Articles and Publications

Ukraine has been trying to become part of the European Union since the Orange Revolution in 2004, while European decision-makers lacked the political will to continue the enlargement, and the process has been stagnating for many years. All this changed suddenly after the Russian aggression in 2022, after which the accession process accelerated, but now it turned to another extreme: the statements on Ukraine’s quick EU accession became too unrealistic, creating false hopes. Writes Anton Bendarzsevszkij, Director of Oeconomus Economic Research Institute, in his Policy Brief.

The year 2024 marked an important moment in the European Union's enlargement process, as it oversaw significant progress, particularly in the case of Ukraine, Moldova and Montenegro, but also persistent challenges in the case of certain countries. This paper analyses the opportunities and challenges in advancing the EU enlargement process after 2024, explores the interlink between EU integration and democratization, enlargement and EU’s internal reform, geostrategic interests and political transformation, and proposes a viable path forward for maintaining the EU’s credibility and influence in the candidate countries.

The "Resilient Europe" conference, held in Prague in October 2024, brought together leading experts from across Europe to share their experiences and best practices in dealing with threats such as Russian disinformation, hybrid warfare tactics that seek to destabilize democratic institutions and undermine public trust. This policy paper summarises the main findings of the conference into three main categories: hybrid threats, information manipulation in digital space and strategic communications. These categories encompass the wide range of measures taken by European states and institutions to ensure democratic resilience, and the paper further identifies the most pressing challenges and opportunities for future efforts. Summarised by Jonáš Syrovátka of the EUROPEUM Institute, Veronika Víchová of the Centre for an Informed Society and Nikoleta Nemečkayová of the Association for International Affairs.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, European Union (EU) enlargement has gained new momentum, bringing the topic to the forefront of political discussions. This renewed focus highlights the need to strengthen the EU’s geopolitical position and security through enlargement. However, significant challenges remain, particularly regarding the effectiveness and credibility of the current accession process. EUROPEUM Institute intern Šárka Soukupová writes in her blog.

There is a plethora of ways in which the ETS2 revenues and Social Climate Fund financing can support decarbonisation among lower-income strata, accounting for differing needs of communities, regions and countries. When addressed in a timely manner, these initiatives can both serve the green and just transition. How exactly can the Fund be allocated and what are its capacities are the guiding questions of this policy brief, written by Rebeka Hengalová as part of the Think Visegrad research fellowship.

The phenomenon of illiberalism, cornerstone to the increasingly popular concept of illiberal democracy, has steadily gained all the more traction in the global policy discussion. In the European Union (EU), the consolidation of majoritarian, nativist leaderships is leading to many Member States’ backtracking on progressive agendas and openly pursuing policies that undermine the rights of minorities and the liberal-democratic system of checks and balances. Writes Alejandro Esteso Pérez, visiting fellow at EUROPEUM Institute.

The Faroe Islands, located in the North Atlantic, have long relied on fishing as the corner-stone of their economy, shaping their economic and social identity. However, the decline in em-ployment in this sector in recent decades, coupled with the global problems of overfishing, un-derlines the fragility of this dependence. Writes intern Bára Auerová in her blog.

This paper contextualizes and analyzes data pertaining to democratic participation, institutional trust, and integration of the Visegrád Group—Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia—into the European Union twenty years since accession. This paper explores the history and functionality of the Visegrád Group as a political collective both before and during EU membership. A representative survey across the four countries provides substantive insights into the current state of EU cohesion during a critical period for the community. Writes Henry Barrett in his Policy Paper.

With the ongoing debate on EU enlargement, the question of Treaty revision to ensure the EU’s actionability in the future is on the table. While some member states believe that the current state of the Treaties is fitting for a Union of 35+ members, others call for Treaty revision before enlargement. In 2022, the European Parliament took the discussion a step further by passing a resolution suggesting far-reaching revisions to the Treaties. Writes Marek Jankovský, an intern at EUROPEUM's Brussels office.

The result from the 2024 Presidential elections has, once again, shook the foundations of the Transatlantic relationship – but to what degree, remains the question. This policy paper compiles the key insights and deliberations from the Forum, which adhered to the Chatham House Rule to protect participant confidentiality. Based on the engaging discussions, this paper offers a comprehensive set of takeaways, including actionable recommendations and a strategic “To-Do list” for the transatlantic alliance in the coming years. Writes researcher at EUROPEUM Institute Danielle Piatkiewicz and senior analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs Mateusz M. Piotrowski.

The problem of disposable electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes, is the subject of a blog by Zuzana Augustová. In it, the author describes the negative health effects, noting the easily addictive nature, especially for young people. She also looks at the environmental impact of these products, as they are made up of materials that cannot be easily recycled, and throwing them in the garbage can cause fires and leaks of harmful substances. It then uses the example of the UK to show how the government is attempting to tackle the problem through legislation, including a planned ban on their sale.

Namibia has the largest gender gap in Africa. This blog analyses the European Union's development policy focusing on the gender dimension. Critics argue that the European Union's focus on gender equality in development policy is superficial; the blog also examines whether this criticism remains valid. Simona Krammerová in her blog also highlights key issues facing women in Namibia.