European Strategic Policy Unit
Euro Prospects — Think Tank
European Strategic Policy Unit
ESP is Euro Prospects’ dedicated think tank. We produce forward-facing, policy-actionable analysis on European strategic sovereignty across defence, technology, trade, energy, industry, and digital infrastructure.
“Europe is facing one of its most consequential geopolitical dilemmas in nearly a century. Whatever policy trajectories are chosen now will have immense ramifications on Europe’s role in tomorrow’s world.”
Policy Briefs
Free and open access — no paywall.
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Reshaping the EU’s Trade and Industrial Policy To Protect Emerging Critical Industries
Policy Brief 30 June 2026 Trade & Industrial Strategy Reshaping the EU’s Trade and Industrial Policy To Protect Emerging Critical Industries By Finn Sands Robinson Download Full Brief (PDF) ↓ Read Online ↓ Series 1, Brief No. 4 · Editor: Matilde Minetti · Unit Head: Francesco Bernabeu Fornara The EU has identified the critical industries…
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Green Electrification Diplomacy: A Credibility Test for the EU
Policy Brief 28 June 2026 Energy Connectivity Green Electrification Diplomacy: A Credibility Test for the EU By Juan Carlos Leunissen Download Full Brief (PDF) ↓ Read Online ↓ Series 1, Brief No. 3 · Editor: Rimsha Arif · Unit Head: Francesco Bernabeu Fornara The EU’s external energy partnerships will be credible only if they create…
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Towards A Coordinated Framework Out of Europe’s Gas Dependency
Policy Brief 26 June 2026 Energy Market Resilience Towards A Coordinated Framework Out of Europe’s Gas Dependency By Rimsha Arif Download Full Brief (PDF) ↓ Read Online ↓ Series 1, Brief No. 2 · Editor: Juan Carlos Leunissen · Unit Head: Francesco Bernabeu Fornara Europe’s grid system cannot function without gas-fired plants that are becoming…
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Beyond Trade Defence: Europe Needs a Strategy Against Chinese Overcapacity
Policy Brief 24 June 2026 EU–China Strategic Competition Beyond Trade Defence: Europe Needs a Strategy Against Chinese Overcapacity By Matilde Minetti Download Full Brief (PDF) ↓ Read Online ↓ Series 1, Brief No. 1 · Editor: Finn Sands Robinson · Unit Head: Francesco Bernabeu Fornara China’s industrial overcapacity is creating a competitiveness trap for the…
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Migration Alone Won’t Solve Europe’s Labour Problem
Migration has long been framed as the solution to Europe’s labour shortages and demographic challenge. Yet why do millions of jobs across the EU remain unfilled even as many working-age migrants remain underemployed or excluded from the labour market? Europe’s labour problem is becoming less about labour supply and more about its ability to absorb…
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Why China Cannot be Europe’s Alternative to the US
Europe risks trading one dependency for another if it treats China as a shortcut to economic security amid U.S. trade uncertainty.
Founding Statement
Europe is facing its most consequential geopolitical dilemmas since the end of World War II. Whatever policy trajectories are chosen now will have immense ramifications on Europe’s role in tomorrow’s world. The EU, as Europe’s political embodiment, must set the continent on a course of strategic sovereignty with a goal of safeguarding its foundational values.
Our Mission
The European Strategic Policy Unit (ESP) is Euro Prospects’ (EP’s) dedicated think tank. It exists to produce provocative and policy-actionable analysis on European strategic sovereignty, contributing to the debate on how the EU can strengthen its position across all critical fields, including trade, defence, technology, finance, energy, industry, health, and digital infrastructure.
ESP within Euro Prospects
ESP is one of EP’s seven sections but operates with special independence and a unique format, mission, and agenda. It produces EP’s highest quality content. Unlike EP’s editorial section, ESP only produces think-tank material (recommendation-based policy briefs, not journalistic articles), its membership is uniquely selective, and is EP’s flagship policy face.
The Founding Cohort
We bring together 10 analysts—students and young professionals—to provide fact-driven policy solutions to Europe’s strategic challenges.
Giulia Convertini
Digital Systems Sovereignty
Finn Sands Robinson
Trade & Industrial Strategy
Rimsha Arif
Energy Market Resilience
Matilde Minetti
EU-China Strategic Competition
Orla Harris
Digital Infrastructure Sovereignty
Jerfi Wigley
Supply Chain Resilience
Annika Gerbig
Defence Industrial Autonomy
Trinabh Banerjee
Strategic Digital Security
Luka Okropirashvili
Eastern Neighbourhood
Juan Carlos Leunissen
Transport & Energy Connectivity
Headed by Francesco Bernabeu Fornara, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Euro Prospects
Follow ESP’s Work’s Work
Our policy briefs are published free of charge. Follow Euro Prospects on LinkedIn to receive new briefs as they are published and to join the debate on European strategic sovereignty.
