By: Peyo Bienabe

Reading time: 5 minutes 

On 5 October 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for stronger European trade-defence instruments. The letter was accompanied by a three pages long non-paper, intended to shape the EU's policy agenda, signalling a common Franco-German position ahead of the October European Council.

By: Leonie Elise Prange

Reading time: 4 minutes 

Following a major political shift that ousted Viktor Orbán's long-ruling administration, Hungary’s new leadership has charted a fundamentally different course for civil liberties. With authorities declaring no legal grounds to block the event, Budapest Pride is cleared to move forward, even though the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ legislative framework enacted by the previous government. 

By: Pia Ajdarovič

Reading time: 7 minutes 

In light of recent security threats, foreign invasions, and cyberattacks, EU Member States are paying increasing attention to whether they are prepared to defend themselves in the event of a major security threat. This raises the fundamental question: is mere reliance on existing defence alliances enough, or should the EU take matters into its own hands and establish a joint army consisting of forces from all 27 Member States? Three main points guide the discussion on whether the EU should have its own army: necessity, feasibility, and desirability. Or, putting it more simply: Does the EU need one? Can it actually create one? And, perhaps most importantly, should it?

By: Uma Pérez-Pla Cañellas

Reading time: 5 minutes 

Let’s imagine two 20-year-old workers, one in Spain and the other in Denmark. Both are European citizens, have access to the same Single Market, and have the freedom to work across the European Union.

Yet, if both were to lose their jobs, would they receive the same level of unemployment protection?

By: Anneke Pelzer

Reading time: 3 minutes 

The saying “money buys power” couldn’t be more accurate to capture current discussions over the Unions long-term spending plan. More so, the planning of the next so-called Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) has turned into a standoff between Member States and institutions over which direction the Union’s future should take. 

The MFF is the plan the institutions adopt to govern the European Union’s expenditures for the next seven years, with the next one reaching from 2028 to 2034. What might sound very technical and abstract is one of the highest-ranking political decisions taken in Brussels.  

By: Lavinia Tacke 

Reading time: 4.5 minutes 

It seems that as soon as a news story involves whales, its popularity goes through the roof. Whales have always captured the attention of humans and continue to do so today. Earlier this year, when a humpback whale got lost in the Baltic Sea and ended up stranded on the German coast, it became a national media phenomenon. The story about soon-to-be-called humpback whale “Timmy” (or sometimes “hope”) caught immense attention in Germany. A similar story was that of the beluga whales who were moved from a Canadian aquarium to marine parks in Spain and the United States to be rescued from euthanasia. Both stories show how the marine mammals catch immense attention and continue to fascinate us.  

Partially due to this human fascination with whales, whales enjoy a largely protected status. Other than fish, it is forbidden to hunt them in nearly every country in the world. There are only three exceptions to this prohibition of whaling: Norway, Iceland, and Japan. In these three countries, whales are still hunted for commercial purposes.  

The European Parliament has taken a historic stand for survivors of sexual violence by adopting a resolution that calls for a standardised, consent-based definition of rape across the entire European Union. With a decisive vote of 447 members in favour, 160 against, and 43 abstaining, the resolution demands that the principle of “only yes means yes” become the legal benchmark for all member states. This legislative push is a crucial attempt to address the current "patchwork" of laws that leaves many victims without protection depending on which national border they cross.

In the Western Balkans, EU enlargement is often discussed as a distant political process. But this spring, it became much more tangible: millions of euros for schools, innovation, transport, and energy projects started arriving in the region. And one country was missing from the list…

By: Olaia Mujika Anduiza, Reading time: 8 minutes

Nuclear energy has been a controversial topic since Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011). These events did not just damage reactors, landscapes, and the environment, or upend countless people's lives; they also damaged the entire idea of nuclear power for generations.

In short, there is a broad societal consensus that nuclear power is to be treated with extreme caution. Yet lately, I keep finding myself in conversations where people are genuinely reconsidering it. Not many, but more than before. 

By: Olaia Mujika Anduiza, Reading time: 4 minutes

One of the first things that usually comes to mind when we talk about the EU is the Single Market. Established following the Treaty of Rome in 1957, it is always cited as one of the Union’s greatest achievements. Rightly so, given everything it entails and what makes us unique: the famous free movement of goods, services, capital, and labour.

However, when I think about the Single Market, I see something that is constantly evolving and that generates headline after headline because it shapes various aspects of our economy and daily life. Yet many of these developments pass largely unnoticed, often only gaining attention when their broader implications become impossible to ignore.

So today, I want to take a closer look at two recent Single Market developments that, in my view, signal a particularly interesting trend in where things may be heading.

By: Aurora Dagnino, reading time: 3 minutes

How abortion is regulated in Europe differs from one state to another. For example, in states like Malta and Poland, abortion is strictly limited to cases where the life of the woman is in danger or where there are malformations of the fetus.

On the other hand, how voluntary termination of pregnancy is regulated in France should be a source of inspiration for other states. In 2024, France amended its constitution to introduce a right related to abortion. While the amendment does not explicitly grant a “right to abortion”, instead stating that the law determines the conditions under which a woman’s guaranteed freedom to have recourse to a voluntary interruption of pregnancy is exercised, it still carries significant symbolic weight.

Juliane Trabandt; 3 minutes reading time

5 years ago, if you’d asked me what I thought of a potential EU-AU free trade agreement, I would have said that in its infant form, it was a spit in the face of our agriculturalists, viticulturists, and other producers of our European primary industries. When talks broke down in 2023, it was over concerns that Australian producers would be wrongfully using the Geographical Indications for Traditional Regional Specialties, which protect the names of products with specific origins tied to a region. Could you imagine a Champagne coming from the outback, Mozzarella coming from Sydney, or Schwarzwälder Schinken coming from Brisbane? This would make not only my Mutti weep.

By: Olaia Mujika Anduiza

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

At the beginning of December, I wrote about the need to reform cohesion policy as outlined in the 2021–2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Today, I look at the European Commission’s plans to overhaul this policy, published in July 2025 alongside the proposal for the 2028–2034 MFF.

The context is key: the Commission is aiming for a budget that is simpler, more flexible, and more effective. Within this broader push, cohesion policy is set for a major redesign in the same direction.

By: Olaia Mujika Anduiza Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Lately, disputes over the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) have been making headlines. This is no surprise: the MFF, as the EU’s long-term budget, is central to economic and financial planning and shapes a wide range of EU priorities. As a result, its drafting always involves significant disagreement and negotiation between institutions, political parties, and Member States.

What did come as a surprise this year was that the Commission’s proposal aims to deeply reshape core EU policies, including cohesion policy. In fact, in this policy area, the Commission is even going against the advice of its own key experts on reform options.

To better understand how cohesion policy works today and how the Commission proposes to change it, a concise two-part series on the topic will be published. The first article outlines the current architecture of cohesion policy, while the second will examine the Commission’s proposed reforms.

Let us begin with the first.

By: Gabriel Panza Read time: 4 Minutes

The Balkan country, Albania, known for its cultural tradition of “Besa” and its stunning coastlines, has recently come into the spotlight with its progress towards EU accession. Recently, on November 17th, Albania opened its final cluster of topics needed for EU membership negotiations, covering agriculture and fisheries, food safety, and cohesion policy. This marks a significant step towards Albania’s eventual accession, as accession talks are expected to end by the end of 2027. Prime Minister Edi Rama has claimed that Albania’s accession will be completed by 2030, a claim initially met with skepticism. However, given that EU negotiation processes have gone swimmingly, Albania’s goal of accession by 2030 appears increasingly likely. But what is the history of Albania’s accession to the EU? And what kind of relationship has Albania fostered with the EU? 

By Seán Doherty, reading time: 3 minutes

The EU has, for some time now, been deliberating on how to keep funding its military support for Ukraine, as well as financing the rebuilding of the country when the war eventually comes to an end. The need for a collective European solution to this issue has been exacerbated since Donald Trump regained power in the US. Since his January 2025 return,  the President has stated several times that his nation would cut support for Kyiv if no progress on a ceasefire agreement was made. Since then, the US has halted all military and financial support, instead sending weapons only on the condition that these weapons are paid for by other NATO countries. 

By: Lavinia Tacke, reading time: 3 minutes

The Commission's proposal for the new annual budget is officially out! But now it is up to the Council and the Parliament to decide on the EU’s spending in 2026. The initial drafts aim to reinforce competitiveness, continue support for Ukraine, strengthen security and defense, and advance green and digital transitions. The draft 2026 budget includes some ambitious plans as it aims to address “recent, unpredicted developments”. However, there are conflicting opinions from the Parliament and the Council as they enter the negotiation stage.

By Gabriel Panza, reading time 4minutes 50 Seconds

Imagine a vibrant hub of economic collaboration that spans an entire continent—South America’s Mercosur is exactly that. Mercosur directly translates to the Southern Common Market and is a trade bloc that aims to boost economic integration across the region. What is its primary mission? To create a competitive field where national economies can collaborate, encourage business growth, and attract investment opportunities. Since its creation, Mercosur’s Founding members have sought to expand their markets by establishing international agreements to open their markets to all other continents. Today, this ambitious trade bloc stands tall among the top 5 world economies, forging cooperation accords with nations worldwide. As Mercosur continues its global expansion, it is not only shaping the future of trade but also opening new opportunities that could soon affect you. 

By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, Reading time: 2 min

In the context of the myriad of geopolitical events that happen very quickly, the EU’s head of foreign affairs Kaja Kallas features prominently on the international stage. For example, in her direct statements against Russia and in favour of committed (military) support for Ukraine (“The EU wants Ukraine to win this war”). She has been in office since December 2024, having the role of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. But who is Kaja Kallas and what has she done so far? Time to take stock.

By Emma Guastone (EG) & Federico Fo (ECA Maastricht), Reading time: 5:15 minutes

In recent years, the world has witnessed a considerable increase in international tensions, becoming extremely dangerous from this point of view. In this regard, acts of terrorism have become a standardized tool to increase international instability. Thus, obliging countries to look for new solutions to support counterterrorism operations. Particularly, Europe has made considerable progress when referring to European collaboration to fight terrorist threats. While most of the competences for counterterrorism are held by individual States, the collaboration among them is supported on many levels by a series of different international organizations independent from each other. Nominally, these institutions consist of the European Union (EU), the Council of Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This article aims  to explore in what way these organizations support the already mentioned collaboration.

By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 3 minutes.

Following up on the first article on the New European Commission, this piece will take a closer look at the Commissioner hearings that the European Parliament conducted in order to “investigate” the potential candidates for the New Commission. This way MEPs ensure that the candidates are fit for the job and, at the same time, that MEPs have some influence in the selection process of the Commissioners, who will then be responsible for drafting laws and setting the political agenda. However, whether the persons who are nominated for the job are actually suitable might be a secondary criterion. Strategic decisions and party politics play an important role too. In order to perform well in the hearings, the candidates have to study the entire EU legislative acquis in one month, they can get used to the process by engaging in mock hearings (although most of the nominees don’t do that, which might be a question of ego, since these mock hearings are conducted by their staff), and they have to practice a fair amount of lobbying with the MEPs. But which were the most interesting hearings?

By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 3 minutes.

Finding a team that works well together and is fit for the job is always a big challenge. But if one has to take into account preferences of third parties and the political messages attached to the team’s selection, it gets even messier. However, this is the task that European Commission President (of the current as well as the new Commission) Ursula von der Leyen had to manage when nominating her new team of Commissioners. But let’s start from the beginning.

By Tillie Morris, 6 minutes.

The re-election of the pro-European Prime Minister in Poland, Donald Tusk, stirs questions about whether the alliance between Poland, Germany, and France will be the stronghold for Europe’s future.

By Federico Fo, 6 minutes.

Maastricht set the stage for the 2024 Elections for the European Parliament. Eight Spitzenkandidaten have started their election campaigns for their European parties and faced off in a fierce debate. All eyes lie on the current Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seeking re-election for another five year term. Yet, candidates from the far left to the far right were convinced that they can halt her quest and swing the vote in their favour.

By Carlo Civitarese, 12 minutes.

Maastricht set the stage for the 2024 Elections for the European Parliament. Eight Spitzenkandidaten have started their election campaigns for their European parties and faced off in a fierce debate. All eyes lie on the current Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seeking re-election for another five year term. Yet, candidates from the far left to the far right were convinced that they can halt her quest and swing the vote in their favour. Heated Topics on Foreign and Defence Policy, EU Democracy and Climate Change will decide who will lead Europe in this time of instability and change.

By Tillie Morris and Carlo Citivarese, 8 minutes

Organised by Politico, the Maastricht debate was held on the 29th of April, and they invited seven candidates who are running for the position of European Commission president. The candidates had the opportunity to share their positions on three topics, climate change, foreign and security policy, and EU democracy chosen by young people through a Maastricht University survey. A focus of the event was to include young people in EU politics, which was evident as many student and youth-oriented associations, such as ECA, the European Youth Parliament and Studio Europa were invited to the event.

By Nora Fotini El-Awdan, 8 minutes.

On Monday, April 29, 2024, the lead candidates (“Spitzenkandidat:innen”) of eight European parties faced-off against each other at the “Maastricht Debate 2024.” The contenders presented and defended their respective visions for the future of Europe ahead of the European Parliament elections in June. The key topics of the debate were selected by Europe’s youth based on a survey conducted by Maastricht University: (1) Climate change, (2) Foreign and Security policy and (3) EU Democracy.

By Sarah Hourquet (MD) & Nurbolat Kambekov (B&Y), 7 minutes.

This article is the first in our collaboration with the Blue & Yellow, the blog of the European Career's Association. We will publish a few different pieces through various media on the upcoming European Parliament Elections happening from 6 to 9 of June 2024. So, keep a look out for this and don't forget to go vote! As this is a collaboration, two writers, one of each journal, have written this piece together.

By Kristoffer Sætre, 7 minutes.

The EU is currently sending a lot of weapons to Ukraine. But wait, aren’t member states such as Austria, Ireland and Malta neutral? Are neutral states allowed to send military aid to states in war? Read this article to answer these questions and find out more about neutrality under international law and its relevance for EU member states.