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Dear Readers,
Standing with Ukraine is one thing. Being ready to welcome it into the EU is another. As EU leaders meet today, our new policy brief, “Close Allies, Distant Views”, puts this gap in focus. Miriam Kosmehl, Daniela Schmidt, and Florian Bochert show that Ukrainians see their actions as defending Europe and are willing to bear these costs to join the Union in the future. Yet most EU citizens do not support Ukraine’s accession in the coming years. These findings underline why political leaders must explain, repeatedly and in plain language, how integrating Ukraine serves their citizens’ own interests. Greater mutual understanding is equally essential: both sides need to engage with each other’s expectations and concerns, rather than assume that solidarity alone will pave the way for membership.
The European Council meeting’s trade debate is particularly timely following Maroš Šefčovič’s visit to China and the Franco-German push for stronger trade defences. Etienne Höra assesses Europe’s available instruments in his new policy brief and, in Carnegie Europe’s Taking the Pulse, explains why sustaining pressure on Beijing requires sharing the costs of retaliation.
On the EU budget, Lucas Resende Carvalho argues in EU Perspectives that the proposed Competitiveness Fund should prioritise European impact, while cohesion policy helps less-developed regions compete. Anna Heckhausen examines the Irish Presidency’s proposed cuts, which hit new priorities hardest—and put net contributors in a difficult position. The proposal is already available to explore in our EU Budget Navigator.
Best wishes,
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Malte Zabel
Director, Europe’s Future Programme
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While Ukrainians see their fight against Russia as defending Europe, most EU citizens do not support accession soon. The findings from a new eupinions survey-based policy brief by Miriam Kosmehl, Daniela Schmidt, and Florian Bochert points to a need for greater mutual understanding and public debate.
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Policy Brief | Your Guide to Europe’s China Shock Trade Debate
China’s industrial policies are putting growing pressure on European industries, forcing the EU to reconsider its trade relationship with Beijing. This policy brief by Etienne Höra examines the difficult choices facing Europe: trade defence measures risk Chinese retaliation, while inaction could further weaken Europe’s industrial base, competitiveness and economic resilience.
Explore Europe’s trade defence options
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Taking the Pulse: Can the EU Stare Down China on Trade?
As the EU takes a tougher line on trade with China, the real test may come when Beijing retaliates. In Carnegie Europe’s Taking the Pulse Etienne Höra contributes his view that Europe’s ability to sustain economic pressure will depend on how it shares the costs among member states. Without mechanisms to cushion those hit hardest, internal divisions could weaken the EU’s negotiating position.
Read the expert analysis
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Interview | EU’s New Fund Could Decide Who Builds Europe’s Next Industries
The EU’s proposed €234 billion Competitiveness Fund could reshape how Europe supports strategic industries. In EU Perspectives, Lucas Resende Carvalho discusses the tension between funding the strongest projects and ensuring regional balance, arguing that the fund should prioritise European impact while cohesion policy helps less-developed regions compete.
More on the Competitiveness Fund
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Ireland’s EU Budget Proposal: New Priorities Face Cuts
The Irish EU Council Presidency has proposed €159 billion in cuts to the EU’s next long-term budget, hitting competitiveness, security, and external action hardest while leaving agriculture and cohesion largely untouched. Anna Heckhausen explains why this puts Germany and other net contributors in a dilemma. The new budget proposal data are also already added to our new EU Budget Navigator.
Catch up on the EU budget
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