Think Tank

This European implementation assessment supports the European Parliament's implementation report on the EU Youth Strategy (EUYS) 2019-2027 prepared by the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT). Part I of this study examines recent European Commission developments on the EUYS, Parliament's oversight of the EUYS, and the results of consultations. Part II of the study examines EUYS implementation at the EU level and in six selected Member States, drawing on the most recent ...

In the context of a severe crisis in transatlantic relations linked to United States (US) President Donald Trump's designs on Greenland, the European Council President, António Costa, convened an informal dinner meeting with EU leaders on 22 January 2026. The EU's determined and united response to the US threats contributed to their de-escalation. As the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, put it, the application of four key principles – 'firmness, outreach, preparedness and ...

This briefing examines whether the Commission’s 16 July 2025 MFF package can credibly support social mainstreaming in the EU budget and a results-oriented approach aligned with the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR). It benchmarks the proposal against recent BUDG and CONT studies and briefings and flags gaps relevant for parliamentary oversight and legislative scrutiny. It argues that the proposed tracking logic conflates tagged spending and narrow delivery metrics with “results on the ground ...

The 'datafication' of everyday life and various data scandals have made the protection of personal data an increasingly important social, legal and political topic for the European Union (EU). Privacy and data protection are recognised as fundamental rights in EU law and were strengthened when the Lisbon Treaty came into force in 2009, giving the EU a stronger legal basis for updating its data protection and privacy system. In 2012, the European Commission began reforming the outdated framework. ...

According to the Flash Eurobarometer 528 survey, released in December 2023, 81 % of Europeans believe that foreign interference in our democratic systems is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. The current geopolitical tensions highlight the following dilemma: while international cooperation calls for the involvement of third countries in the EU debate, this might also carry the risk of foreign interference in EU policymaking, through coercive, covert or deceptive means. On 12 December 2023 ...