Located in Brussels at the heart of EU political decision-making, the European Affairs Programme provides in-depth as well as policy-oriented analyses on a wide range of themes of relevance to EU and Belgian policy makers. Topics that are – or ought to be – central to the EU policy debate are given special attention. Aside from a constant focus on institutional matters, various substantive EU policies dominate the Programme’s research agenda, such as the Green Deal, the digital agenda, the consolidation of an inclusive social model, the protection of people and the defence of rights, and the promotion of Europe’s interests in the world.
The Programme also deals extensively and in a forward-looking way with the impact of the multiple crises the EU has had to address over the last decade. They all had an impact on its policies, its decision-making processes, and more generally its architecture, which is proof of the resilience of the European project.
With the aim of reaching the broadest audience possible, the European Affairs Programme seeks to share its expertise and stimulate the debate through a variety of publications as well as by organizing round tables, expert-seminars, and conferences.
Commentaries
Our world is undergoing serious demographic shifts that are expected to increase significantly in the next three decades. The European Union will be confronted with a serious fall in fertility […]
Commentaries
Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine has changed the European Union’s attitude towards the prospects of enlargement. While in previous years, European leaders remained skeptical about the EU’s absorption capacity and […]
Commentaries
On October 9, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce sent shockwaves through global supply chains by announcing sweeping export control measures on rare earth elements (REEs), adding five new categories to […]
Commentaries
On 28 September 2025, Moldova, a former Soviet republic and EU candidate since 2022, held a parliamentary election that was more than a routine vote in Chisinau. The victory of […]
Books
Whether you’re negotiating a deal, giving a presentation, or conducting a challenging discussion, diplomatic skills are invaluable. Diplomats are skilled practitioners when it comes to negotiation, public speaking and debating. […]
The European Commission’s participatory governance framework plays a crucial role in shaping EU policies, as exemplified by the Platform on Sustainable Finance (PSF). However, the PSF’s first two mandates revealed […]