Views: 5
Advancing research in complex EU-wide politico-economic issues is the ultimate goal of the European Policy Center, EPC. By providing fruitful recommendations to the member states’ long-term strategic priorities, the EPC is supposed to facilitate the so-called “fresh insights” into national perspectives in dealing with major modern challenges. However, the EPCs’ work could be more active in addressing existing European priorities, as well as more popular in its presentations.
Generally, the EPC’s research agenda is “dictated” by the EU-wide political priorities that are altering with each new Commission’s College. This time these agenda items follow the recently approved short- and long-term European priorities.
More on the EU priorities in: https://commission.europa.eu/priorities-2024-2029_en; on EPC’s priorities in: https://epc.eu/en/programmes
Below are some basic data on the EPC’s main directions in research vital for the member states’ governance; we provide citations from some of the EPC’s seven priorities leaving for the readers any ideas of evaluating their actual feasibility:
= In general: on politics and integration
Differentiated integration has been part of the construction of the European Union for a long time. From the Euro to Schengen, ‘coalitions of the willing’ have often been instrumental in achieving far-reaching advances in European integration or addressing acute crises. In general, this was organised within the framework of the treaties but, at times, also outside of it, for instance when it came to the Fiscal Compact or the European Stability Mechanism. Geographically, accession functioned as a gatekeeper to the benefits of integration, excluding those that were unwilling to take on the obligations of membership from core parts of the construction.
With Europe now caught between Russia and Trump, a form of hybrid functionalism now has to become the norm. The method of integration must adapt to the realities of the current situation but, crucially, without sacrificing ambition for unity. This implies varying degrees of involvement among EU countries in different initiatives (for instance on security and defence), as well as the participation of non-EU countries. Much of this will have to happen beyond the treaties. This poses inherent risks for the European integration process and the existing institutions, but these can be minimized by careful design, for instance by constructing a supra-governmental avant-garde. Driven by necessity, such far-reaching coalitions of the willing, including EU and non-EU countries, are not a sideshow – they are the motors of European integration in the years to come.
Citation from the overview of EPC research programs in: https://epc.eu/en/programmes
= On political economy
The EPC’s Europe’s Political Economy Programme (EPE) is dedicated to covering topics related to EU economic governance, the single market, industrial and digital policies, and strategic autonomy in a context of deep geo-economic and technological shifts. The EPE has contributed actively to these debates over past years, leveraging its convening power, analysis and multistakeholder taskforce model. EPE analysts pioneered the concept of a ‘wartime economy’ following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the Programme is currently running projects focusing on the EU’s ambitions and the private sector’s capacity to deliver on the “triple” green, digital and economic security transitions. As fast-advancing components of ‘economic security’, digital and emerging technologies, such as quantum, are priority areas of focus. Linked to the changing international context, the Programme also focuses on trade policy, the transatlantic agenda, notably the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, China and the EU’s close economic partnerships (UK, EEA and Switzerland). The EPE Programme consists of a young and dynamic team, with recent recruitments bolstering analytical capacities linked to economic growth and crises, resilience and recovery, emerging tech and cybersecurity.
Citations from: https://epc.eu/en/programmes/Sustainable-Prosperity-for-Europe–European-Policy-Centre~fea38; https://epc.eu/en/programmes/Europes-Political-Economy–European-Policy-Centre~2204fc.
= On sustainability
The Sustainable Prosperity for Europe (SPfE) Programme explores the foundations and drivers for achieving a sustainable, resilient and competitive European economy.
Prospering within the planetary boundaries requires rethinking our economic model, including our production and consumption patterns, as well as our energy, mobility and food systems. It requires addressing the climate emergency and environmental degradation, as well as becoming smarter with the resources we have. The transition to the world we want must bring both businesses and people along, if it is to succeed.
The Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Agenda provide the direction for travel globally and in Europe, and the SPfE Programme engages in a debate on the drivers and the means for achieving our goals. The Programme focuses on areas where working together across the EU can bring significant benefits to the member states, citizens and businesses and can ensure sustainable prosperity within the limits of this planet.
More in: https://epc.eu/en/programmes/Sustainable-Prosperity-for-Europe–European-Policy-Centre~fea38; and in: https://epc.eu/en/search?tag=562
=On social EU and well-being
The Social Europe and Well-being Programme (SEWB) is dedicated to achieving a stronger Social Europe fit to address the social, environmental, economic and political challenges facing the Union today. It focuses on policies that prioritise strong and resilient healthcare systems; modern and inclusive labour markets; eradicating inequalities; investing in the health and well-being of people; making European welfare states and social protection systems fit for the future.
Citation from: https://epc.eu/en/programmes/Social-Europe-and-Well-Being–European-Policy-Centre~ff7e4
More on all EPC research programs in: https://epc.eu/en/programmes
Our opinion
Acknowledging all positive sides of the EPC’s research agenda, it has to be noted that the EU-wide priorities are dynamically altering, e.g. by the last year twin “opinion reports” by Draghi and Letta, have been pointing to such challenges as competitiveness and reforming the EU single market, to name a few.
More on reports in our publications: a) https://www.integrin.dk/2024/09/09/eu-wide-competitiveness-challenges-and-perspectives-in-draghi-report/; and b) https://www.integrin.dk/2024/09/27/challenging-european-priorities-alternative-commissions-features/.
Some other “issues” have appeared recently to be supposedly included into the EPC’s agenda, such as digitalisation and AI, energy security and renewables, circular and resilient economies in the member states, new “skills” union, and much more.
This why, the EPC’s research “guidelines” shall be not only more frequent but also more so-to-say-popular to be easily grasped by a wider public audience in the member states. For example, on such vital issue as political economy, there were just four publications during April, one in March and four in February…
Besides, still the main differences in political economy’s approaches between the two main present rivals (the EU and US) are not discussed and the controversies of the “sluggish EU economy” (as the EPC declared) are not revealed. In explaining the economic security issues, the EPC leaves the readers with the note: “here is no universally agreed definition, but the concept is generally understood as securing resilient value chains that can withstand shocks, while developing tools to deter rivals from undermining one’s economic interests”. Definitely, it is not what the member states’ governance can use as a “scientific recommendation”.
Reference to Varg Folkman’s article (15.01.2025) in: https://epc.eu/en/Publications/Maro-efovi-may-have-the-toughest-job-in-the-EU~60b1e8
As to “sustainable EU”, the publications’ file is even worse: all cited papers, briefs, etc. date back to 2024, 2015 and even 2011; and the examples might go on and on…