Three years ago, Ukraine was granted EU candidate status – a historic step in its rapprochement with the Union. Since then, despite the war, the country has embarked on far-reaching reforms in areas such as justice, the fight against corruption and public administration. The European Union, as a strategic partner, is playing a central role in this transformation. This analysis takes stock of the progress made, the remaining challenges and the conditions necessary for Ukraine to fully realise its European choice.

On the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement, signed on 14 June 1985 by five founding states, it is worth looking back at the history and transformations of this crucial pillar of European integration. Designed to guarantee freedom of movement within the Union, the Schengen system is increasingly marked by tighter controls at external borders. This dynamic, which fluctuates between free movement and security restrictions, reflects the challenges facing a Europe seeking a balance between solidarity and sovereignty.

As the United Nations Ocean Conference gets underway, it is important to remember that the sea is central to Europe's strategic challenges. In a world marked by the resurgence of conflict, the European Union must reaffirm the importance of its maritime dimension, both for its security and its strategic autonomy. With the world's longest maritime border, it must strengthen its naval power, industrial sovereignty and command capacity. In the face of global challenges, control of the oceans is becoming a central pillar of its strategic identity and international influence.

The European Union, which has long been in political stagnation, is now experiencing a period of acceleration in the face of recent geopolitical upheavals. The war in Ukraine, the health crisis and transatlantic uncertainties have prompted Member States to cooperate more closely, particularly in the areas of security and defence. This dynamic is based on the founding principle of concrete solidarity between nations. This text, signed by Jean-Dominique Giuliani, is the preface to the Schuman Report on Europe, the state of the Union in 2025, to be published on 3 June by Hémisphères.

Germany must position itself in a rapidly changing Europe. The European ambitions expressed by the government of new Chancellor Friedrich Merz, particularly on foreign policy issues, the ongoing quest for Franco-German compromises and the desire to involve other Member States in the development of the European Union, signal a new turning point for the country as it seeks to return to the forefront of European politics by combining its national interests with its European ambitions.

Agenda

Ukraine's path to the EU: reform, resilience and the politics of enlargement

The Schengen Agreements turn 40

The sea as a strategic interest for Europe. A European perspective on the ocean and its challenges

Europe: acceleration

The new German government: a European turning point?