Europe is racing to rebuild its military strength as Russia threatens the continent and America demands that allies carry more of the security burden. But DIIS warns that governments risk paying for rearmament by hollowing out development assistance just as Washington is retreating from that field.

Britain is still behaving like the custodian of an international order that is disappearing beneath its feet. ECFR argues that Brexit, political turmoil and two Trump presidencies have badly weakened the assumptions underpinning British foreign policy, leaving the country more exposed to economic coercion and strategic dependence.

Europe knows it needs a massive investment surge to compete, decarbonise, digitalise and defend itself – but its next budget is nowhere near large enough to deliver it. Bruegel estimates that meeting the EU’s major strategic objectives will require about €7 trillion of additional investment between 2028 and 2034.

Europe is preparing to pour billions into giant AI data centres just as the technology underneath them could be changing. The EPC warns that Brussels risks confusing Silicon Valley’s current business model with the infrastructure Europe will actually need for its future AI economy.

Europe built its prosperity on openness. Now that openness is being turned into a weapon. ISPI argues that trade, investment, technology, energy and supply chains have become instruments of geopolitical pressure as the US and China compete and the rules-based trading system weakens.

France has spent 25 years measuring weaknesses in its schools – without finding a convincing way to reverse them. Institut Montaigne argues that PISA 2025 should not become another burst of national alarm followed by another round of reforms and another three years of drift.

The EU’s next budget could be agreed – and still be thrown into turmoil by one powerful member state. DGAP warns that a future French government challenging EU contributions could exploit national ratification rules, demand a rebate or, in the most extreme scenario, simply withhold part of France’s payments.