Commentaries
War against Iran: The Birth of a Genuine Geopolitical EU?
Ignoring inconvenient facts, such as the responsibility of the US and Israel for triggering the war in Iran on 28 February, has a significant impact on the role that Europe […]
European Affairs
Located in Brussels at the heart of EU political decision-making, the European Affairs Programme provides in-depth as well as policy-oriented analyses on a wide range of themes of relevance to EU and Belgian policy makers. Topics that are – or ought to be – central to the EU policy debate are given special attention. Aside from a constant focus on institutional matters, various substantive EU policies dominate the Programme’s research agenda, such as the Green Deal, the digital agenda, the consolidation of an inclusive social model, the protection of people and the defence of rights, and the promotion of Europe’s interests in the world.
The Programme also deals extensively and in a forward-looking way with the impact of the multiple crises the EU has had to address over the last decade. They all had an impact on its policies, its decision-making processes, and more generally its architecture, which is proof of the resilience of the European project.
With the aim of reaching the broadest audience possible, the European Affairs Programme seeks to share its expertise and stimulate the debate through a variety of publications as well as by organizing round tables, expert-seminars, and conferences.
Publications
Commentaries
The EU Is Talking Strategy: Make it Worthwhile
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen surprised observers and member states alike (and, apparently, High Representative Kaja Kallas) with her January announcement that the EU would draft a new European […]
Commentaries
While America Bombs, China Builds
At China’s annual Two Sessions, the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) approved the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan and set the economic […]
Reviving Democracies by Reconnecting with Reality, Meaning and Plurality
Why Arendt suggests that democratic renewal requires first and foremost a shift in practice In this paper, I argue that the contemporary crisis of democracy is not primarily a crisis […]
Temporary Protection at a Crossroads: Direct Effect, Social Assistance, and Post-TPD Legal Pathways
The activation of the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) in March 2022 marked a defining moment for the European Union’s crisis governance. For the first time, the EU deployed a supranational […]
Commentaries
Belgium Stays and Chooses Dignity, Humanity and Hope. The New 2026 Humanitarian Strategy.
The international humanitarian system is in turmoil. Armed conflict is once again becoming normalized, and the principle that “might makes right” is experiencing a troubling resurgence. International law and humanitarian […]