Following the European elections, the external threats facing the EU come back into view, whether Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the war in Gaza, economic and energy dependencies, or the climate crisis. Two separate Horizon Europe research projects have each come up with a number of recommendations for how the EU can strengthen its geopolitical power amidst these challenges: the JOINT project led by IAI and the ENGAGE project with the Carnegie Europe Foundation.

The elections for the European Parliament have redefined the political landscape in the EU. The traditional majority of pro-European political forces has been confirmed, even if with weakened proportions, and Ursula Von der Leyen will now seek a second term. However, hard right parties have gained ground in key EU member states like France, Germany and Italy, challenging the established balance of power within the EU.