The European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS) annual conference took place in Brussels on Thursday 13 November. Co-hosted by the European Commission and the European Parliament, over 200 participants gathered to debate “Europe towards 2040: Charting a course in a new era of conflict and competition”.

The speakers at this 12th annual ESPAS Conference shed light on some of the fundamental challenges Europe will face in the fields of technology, geopolitics, democracy, foresight, and intergenerational fairness. The conference explored possible scenarios for charting a course towards 2040.

The aim of ESPAS is to help European Union policymakers prepare better for the shocks and opportunities that come our way, but also to offer a structured approach with practical tools to look beyond today's challenges. This annual ESPAS conference with leading political figures, civil society representatives, policy experts and foresight practitioners offered a unique platform to bring foresight and policymaking together in a European context. It also provided a significant and timely opportunity to explore new ideas for Europe's future, and to help shape its priorities for the coming decades.