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This briefing document maps the current state of negotiations regarding changes to the ETS2 emission allowance system proposed by the European Commission. The text is based on an expert roundtable discussion held on January 16, 2026. The discussion was attended by representatives of the European Parliament and the Commission, experts from Czech ministries, employer associations, companies, and regional organizations, as well as specialists from the non-profit sector, research institutes, and academia. The primary objective of this material is to bring necessary expert depth to the debate on the future form of ETS2 and to help the public and key stakeholders better navigate this complex topic, which will fundamentally affect not only household budgets but also key economic sectors. The authors of the text are our research fellow Rebeka Hengalová, analyst Kateřina Kolouch Grabovská (Fakta o klimatu), and researcher Tomáš Protivínský (IDEA at CERGE-EI).

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Prime Minister Robert Fico's visit to Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago did not yield any official results, yet Fico presented it at home as a significant diplomatic success. Analyst Martin Vokálek comments on the meeting, considering Fico's foreign policy unreasonable and claiming that "Slovakia risks being torn apart in all four directions."

Martin Vokálek, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, points out that the European Union should respond unanimously to Donald Trump's statements regarding possible pressure on Denmark in connection with Greenland. He believes that the EU should confirm its common position at the upcoming summit and send a signal that it rejects the use of economic threats as a tool of political pressure. At the same time, he emphasizes that the Union should prioritize dialogue but be prepared to use legal instruments to protect its interests if pressure is actually exerted.

The year 2026 will bring new challenges for the European Union. Join us on 12 January 2026 to discuss them at a debate from the series ‘What’s New in the European Parliament?’.

The Chinese electric vehicle market is slowing down as government support is gradually being reduced and domestic demand weakens. Chinese manufacturers are increasingly seeking to export their vehicles abroad, including to Europe, which may influence future EV prices and intensify competition for European carmakers. However, analysts stress that this does not indicate a collapse of the Chinese market, but rather a consolidation in which only the strongest players will survive, giving Europe time to adapt its electric mobility strategy. The article was commented on by Filip Křenek, analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute.

The prospects for ending the war in Ukraine in 2026 remain uncertain, shaped by global geopolitical dynamics from Washington to Beijing. While risks include wavering U.S. commitment, European political fragmentation, and growing Russia–China cooperation, Ukraine also faces important opportunities, particularly through deeper integration with the European Union and a stronger role in Europe’s security architecture. Commented by Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute.

As the European Union has significantly stepped up its political, institutional, and financial support for strengthening defence capabilities across the Union in recent years, the paper examines how the V4 countries rely on the levers of the “Europeanisation” of defence—particularly through European funds and frameworks for defence industry development. This aspect gains particular importance in early 2025, when the European Commission will assess national programmes submitted under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative for joint loan financing and decide on the allocation of funding for joint production, research, and development projects across European and partner defence industries, writes Tamás Csiki Varga in his policy paper.

The aim of the project is to provide access to reliable information about the European Union and its enlargement process in the Armenian social media environment.

This project aims to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s NATO accession, which occurred on March 12, 1999. Anchored in the historic context of NATO’s formation on April 4, 1949, the primary goals of the campaign are to celebrate this significant milestone, effectively communicate the tangible benefits of Czech NATO membership to the public and cultivate a deeper understanding of NATO and U.S.’s pivotal role in safeguarding the nations and Central and Eastern European security. Additionally, the project’s goal is to underscore the strength and benefits of the U.S.-Czech partnership.

Despite high energy prices, geopolitical uncertainty, and growing international competition, the Czech automotive industry remains in relatively strong shape. Production levels in 2025 remain high, with Czechia recording one of the strongest year-on-year growth rates in Europe. The sector’s resilience is driven by its flexibility, high factory utilization, and growing success on European markets, particularly in electric vehicles. The article was commented on by Filip Křenek, analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute.

Europe is closing out 2025 in the same strategic debate that defined its beginning, albeit now under conditions of significantly heightened uncertainty and tension. The continent is striving to define its own strategic autonomy while simultaneously seeking a response to the diplomatic “blitzkrieg” coming from Washington, even as decisions are still being made on the terms of a just peace in Ukraine and on the future security architecture of the wider European space. Rather than actively shaping its own framework for the post-war order, however, the European Union is increasingly confined to a reactive role, write Eva Rybková and Maria Gorbatova.