From Protector to Bystander: Understanding France’s Declining Influence in Lebanon
In recent years, Lebanon has spiraled into crisis, marked by political instability, economic collapse, and regional tensions. Once a cornerstone of French influence in the Middle East, Lebanon now stands at a crossroads. How did France, the former protectorate power that shaped Lebanon’ s modern governance, become a mere observer?
The US has Hegemony Anxiety, why this is bad news for the EU
What does the Galactic Empire in Star Wars, House Harkonnen in Dune, and House Lannister in Game of Thrones have in common? The fear of being dethroned.
China’s Green-Technology Bid, the Western Containment Policy, and the European Green Deal
As China gambles on large-scale production and export of renewables, the West is faced with a dilemma that pits the commitment to green transition and foreign policy against each other.
Poland’s Security Priority and Its Implications for the Netherlands
Poland began its presidency of the Council of the European Union in January with inter-EU tensions in the horizon and on the verge of Donald Trump entering his second term in office but what could this presidency mean for the Dutch nation?
The Geopolitical Fallout of Trump’s Arctic Ambitions: A Return to Greenland
In January 2025, President-elect Donald Trump reignited interest in acquiring Greenland, sparking opposition from EU leaders, Greenlandic officials, and analysts, while renewing debates on Arctic sovereignty, security, and geopolitics.
Can the EU’s New Housing Commissioner Truly Address Europe’s Housing Crisis?
Does the European Commission have any tools capable of enacting change or will it be a moot portfolio?
Finland’s Border Security Act: A Contentious Precedent in the EU?
Finland, the EU member state with the longest external border to Russia, recently passed legislation against instrumentalised migration, which has been widely criticised as violating international human rights. A closer look at this issue raises the question of whether it is part of a broader change in the EU’s migration and asylum policies and if it might act as a precedent for other EU member states.
Europe’s Green Transition: Environmental Progress or Industrial Decline?
Is the EU’s push for sustainability driving industries abroad, engendering paradoxes, undermining its economy, and paradoxically increasing global emissions or is it paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future?
The EU–Mercosur Agreement: Balancing Economic Gains with Environmental Challenges
After more than two decades of painstaking negotiations, the EU-Mercosur association agreement stands at a crossroads, hailed as an economic game-changer but criticized as an environmental gamble. Can this ambitious agreement deliver prosperity without compromising the planet?
The Role of Monetary Policy in Europe’s Housing Crisis
How the European Central Bank’s monetary decisions, from ultra-low rates to rapid hikes, have shaped the housing market—widening inequalities, burdening renters, and fuelling affordability challenges.
Invisible Filters: Shadow Banning at the Crossroads of Free Speech and Competition Law in the EU
Shadow banning epitomises the complex challenges at the intersection of transparency, competition law, and fundamental rights in the digital era.
Energy, Diplomacy, and Change: The EU-GCC Partnership in a New Geopolitical Era
After decades of unsuccessful attempts at building closer ties, the EU and the GCC are now entering a new era of partnership