Written by Gisela Gieger.
A key function of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is to serve for its members as a forum for the negotiation of global trade rules. However, since the WTO’s foundation in 1995, WTO members have largely failed to meet their self-defined negotiating objectives as set out in the comprehensive 2001 Doha…
Written by Ralf Drachenberg and Annastiina Papunen.
The special European Council meeting on 17-18 April will be an important step towards agreeing on the EU’s political priorities for the 2024-2029 period. The three main priorities are likely to centre on ‘a strong and secure Europe’, ‘a prosperous and competitive Europe’ and ‘a free and democratic…
Written by Albaladejo Román.
Ukraine enjoys excellent conditions for agriculture, including around a third of the world’s most fertile land. Three crops dominate the country’s agricultural production: wheat, maize and sunflower, intended primarily for export. Medium-sized agricultural enterprises lead crop production, although some companies farm as much as 500 000 hectares. This is a direct consequence…
Written by Stefano De Luca.
The emergence of quantum information science and technologies marks a pivotal moment in technological progress. As the strategic importance of quantum gains global recognition, efforts are intensifying to harness its potential while also addressing security and regulatory challenges. With China, the United States and the European Union investing heavily in…
Written by Gabija Leclerc and Branislav Stanicek.
In 2003, at the Thessaloniki Summit, the European Council set out its determination to fully support the EU perspective of the Western Balkan countries. However, in the context of relatively limited progress in implementing reforms needed to align with the EU, none have joined since Croatia’s accession in…
Written by Tambiama Madiega with Rafał Ilnicki.
Economic indicators show that the United States (US) is the front-runner for both private investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and venture capital in generative AI, followed by China. US companies are also developing most of the large languages models (LLMs) underpinning AI innovation. EU starts-up are beginning to…
Written by Laurence Amand-Eeckhout (1st edition).
On 23 January 2024, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a regulation amending Regulations (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) 2017/746, to give manufacturers time to apply the EU legislation on, respectively, medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDs) under certain conditions, without compromising safety requirements. IVDs are…
Written by Ralf Drachenberg and Rebecca Torpey.
At the March European Council meeting, discussions focussed on the war in Ukraine, security and defence, the Middle East and enlargement. With a new sense of urgency, EU leaders reiterated their steadfast support for Ukraine, calling on the Council to rapidly adopt an eighth support package for Ukraine.…
