Foreign policy, security and defence

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Foreign policy, security and defence (20)

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EU enlargement in the Western Balkans

EU enlargement is on the EU agenda, but what is the actual situation in the Western Balkans? Our video provides a concise overview of the state of play in the accession negotiations, the challenges involved, and why the region is of key geopolitical importance to Europe.

integration 02/26

European Strategic culture, EU climate governance and scenarios for the EU accession process of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova – these and other topics are covered in issue 2/26 of integration.

Final report of the Spinelli Forum 2026

From an EU-Security Council to a Lithium Recycling Act and national Ombudspersons for Artificial Intelligence: The Spinelli Report presents these and other innovative policy recommendations for German-Italian cooperation on a European level.

EU Enlargement: Between Geopolitical Urgency and the Need for Reform

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has transformed the EU’s enlargement policy. At the Federal Foreign Office’s Open Day, Funda Tekin and Markus Knauf discussed how geopolitical challenges and the need for EU reform are increasingly interconnected.

“InvigoratEU Talks” Podcast – Episode 1: Toolkit for EU Enlargement

The podcast series “InvigoratEU Talks” brings together leading scholars and policy-makers from across Europe to give new momentum to the EU’s enlargement and neighbourhood policy in a changing world.

Call for Submissions: What Future for the European Continent?

The public contest explores what a wider European Union could mean for Europe’s security, competitiveness, and citizens. Until the 24th of July, we welcome submissions in three categories (written essays, poetry, audiovisual works).

Future-Proofing Europe: German-Nordic Perspectives on Security and Resilience

How Germany, Sweden, and Finland can strengthen Europe’s security and resilience through closer cooperation and how German-Nordic cooperation can shape the future of the EU, were among the key questions discussed at the Europe Talk in Berlin on 29 May 2026.

integration 01/26

Issue 1/26 of integration focusses on the EU’s climate governance, cross-border health cooperation, European security and foreign policy, and competition-compliant industrial policy.

Germany as the Main Driver of Ukraine’s EU Accession?

Pathways to Progress

The debate on flexible enlargement models, particularly for Ukraine, is gaining traction within the EU and in Germany. Together with Civil Network OPORA, IEP has analysed German and Ukrainian perspectives on the integration process and developed concrete policy recommendations.

The RESILIO-ACCESS Monitor

The RESILIO-ACCESS Monitor is an interactive data-based tool to explore rule of law resilience in EU accession countries, examining the existing rule of law capacity and potential performance if exposed to threats.

Breakfast Briefing: The Data behind Rule of Law and EU Enlargement

As EU accession talks accelerate, the new RESILIO-ACCESS tool offers data-driven insights into democratic resilience and rule of law performance. At the launch event, experts discussed what drives resilience in candidate countries.

Building a More Resilient Europe: Closing Conference of the Spinelli Forum 2026

Defence, competitiveness, energy, and AI: 60 German and Italian young leaders met in Milan from 4-6 May 2026 and developed recommendations for policymakers in working groups.

Making Rule of Law Resilience Work in EU Enlargement

Declining rule of law and growing political pressure pose new challenges to the EU enlargement process. During the online event, four authors of the RESILIO-ACCESS snapshot series examined the resilience of rule of law structures.

A Europe that Acts: Effective Decision-making on Enlargement in a New Geopolitical Era

IEP Policy Paper

EU enlargement is back on the political agenda – yet unanimity can block progress at many stages. This policy paper examines four models for qualified majority voting that could make the accession process more efficient and credible.

Call for Applications: Spinelli Forum 2026

Be part of the German-Italian Young Leaders Dialogue 2026. Discuss with young leaders from Germany and Italy about joint European challenges and the future of the EU. Deadline for applications: 08 March 2026.

RESILIO-ACCESS Snapshots

How resilient is the rule of law in EU accession countries to stress factors? Ten snapshots provide empirically based insights into key resilience resources, from judicial independence to the media and civil society.

Policy Paper: China, Russia, Turkey and their influence on EU enlargement

How might the influence of Russia, China, and Turkey on EU candidate countries develop by 2035? This also depends on the EU's commitment.

Final report of the Spinelli Forum 2025

The final report presents innovative recommendations for action from a German and Italian perspective on current European policy challenges in the areas of economics, defence, climate and Artificial Intelligence.

Yearbook of European Integration 2025

Geopolitical shifts, Trump’s return to office, a stronger security and defence focus of the new European Commission, and a rightward shift in Brussels shape the Yearbook of European Integration 2025.

integration 04/25

In issue 4/25 of integration, you can read analyses of the role of right-wing populist governments in EU decision-making processes, security cooperation among Member States, EU trade policy with China and the digital euro, among other topics.