How to think about a Le Pen presidency of France
Le Pen is racing into the French presidential election, even with a fraud conviction hanging over her campaign. Europeans should begin preparing for the rupture her victory could bring
Policy alerts
Twin track: How to move Ukraine’s EU accession along
The lifting of the Hungarian veto opens up new opportunities for Ukraine’s and Moldova’s EU accession
Musk’s war on European democracy: How to open up X and fight back
The EU should apply two remedies to address political interference via X
Why half-measures won’t solve Europe’s data-centre energy crisis
Demand for electricity and grid access is surging as AI and data centres expand. European policymakers must urgently set energy-performance standards and keep their low-carbon transition goals on track
As the US midterms loom, the Republican choice is surrender—or lose
A loyal voter base is allowing Trump to dominate the Republican Party and strengthen his control before the midterms. Now his sidelining of Congress is weakening the traditional checks on presidential power
Romania’s government collapse is a trap with no easy exit
Ilie Bolojan’s toppling in a no-confidence vote has exposed Romania’s fiscal and political insecurities. Rebuilding the country’s pro-European coalition could bring stability, but at the expense of further populist backsliding over the long term
Striking reversal: How Europeans should react to Trump’s missile cancellation
Trump’s troop cut in Germany punishes Merz and halts America’s missile plans. Now Europe needs to accelerate its sovereign long-range strike capabilities and forge new defence partnerships
Radev’s way: What Europe can expect from Bulgaria’s new political constellation
Bulgarians have overwhelmingly voted for Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party to take power. Radev has espoused the benefits of EU membership, but Europeans should be wary of his pro-Russia rhetoric
The morning after: Lessons from Poland for a post-Orban Hungary
Hungarians have a new leader who promises to heal the country after 16 years of democratic backsliding. Lessons from the Polish experience suggest this is easier said than done
Making peace last: Steps for Europeans to support the Iran-US ceasefire
After threatening catastrophic escalation, Trump has agreed to a temporary ceasefire with Iran. Europeans need to use this moment to urgently push for a more lasting peace