1. Observations

The current state of Franco-German relations can hardly be described as satisfactory or positive; it is worrying and great cause for concern: Are we in fact facing a ‘cordial disagreement’? Is this mission impossible? Not quite, but it will require courage and a return to basics.

The attempt to revive the relationship in 2019 through the Aachen Treaty failed to provide either new impetus or new objectives. The 15 points of the Aachen Agen...Lire la suite

When you live in the French region called Alsace, you often cross into Germany without giving it a second thought. For a number of workers who commute across the border, it’s even part of their daily routine. People also go there to do their shopping, to attend a concert, for a weekend away, or to seek medical treatment on the other side of the Rhine. This border, whose history has so often been marked by suffering, has, over time, become a place of passage rather than conflict. This is...Lire la suite

   In 2026, Europe is set to become an even stronger bastion for women's rights. A pioneer on the world stage, the European Union is translating its values into a set of guarantees to ensure the best possible situation for women. Behind certain regulations lies a political project with a new ambition: to transform the ethical values that form the very foundations of the European project into a tangible reality. In this area, European standards, which are always the result of discuss...Lire la suite

The question of what the Western Balkans want from the European Union is currently addressed in two different ways[1]. The Western Balkans comprise Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro[2], Kosovo, Northern Macedonia and Albania, six states that have made European integration a major national objective and are therefore at ...Lire la suite

The European Union is facing the most serious security challenges in decades. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, instability in the EU's neighbourhood, growing geopolitical rivalry, hybrid threats, cyberattacks, terrorism, organised crime and the erosion of the international rules-based order require a comprehensive and credible European response.

In this context, the strengthening of European defence capabilities is legitimate and necessary. European citizens rightly expect ...Lire la suite