Meray Maddah
World leaders' first foreign trips reveal more than diplomatic protocol. They are carefully crafted political stories. Meray Maddah and Max Heermann analyse inaugural diplomatic journeys to uncover stability and change in global networks from Europe’s deep political integration to Trump’s break from traditional allies and Netanyahu’s pivot to Jordan Read more
Cecilia Gustavsson
The core principles of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) are to prevent a the development and acquisition of nuclear weapons, and to reach complete disarmament. But, argues Cecilia Gustavsson, without improved transparency and independent verification mechanisms, the NPT could, paradoxically, accelerate a new nuclear arms race Read more
Ivan Nagornyak
Staged integration is gaining traction to revitalise EU enlargement without lowering standards. Drawing on Ukraine’s experience, Ivan Nagornyak and Mariia Shalamberidze examine expert models and propose a structured, fair, and security-conscious approach Read more
Maksym Beznosiuk
Maksym Beznosiuk argues that Ukraine’s defence production has grown, yet remains underutilised. With EU support, joint projects could sustain Ukraine’s war effort and advance the EU’s strategic autonomy. Closer cooperation, legal alignment, and targeted investment can strengthen Ukraine’s capabilities and contribute to the EU's defence readiness Read more
Beáta Bakó
Membership of the EU no longer guarantees access to its core benefits. With funding now tied to rule-of-law compliance, aspiring member states are subject to increasing scrutiny. Beáta Bakó examines how this shift reshapes accession prospects – and why candidate countries may find themselves caught in a new cycle of disillusionment Read more
Karina Shyrokykh
Despite the war — and uneven compliance with the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement — Ukraine is striving to implement the European Green Deal. Why? Karina Shyrokykh explains how instrumental compliance with the Green Deal will help Ukraine implement the Association Agreement. Preparations for compliance with the Deal after EU accession, meanwhile, will help the country's post-war recovery, and boost its membership chances Read more
Miruna Butnaru-Troncotă
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine forced the EU to revive its enlargement agenda, but growing politicisation risks sidelining the Western Balkans yet again. Miruna Butnaru Troncotă argues that the EU's future credibility and cohesion hinge on treating Western Balkan integration just as urgently as Eastern enlargement Read more
Antoaneta L. Dimitrova
EU enlargement to Ukraine is a strategic necessity, but cannot rest on geopolitics alone. To avoid backlash, the EU must confront policy dilemmas openly, from rule of law to agriculture, and offer realistic compromises. Antoaneta Dimitrova argues that public support depends on political leaders’ ability to offer a credible narrative to counter negative publicity Read more
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