Time and again, an ambitious European Commission encounters unwilling or sluggish national governments – as is the case with gender equality and anti-discrimination policy in the EU and with the budget. In the free content article in issue 3/25 of integration, Gabriele Abels and Thomas Klöckner analyse the equality and anti-discrimination programme of the first von der Leyen Commission, its implementation and the role played by the Commission President.
Tough negotiations are also expected for the upcoming MFF. The Commission's plans to restructure the EU's cohesion policy are particularly controversial. Heinz-Jürgen Axt places the Commission's new approach in the context of a development that began in the 2000s and examines the extent to which it could lead to a shift in economic policy competences towards the Commission.
Yusuf Gökhan Atak looks at Germany's role in the EU-Turkey accession negotiations during Angela Merkel's chancellorship. He argues that German politicians found themselves in an intra-role conflict during the accession negotiations: they presented themselves as defenders of the EU's fundamental values, but were divided on the appropriate political steps to take in order to fulfil this role vis-à-vis Turkey.
In the forum section, Daniela Schwarzer examines the impact of Donald Trump's second term on European democracies and outlines options for action for the EU and its partners.
Finally, Darius Ribbe discusses three publications that deal with the role of EU crises in European studies.
“A Union of Equality” – Review and prospects of Ursula von der Leyen’s presidency
Gabriele Abels and Thomas Klöckner
In 2019, Ursula von der Leyen declared “a union of equality” to be a priority of her presidency. During the term of her first Commission (2019–2024), a quantum leap in equality and anti-discrimination policy was thus initiated with five equality strategies being developed. The article analyses the programme of “a union of equality” and its organisational and operational implementation, particularly in relation to the gender and LGBTIQ strategies and new legislation. The analysis illustrates the strong role of the President as a “policy entrepreneur” and “agenda setter”, which, however, builds on previous developments and can only unfold in inter-institutional relations with the Council and the European Parliament. Finally, the article discusses the course currently set for the second von der Leyen Commission (2024–2029).
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Acquisition of competences without treaty change – EU cohesion policy after 2027
Heinz-Jürgen Axt
In July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the European Union’s (EU) 2028–2034 multiannual financial framework. In this context, new regulations for cohesion policy will also have to be adopted. It is becoming apparent that a performance-based approach will be chosen. Money will then only be available in exchange for reforms. Cohesion policy is to be linked to the European Semester and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. It remains to be seen to what extent the principles of partnership and multi-level governance that characterise cohesion policy will continue to play a key role under these conditions. It is also unclear what role regional equalisation will play in the future. There are indications that secondary law to be adopted will modify, if not undermine, the basic principles of cohesion policy enshrined in primary law. Cohesion policy is still on the way to becoming an informal economic policy. In this way, the EU appropriates competences for shaping economic policy that, according to the treaties, fall to the member states.
Germany's intra-role conflict as a defender of EU the values: The EU-Turkey accession negotiations
Yusuf Gökhan Atak
This article attempts to explore how Germany’s self-identification as a defender of the fundamental values of the European Union (EU) shapes its stance towards the accession negotiations between the EU and Turkey. It argues that, when defining the appropriate attitude in terms of the accession negotiations, Germany has been confronted with intra-role conflicts. While the German politicians frame their country as a defender of the fundamental values, they are divided over the appropriate policy steps to perform this role vis-à-vis Turkey. These intra-role conflicts, lead not only to domestic political debates, but also to oscillations in German foreign policy towards the accession negotiations.
System transformation in the US and the future of Europe’s democracies
Daniela Schwarzer
Donald Trump’s second U.S. presidency marks a turning point for Europe. The United States is no longer a reliable security guarantor, trading partner, or defender of the rules-based international order. Aggressive tariff policies, growing disengagement from Europe, and democratic backsliding are undermining transatlantic relations. Geopolitical pressures, from Russia’s war on Ukraine to China’s growing influence worldwide and conflict escalation in the Middle East, further exacerbate Europe’s vulnerabilities. With U.S. reliability in doubt, Europeans must urgently invest in their own security, diversify trade relationships, uphold the rules-based order, and bolster democratic resilience against internal and external pressures.
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