In 2026, the enlargement of the European Union is establishing itself as a geostrategic lever based on gradual integration and strict conditionality. The success of the process depends on a balance between results-based funding, the reversibility of gains in the event of democratic backsliding, and targeted internal reforms of voting procedures. The aim is to transform political promises into concrete achievements for Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans, while preserving the cohesion of the single market.

French agriculture is undergoing a profound crisis marked by multiple protests, a decline in its European competitiveness and a historic trade deficit forecast for 2025. This situation is the result of a series of health crises, national regulations deemed excessive and an inability to adapt to low-price markets in the face of international competition. The sector is also under pressure from free trade agreements, such as Mercosur, and CAP reforms that threaten to reduce direct aid. Recovery will depend on structural modernisation, better water management and increased use of biotechnological innovations.

The European Union faces multiple hybrid threats, yet its response remains overly focused on military matters, to the detriment of civil resilience. Despite massive investments in defense, economic, social, energy, and digital vulnerabilities weaken the continent's overall security. An integrated doctrine based on anticipation, protection, prevention, deterrence, resilience, and recovery is needed to respond to systemic shocks. The challenge is to build a truly sovereign Europe by rebalancing priorities, strengthening coordination, and embedding resilience at the heart of common policies.

The European Union faces increased global competition to attract highly skilled workers, who are essential to innovation and economic competitiveness. To address this, on 29 January it launched a new strategy to develop Europe's talent pool and become more attractive than other global hubs for skilled immigration. Strengthening Europe's attractiveness therefore means better integrating skilled immigration into innovation, employment and international partnership policies and simplifying the rules and processes for attracting the talent and skills Europe needs to strengthen the competitiveness of the European economy.

Hybrid threats, which originate externally but have internal effects, are testing the European Union's ability to adapt its internal security policy. They blur the boundaries between internal and external security, between national and European competences, and encourage convergence with organised crime. The challenge is to develop a coherent, operational and coordinated response without diluting responsibilities.

Agenda

What the European Union and its Member States can truly achieve by 2026

The decline of French agriculture in Europe

Towards a sovereign and resilient Europe: the urgent need for a comprehensive security doctrine

Skilled immigration and the competitiveness of the European Union: attractiveness and policy options

Hybrid threats: from geopolitics to internal security