Articles and Publications

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.

The 2025 Enlargement Package highlights a clear distinction that has emerged in recent years between countries advancing on their EU accession paths through the adoption and implementation of reforms and those falling behind for various reasons. For a long time, the EU has applied a regional approach to the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe (the “Associated Trio”). It has now become evident that a more nuanced approach is necessary, as disparities are growing both among countries and within the two enlargement regions, writes Jana Faktor Juzová.

In this blog post, EUROPEUM intern Emma Šílová examines how digital exclusion continues to limit older people’s access to eHealth services in Czechia. Drawing on national data, EU and national strategies, and recent reforms in healthcare digitalisation, the article explores the barriers faced by older adults when accessing eHealth services, assesses Czechia’s performance in eHealth inclusion, and outlines policy recommendations to ensure that the digital transition in healthcare does not leave seniors behind.

On December 9th, the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute, representing the Visegrad Platform, in collaboration with MEP Miriam Lexmann and her office, organised a roundtable discussion titled ‘From Partner to Rival: How Should Europe Respond to China’s Growing Influence?’. The event aimed to explore how shifts in EU–China relations, driven by deepening strategic rivalry, economic pressures, and geopolitical uncertainty, are reshaping the EU’s strategic direction.

Since the 2015 migration crisis, the Visegrád Four (V4) countries – Poland, Hungary, Czechia, and Slovakia – have adopted strongly securitised migration narratives focused on control, sovereignty, and national identity. Although the region faces only minimal migratory pressure, migration remains a key political issue, often invoked during elections and EU-level negotiations. Yet this narrative of exceptional threat contrasts with the V4’s growing dependence on legal labour migration from third countries, driven by shrinking working-age populations, structural labour shortages, and low wages in key sectors. This paper examines these contradictions and governance gaps, focusing on the tension between securitised political discourse and economic reality.

On October 1st, the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute, representing the Visegrad Platform, opened the month with an expert roundtable discussion titled “Prospects for the EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans: A Missed Opportunity or a Strategic Turning Point?” The event explored the achievements, shortcomings, and future outlook of the EU enlargement process in the Western Balkans, while promoting an open dialogue among leading experts and policymakers in the field.

Even though the vote on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 has already taken place — and some countries are now stepping back from the contest — the core dilemma remains unchanged. This piece breaks down how Eurovision found itself at the center of global politics — and why the debate over Israel is only one chapter in a longer struggle over neutrality, reputation, and the future of the contest. Perfect for anyone trying to make sense of what’s unfolding now.

Platform work in the V4 and Western Balkans is rapidly expanding but remains weakly regulated, creating risks for workers and social systems. Authored by Silke Maes, a research fellow at the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, and financed by Stiftung Mercator, this final report calls for region-specific reforms to strengthen legal frameworks, enforcement, worker protection, and data collection, supported by broader cooperation at national and EU levels.

Na konci listopadu 2024 učinil Evropský parlament významný krok, když přijal nařízení 2024/3015, které zakazuje uvádění výrobků vyrobených za použití nucené práce na trh EU. Tento zákaz, jenž vstoupí v platnost v prosinci 2027, se vztahuje na celý dodavatelský řetězec. Vymáhání nařízení bude probíhat prostřednictvím vnitrostátních orgánů členských států a Evropské komise v případech mimo území EU. Ačkoli má opatření globální rozsah, čelí celé řadě výzev – zejména v souvislosti se Sin-ťiangem. Praktiky nucené práce v tomto regionu byly opakovaně zdokumentovány a potvrzeny jak Mezinárodní organizací práce (ILO), tak Organizací spojených národů (OSN). Zároveň je Sin-ťiang klíčovým dodavatelem solárních panelů, kritických surovin, hliníku, PVC a bavlny, přičemž nucená práce zde často probíhá formou státem organizované mobilizace mimo detenční zařízení, což její odhalení výrazně ztěžuje. Jak upozorňuje Jan Švec, výzkumný pracovník Ústavu mezinárodních vztahů v Praze, prosazování tohoto nařízení bude představovat jeden z nejsložitějších úkolů obchodní politiky EU.

In 2009, Liesbet Hooghe and Gary Marks argued that public opinion in the European Union had shifted from permissive consensus to constraining dissensus, giving mass politics a stronger role in integration than traditional theories assumed. This sparked debate about the EU’s democratic deficit – a contested concept, but one with real political effects. The gap between citizens and EU institutions has long been visible in European Parliament elections, traditionally seen as “second-order” contests with low turnout and protest voting. However, the 2019 and especially the 2024 elections broke with this pattern: turnout increased, EU issues became more politicised, and party positions more polarised. These shifts suggest that a new transnational cleavage is emerging, marking a turning point for democratic engagement in the EU, writes Csaba Stefán, a Research Fellow at the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, in his policy brief.

How can the Czech Republic strengthen its competitiveness without undermining social cohesion? This question was at the centre of the roundtable of the National Convention on the EU, held on 21 November 2025 and focused on the role of the social dimension in the context of the Draghi Report. The discussion explored the sustainability of the European social model and examined which EU instruments the Czech Republic could use to support its economic, social, and regional development. The background paper and recommendations on this topic were prepared by Klára Votavová and Carlos Gómez del Tronco.

Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) – Challenges and Opportunities, co-organized on November 17th, 2025, by the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute, the International Visegrad Fund, and the Slovak Permanent Representation to the EU, opened with reflections on 17 November—a symbolic date for Central Europe marking the pursuit of freedom, democracy, and systemic transformation. The conference brought together policymakers and experts to discuss the key strategic priorities of the forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034. The event offered an in-depth examination of issues including competitiveness, cohesion policy, innovation, and funding for science. It also underscored the importance of the EU budget in supporting Ukraine’s recovery and integration.