Defence Spending Alone Cannot Produce European Defence Integration

On the 9th and 10th of September 2025, roughly twenty Russian drones intruded upon Polish national airspace, calling for a NATO response involving air-defences from several allies – this scramble exposes how the EU relies on NATO and individual national capabilities for rapid and coordinated defences rather than a stable and unified infrastructure.

Icelanders Say “Nei” to EU Talks: Why the Push to Resume Accession Failed

Iceland voted 52.8% to 47.2% against resuming EU accession talks, as rural “no” strongholds outweighed pro-EU Reykjavik despite rising Arctic tensions. The verdict comes down to fisheries, the króna, and contentment with EEA membership, and it challenges the idea that EEA integration is just a waystation to joining the EU.

The EU Is Ceding Influence and Running Out of Time in the South Caucasus

How can the EU project real influence in a region where China, Russia, and Turkey move faster? Can Brussels balance its need for Azerbaijani gas with its own democratic principles? And what will it take for Europe to secure Armenia’s pivot to the West while preventing Georgia’s descent into authoritarian isolation?

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