franco-German relations have been rocky of late, but recently, they seemed to have taken a turn for the better. If France’s parliament is now conquered by the far right or becomes deadlocked, that relationship is likely to become even more deeply fractured. 

The European Parliament elections in June will be the most consequential yet.

2024 should be the year that sees both Brussels and Berlin start merging geopolitics with strategic thinking.

The process of EU enlargement and reform is starting in earnest. The Europeans need to seize the opportunity to make the European Union fit for the 21st century.

Whether it's about the EU's relations with developing countries or Germany's economic model, it's time to try something new.

The stakes for Europe to recalibrate its policy vis-à-vis Beijing are rising. Berlin and Brussels have more leeway than they might realize, but will need to take tough decisions.

The EU can play a key role shaping the current changes of globalization. It should keep its eye on the transatlantic relationship.

"Seizing the transatlantic moment" requires a broad effort.

In moving to help Ukraine and eventually accept it as a member, the European Union has taken a consequential step.