European Policy Centre

🎥 Maksym Butkevich | A Voice from Russian Captivity Maksym Butkevich, a Ukrainian journalist, human rights defender, and military officer, spent over 2 years in Russian captivity. His story is one of resilience, injustice, and the urgent need for action to free the thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war still held by Russia. During the "Faces of Russian Captivity" event, Butkevich shared his harrowing experience and the reality faced by Ukrainian POWs. His testimony underscores the systematic violations of international humanitarian law and the critical role of the international community in demanding accountability and securing the release of those unlawfully detained. This event was organised by the European Policy Centre (EPC) in partnership with the ECR Group in the European Parliament, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, and the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union. #UkrainePOWs #HumanRights #WarCrimes #StandWithUkraine

📢 Commentary | A new European architecture ✍ By Almut Möller The task ahead is clear, and it is enormous: from now on, Europeans will have to build from their own resources the ability to keep Europeans safe and prosperous. The nature of this challenge requires real sacrifice. It requires significant financial, military and political contributions, as well as ground-breaking work to rebuild both the political and security architecture of Europe.  It will have to involve a rethink of the division of labour between the European pillar of NATO (if NATO survives in its current shape, which is not a given) and the EU and its members, as well as non-EU members, such as the United Kingdom, Turkey or Norway. This will take place as pre-existing internal divisions within the EU deepen further, as these will be fuelled from the other side of the Atlantic. Given that the US will leverage security for economic gain, this makes the political economy of Europe crucial.   It is very likely that not all EU members will be pulling in the same direction on these fundamental matters. That means there will be the need to form a group of countries that moves ahead decisively. This will affect the overall cohesion and purpose of the EU, but the implications of a lack of action would be far worse.  Read the full commentary here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ekHcbSkG Photo Credits: Tobias Schwarz / AFP

📢 Policy Dialogue | The Future of EU-UK Relations on Defence & Security, Trade & Investment 🗓️ Friday, 14 March 2025 | 11:30 – 12:30 📍 Rue du Trône 14-16, 1000 Brussels In the midst of the Polish Council Presidency, as security is redefined amid Trump’s shifting transatlantic stance, this Policy Dialogue will examine the evolving EU-UK relationship. Discussions will cover the prospects for defence cooperation, the reinvigoration of the pan-European defence industrial base, and strategies to make the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) more robust in light of the USA’s assertive trade policies. This hybrid event forms part of the Project Presidency, a joint series by EPC and PISM addressing key policy challenges during Poland’s tenure. 🎙️ Speakers: 🔵 Fabian Zuleeg, CEO, European Policy Centre 🔵 Przemysław Biskup, Senior Research Fellow, The Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) 🔵 Richard Whitman, Professor of Politics & International Relations, University of Kent; Senior Fellow, UK in a Changing Europe Moderator: Professor Amelia Hadfield, Professor & Head of Politics and International Relations, University of Surrey; Co-Director, Centre for Britain and Europe Register here 👉https://lnkd.in/em5zgT7b

📢 EPC Thought Leadership Forum | Roberta Metsola – A Keynote on European Security 🗓 Tuesday, 04 March 2025 | 10:00 – 11:00 📍 European Policy Centre Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, will deliver an insightful keynote addressing Europe’s evolving security challenges and the critical role of the European Parliament in shaping a robust defence strategy. Moderator: Corina Stratulat, Associate Director and Head of European Politics and Institutions Programme, European Policy Centre Register now 👉 https://lnkd.in/e_HjCKVQ

📢 COMMENTARY | If Europe wants a seat at the table, it must build geopolitical relevance! ✍️ By Amanda Paul President Trump's recent overtures to Putin are reshaping transatlantic dynamics and deepening Europe's security crisis. To avoid being sidelined, Europe must support Ukraine with real defence commitments – including security guarantees, financial support, and perhaps even troops – while recognising that NATO has safeguarded transatlantic security for over 75 years. A robust, united transatlantic alliance is crucial if we are to counter global threats; a divided West only benefits Moscow and Beijing. Key highlights: 1️⃣ Europe must counter US retrenchment by committing tangible resources to Ukraine. 2️⃣ Increasing defence spending and reinforcing NATO’s role are critical for deterrence. 3️⃣ A unified European strategy is essential to challenge global power shifts and safeguard our security. Read the full commentary here 👉 https://lnkd.in/d253MA-U Photo credits: Roman PILIPEY/ AFP

🔴 Faces of Russian Captivity Event | Mykola Kuleba Insights 🗓️ Tuesday, 18 February 2025 As Russia’s war of attrition against Ukraine reached its third anniversary, Ukrainian defenders and civilian hostages continue to suffer in captivity under appalling conditions. In a powerful video, Mykola Kuleba, Director of the Save Ukraine Foundation, offers his firsthand insights on the plight of POWs and the urgent need for their exchange. This event will also feature testimonies from families of POWs and other expert voices, shining a light on the escalating human rights crisis. For more information about the event, please follow this link 👉 https://lnkd.in/gt_8mhPw Event Partners: ECR Group in the European Parliament, Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, and the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union.

⚡FLASH ANALYSIS⚡| The Clean Industrial Deal: How to make it real? ✍️ By Stefan Sipka The European Commission’s long-awaited Clean Industrial Deal (CID) sets an ambitious agenda to decarbonise European industry while boosting competitiveness. As climate change and geopolitical pressures intensify, the CID outlines measures on lead markets, circularity, and skills – yet many questions remain unresolved. The analysis argues that to truly deliver on its climate objectives, the EU must harness digitalisation, mobilise private investments, and use all available tools to support a robust, economically competitive green transition. Read the full flash analysis here 👉 https://lnkd.in/esMZC6rj

📢 OUTLOOK PAPER | Europe in the World in 2025: Navigating a Perilous World with Realism and Ambition ✍️ By Almut Möller and co-authors The fourth edition of our Outlook Paper offers a candid assessment of a rapidly evolving global landscape. In this video, Almut Möller explains how Europe must rewire and rearm to address a world marked by geopolitical instability and shifting alliances. Read the full report to explore our comprehensive recommendations for the future of Europe 👉 https://lnkd.in/ez4u7WtX Contributors: Elixabete Arrieta, Ricardo Borges de Castro, Mihai Chihaia, Ivano di Carlo, Varg Lukas Folkman, Johannes Greubel, Dimitrios Kantemnidis, Anastasia Karatzas, Attila Kovacs, Levente Kocsis, Elizabeth Kuiper, Berta López Domènech, Iana Maisuradze, Juraj Majcin, Maria Martisiute, Almut Möller, Brooke Moore, Amanda Paul, Chris K., Svitlana Taran, Francesco Tasin, Paul Taylor, Giulia Torchio, Christopher Vandome, Raul Villegas.

📢 EPC Round-Up | Will Merz’s Germany Live Up to European Leaders’ Expectations? ✍ By Eric Maurice, Maria Skóra, Hennadiy Maksak, and Nicoletta Pirozzi Our latest round-up analyses Germany's political crossroads following the recent elections. This analysis covers key dimensions of the challenge: • Make the Franco-German engine great again? • What does Poland expect from Friedrich Merz? • What Ukraine expects from Merz’s Germany • A difficult balance to find for Italy The analysts examine whether Friedrich Merz can reignite Germany’s role on the European stage, forge stronger transatlantic ties, and lead the country towards a more autonomous EU agenda amid shifting global dynamics. Read the full article here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eTa7uGJf Photo Credits: GENYA SAVILOV / AFP

🔴 To the Point | Europe must go higher ✍ By Emma Woodford Equality is at the heart of the EU’s mandate. Discover why Europe must rise above short-term compromises to safeguard its core values. Read here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eErZpwqu #Equality #EU #HumanRights