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?’.

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 increasing presence of Chinese connected vehicles on the European market has heightened concerns about cybersecurity risks, particularly regarding their potential use for surveillance, espionage, and cyber operations. Discussions on this issue frequently draw on regulatory approaches and risk assessments developed elsewhere, most notably in the United States. Yet China itself has established one of the most comprehensive regulatory and technical standardisation frameworks for connected vehicles worldwide, writes Paulina Uznaska.

Are you a student interested in European politics? Would you like to be involved in the running of the Prague office of a leading Czech think tank or in its communication activities right in the heart of Prague? At the EUROPEUM Institute, we are looking for students for a six-month internship in our organisational and communications team!

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.

Andrej Babiš se chystá k návratu do čela české vlády — a spolu s ním i výrazný a nevyzpytatelný hráč evropské politiky. Jeho ambice měnit EU, sliby o vypovězení migračního paktu či emisních povolenek a důraz na osobní vazby mezi státníky znovu otevírají otázku, zda se přidá k lídrům jako Robert Fico a Viktor Orbán, nebo zda nakonec překvapivě naváže na umírněnější kurz svého předchůdce Petra Fialy. Pro zpravodajský podcast Seznam Zpráv 5:59 hovořil Viktor Daněk, výkonný zástupce ředitele a vedoucí pražské kanceláře Institutu EUROPEUM.

Join us on 1 December for a debate from the series “What’s New in the European Parliament?”, where this time we will focus on the EU’s 2040 climate targets.

We warmly invite you to Monday’s programme of the Enlargement Forum conference, featuring a series of discussions on the lessons of past EU enlargements, the role of women in accession processes, and the importance of reconciliation in European integration.