Voices from CEPS Ideas Lab

In a world of overlapping crises, from pandemics to conflict, how prepared is Europe to respond to the next health emergency?  Joining host Aoife White is Florika Fink-Hooijer, who leads the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).  Created in the wake of Covid-19, HERA is designed to ensure Europe is no longer caught off guard. From early detectio...

As Europe’s green transition faces growing political and economic pressure, can the EU stay the course on climate action?  Joining host Aoife White is Jos Delbeke, a key architect of the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS).  In this episode, Delbeke explains how carbon pricing works and why it remains central to Europe’s climate strategy. As companies c...

As Europe faces an increasingly uncertain security environment, are we truly prepared for what lies ahead? Joining host Aoife White is Sauli Niinistö, Former President of Finland, who reflects on how Europe’s mindset on security has shifted. Drawing on Finland’s long history of navigating relations with Russia, Niinistö shares practical lessons on resilience, preparedness and deterrence and highli...

In a year marked by escalating global crises, from Ukraine to Gaza, Iran to Greenland, where does Europe stand and is it still guided by the values it claims to uphold? Joining host Aoife White is Nathalie Tocci, Director of the Institute of International Affairs, who offers a candid assessment of the European Union’s role in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. While Europe has shown unexpe...

 The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was designed to protect privacy and personal data, but its enforcement has been rather lacking across Member States. Some argue that it no longer fully delivers on its original ambitions whereas others denounce it unnecessarily burdens SMEs with regulation.     Our host, Tom Parker, is joined by Paula Gurtler , Associate Resea...

Women’s health includes well-being across all life stages and while reproductive health is often the focus, there are many overlooked areas such as mental health or diseases prevention that require attention. Greater investment in these often-overlooked areas of research could yield social but also economic benefits worldwide.    Our host, Tom Parker, is joined by Cosima Lenz , associate...

The EU is going to miss its target of net-zero emissions by 2050 unless it greatly accelerates the transition to a sustainable economy. A climate bad bank is a tool the EU could use in order to smooth out the transition by directing investment to green sectors from carbon intensive industries while also providing financial stability.    Our host is joined by Nicole Reynolds , Associate R...

Pension funds play an important role as institutional investors in financing Europe's key sectors. However, their current use is limited, especially compared to more liberalised markets as the U.S. Leveraging these funds is key to give European start-ups and innovators the financial boost they need to compete globally    Our host, Tom Parker, is joined by Apostolos Thomadakis , Head of r...

Health diplomacy is undergoing significant transformations. Traditional approaches are being challenged, and we are far from reaching the health goals of the Agenda 2030. Geopolitical uncertainty has undermined the traditional multilateral initiatives, while new international donors and regional organisations are playing an increasingly important role in Global Health Diplomacy.    Our h...

Reaching Europe’s sustainability and industrial goals requires a stronger bioeconomy. Agriculture is evolving beyond food production, contributing to biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and materials that could replace traditional industrial inputs like cement. However, Europe’s strict regulations, particularly on GMOs, are seen as barriers to innovation. How can Europe remain competitive while maintaining...

Today in Europe, far-right parties are playing a prominent role whether we like it or not, as partners of broader coalitions and even as leaders in some cases. As a result, political forces must coexist with this new player and find ways of limiting its influence.    Our host Tom Parker is joined by Sophia Russack , Researcher at CEPS in the Institutions unit. Together, they discuss the...

Funding, infrastructure and fundamental research are all areas in need of focus if we want to discover the next big thing and, maybe more importantly, attract the right people capable of doing it. The European Research Council has taken steps into ensuring the continent remains a welcoming ecosystem for researchers and investigation on the global stage.    Our host Tom Parker is joined b...

  Migration has become a highly politicised area of discussion in the last decade with the refugee crisis, illegal migration and more recently Ukraine refugees. With so much movement within the European continent the EU institutions have the duty to enforce the law upon Member States and ensure migrants’ rights are respected, which is not always the case.    Our host Tom Parker is j...

While the EU’s Green Deal aims to promote sustainability, high levels of resource consumption remain a major challenge. One approach to addressing this issue is sufficiency, a concept focusing on meeting societal needs while staying within planetary boundaries. Rather than simply increasing efficiency, sufficiency emphasises the need to reduce overall demand, for example by re-using existing build...

AI and the division of Labour  Artificial intelligence is reshaping the division of labour by making certain tasks more accessible while exposing others to automation. This shift is creating new learning opportunities, changing workplace dynamics, and raising questions about job security and productivity. While some roles, such as programming and content creation, are highly exposed to AI, jo...

Citizen participation in EU policy-making remains low, partly due to the complexity and inaccessibility of the system. Digital tools offer a potential solution to increase citizen involvement, but challenges such as mistrust, accessibility gaps, and fragmentation of efforts hinder progress. This episode therefore explores how digitalisation, if implemented effectively and transparently, could stre...

Understanding how to foster economic growth across different regions is crucial to strengthening the EU’s competitiveness. The framework of evolutionary economic geography provides valuable insights into this process, explaining why some regions develop thriving industries while others struggle. Using these insights can help policymakers to foster cross-border collaboration and design policies tha...

Effective policymaking depends not only on data, but also on asking the right questions. While data science has advanced significantly, "question science" remains underdeveloped, leading to inefficient decision making and overlooked societal needs. The “100 Questions Initiative” therefore seeks to identify the most pressing issues by prioritising question formulation, for example in women’s health...

The EU’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme is an important funding tool, accounting for around 10% of total European research investment. Concerns are therefore rising over its potential absorption into a broader competitiveness fund, as this risks reducing its visibility and effectiveness.  As the U.S. and China increase their research spending, Europe faces pressure to address declinin...

The rapid development of AI has exposed significant gaps in liability laws, making it difficult to determine responsibility when AI systems cause harm. This is particularly challenging due to the "black box" nature of AI and the fragmented regulatory landscape across EU member states. One future solution may be the “Product Liability Directive”, set to take effect in 2026, which will shift the bur...

The rapid expansion of EU digital laws has created a complex regulatory landscape, with overlapping frameworks and inconsistencies across member states. This episode explores how a Digital Clearinghouse 2.0 could streamline enforcement, improve cross-sector collaboration, and address regulatory fragmentation. As businesses struggle to navigate the growing web of digital regulation, the conversatio...

The integrity of EU governance relies on ethical conduct and democratic accountability. However, gaps in transparency, a lack of enforcement mechanisms and political scandals such as Pfizergate continue to undermine this very accountability and, by extension, the trust in EU institutions. This episode therefore explores the creation of a fully independent Ethics Authority to enforce common rules a...

Given the geopolitical developments and their direct impact on the energy market, Europe is in need to look at alternatives to satisfy its energy needs, namely liquefied natural gas. This development has disrupted Europe’s move towards electrification as low carbon alternatives are still decades away from supplying the continent with the energy it needs. Europe’s response has been fragmented and u...

As global tech competition grows, Europe must secure its own digital infrastructure to reduce reliance on foreign technology and avoid economic and security risks. A European digital stack—spanning semiconductors, AI, and network infrastructure—could boost security while driving innovation, investment, and talent development.   Joining host Tom Parker is Christopher Fischer , Research Fellow...

The European Union is navigating an increasingly complex global landscape. With shifting geopolitical dynamics and growing security concerns, the question arises: can the EU assert itself as a unified geopolitical force, or will internal divisions limit its influence on the world stage? At such a “Hamiltonian moment”, the EU must carefully consider its next steps to find its place alongside global...