This CapX commentary delivers a stark warning for the UK and Europe at large: British leaders may sound upbeat about the post-Brexit economy and immigration stance, but beneath the rhetoric lie real social and economic vulnerabilities. Political bravado and celebratory headlines mask structural problems like stagnant productivity, labour shortages, cost-of-living pressures and a fractured migration debate.

This IISS strategic commentary exposes a core vulnerability at the heart of Europe’s industrial and technological ambitions. As the EU pushes clean tech, defence production and digital infrastructure, it remains heavily dependent on China for critical minerals and processing capacity. Despite loud talk of “de-risking”, Europe still relies on Chinese-controlled supply chains that can be tightened or weaponised at any moment.

This CIDOB analysis questions whether the EU has lost its sense of direction by trying to balance big external ambitions with slow internal reform. Europe talks about strategic autonomy, competitiveness and global influence, but its internal economic, regulatory and institutional weaknesses make these ambitions hard to realise. The text suggests a growing mismatch: the EU wants to shape the world, but it cannot fix the fundamentals at home. If this gap persists, Europe’s global role will weaken and its economy will stagnate.

This Institut Montaigne commentary takes an outsider’s lens to how the EU handles migration – and the picture is not flattering. Rather than projecting an image of coordinated humanitarian leadership, Europe often appears reactive, fragmented and internally conflicted. The piece suggests that from abroad, Brussels looks indecisive: legal pathways are limited, border policies seem contradictory, and political divisions undermine coherence. For the EU’s global standing and internal stability, that lack of clarity and control is a growing problem.

This Institut Montaigne analysis warns that Europe’s clean-tech ambitions rest on a fragile foundation. While the EU pushes ahead with decarbonisation, much of the technology powering the green transition remains dominated by Chinese firms and value chains. Batteries, solar panels and other core components are still produced at scale in China, while European companies face barriers abroad. The risk is stark: Europe may end up financing a green transition it does not control.

This Internationale Politik commentary warns that French politics is entering a dangerous new phase with consequences far beyond Paris. Meetings between American conservative networks and French right-wing actors are not symbolic gestures – they signal a deeper transatlantic alignment aimed at reshaping Europe’s political balance. As France moves toward the 2027 presidential election, these links threaten to weaken centrist power, sharpen internal EU divisions, and inject US-style culture-war politics into the heart of Europe.

This ECFR commentary argues that the dramatic US military capture of Venezuela’s president under a revived Monroe-style foreign policy forces Europe into a set of hard political dilemmas. Washington’s intervention isn’t only about Latin America – it signals a shift toward a more interventionist and unpredictable US posture that leaves European capitals scrambling for answers.