FEPS Newsletter 7 April 2025 – 🇪🇺 Pathway for Europe – Which way to go now?

Trade war, peace, Just Transition & more – If you have problems displaying this email, […]

07/04/2025
Trade war, peace, Just Transition & more –

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Donald Trump sent shockwaves through the global economy with his announcement of new tariffs, marking what is likely a turning point in economic history. The crucial question now is how Europe should respond, as this decision will shape the coming years. 

 

This week’s newsletter tackles these priorities, deconstructing them to avoid falling into hasty alarmist tendencies that might cause us to forget the core values on which Europe was built. 

 

In light of the ongoing unpredictability of global politics, let’s use this World Health Day to reflect on the fact that preparedness can only be achieved in a political system that prioritises everyone’s wellbeing.

News
Trade war as never seen before

Photo credit: Shutterstock / Lightspring

 

Trade war as never seen before

Commentary by FEPS Secretary

General László Andor

 

The tariffs slapped by Donald Trump on the world represent a milestone in economic history. What is claimed to be Liberation Day (April 2) brought outrage and disruption, but also retaliatory measures from a number of America’s trade partners (especially China). Read more.

The potential impact and effect of Trump's tariffs

Photo credit: Shutterstock / Kowit Lanchu

 

The potential impact and effect of Trump’s tariffs

Commentary by FEPS Policy Analyst on Economy Anna Kolesnichenko

 

As the European Union is digesting the shock of Trump tariffs and preparing its response, it is worth taking a look at the bigger picture of what is happening. This may help the EU come up with proper policy responses. Read more. 

Brussels, my love?
 

FEPS in Brussels, my love?

 

FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues and FEPS International Policy Analyst Beatriz Abellán joined the Portuguese and Spanish editions of the Euronews talk show ‘Brussels, My Love?’ to discuss the proposal of 72-hour survival kits, the potential recession triggered by Donald Trump’s new tariffs and the costs of travelling to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Why young voters are ignoring mainstream politics

Photo credit: Shutterstock / Alexandros Michailidis

 

Why young voters are ignoring mainstream politics

Published by Social Europe

 

Read this article co-authored by FEPS Policy Analyst on Democracy Matteo Dressler on why political parties are failing to connect with young voters and how they should rethink their strategies. Read more.

Events

Upcoming events

See full schedule

A common new chapter for EU enlargement
 

📅  8 APRIL

📍 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 💬  EXPERT MEETING

A common new chapter for EU enlargement

The European political cycle that began last year has brought a shift towards the political (far) right. This changing political landscape, along with Donald Trump’s re-election as US President and its impact on the geopolitical balance, is affecting the EU’s enlargement policy. This meeting will bring together experts to debate the future of EU enlargement in this new context, focusing particularly on the role of youth in the candidate states’ development, as well as the role of European nationalist and far-right forces in the enlargement process. Find out more.

>
Day of Progressive Economic Policy 2025
 

📅  9 APRIL

📍  BERLIN, GERMANY

Day of Progressive Economic Policy 2025

The new European Commission and the incoming German government are facing unprecedented challenges: an industry in need of a major upgrade, geopolitical and security threats, and internal threats from the far right. Yet outdated economic ideas are resurfacing, endangering workers, well-being and the planet.

 

This annual Congress brings together top-level policymakers and thinkers to shape bold, progressive policies and investments for Germany and the EU. Read more. 

>
Roadmap to the next MFF 
 

📅  11 APRIL

📍  FEPS HQ

💬  EXPERT MEETING

Roadmap to the next MFF 

Supporting Just Transition and cohesion

This year’s Territorial Just Transition stakeholder meeting will  bring together a diverse range of actors (civil society, decision-makers, experts, regional campaigners, etc.) involved in just transition to discuss the implications of current EU policy development for just transition and cohesion in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and EU funding mechanisms. More info.

>
Trade, trust and transition
 

📅  23-24 APRIL

📍  WASHINGTON DC,

       USA

💬  EXPERT MEETING

Trade, trust and transition

Progressive Economics Network 2025

Held in the fringes of the 2025 World Bank Group/International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings, the discussions of this meeting will centre around trade, the changing US-EU relations and strategic partnerships for sustainability, including three main sessions on:

  • The emerging trade regime: Aligning on shared objectives
  • Guns or butter? Balancing priorities in the transatlantic relationship
  • The geoeconomics of sustainability: Forming strategic partnerships

Read more.

>
Europe in the turtle trap
 

📅  23 APRIL

📍  FEPS HQ

💬  EXPERT MEETING

Europe in the turtle trap

Defence spending alone will not protect us
As the EU is shifting its approach towards military spending and with funding for international cooperation increasingly being questioned, how can the EU and its member states continue to prioritise conflict prevention and peacebuilding in fragile states? 

 

During this event, FEPS and GPPi will discuss the EU’s role as a global peace actor, focusing on funding mechanisms for conflict prevention in the current MFF discussions, identifying key gaps and opportunities. Find out more.

>
Podcast

FEPS TALKS PODCAST

Creating and keeping peace

With John Karlsrud and László Andor

 

🎧  Spotify | Apple Podcast | Website

Listen to the podcast

Peacekeeping expert Prof. John Karlsrud analyses the ongoing European debate on establishing and maintaining peace in Ukraine. He presents concrete proposals for the composition of peacekeeping forces in the region and clarifies why the United Nations could not have been more instrumental during the last 3 years of war. Additionally, he strongly advocates for EU enlargement and examines Europe’s institutional landscape, emphasising the enduring relevance of organisations like the OSCE and the growing importance of newer platforms such as the EPC.

 
Progressive Post
Serbia's students roar

Photo credit: Shutterstock / Marko Dimic

PROGRESSIVE PAGE

Serbia’s students roar

By Adnan Ćerimagić

 

Students in Serbia have been protesting for over 100 days, bravely calling for the rule rule of law and challenging Vučić’s regime. So far the EU’s response has been too weak. It is time for the EU to stop whispering, speak loud and act! Read more. 

PROGRESSIVE PAGE

Greenland in the line of fire

By Ulrik Pram Gad

 

US President Donald Trump’s increasingly aggressive attention threatens Greenland’s long quest for self-determination. Now Greenlandic leaders appeal to Europe for backup. Read more.

Greenland in the line of fire

Photo credit: Shutterstock / Stig Alenas

Thirty years after the 1995 Beijing declaration was put in place, setting out an ambitious vision for gender equality and as we reflect on progress at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, the picture is mixed. There have been undeniable strides forward – yet, troubling regressions threaten these hard-won gains. Today, we must ask: how far have we really come? And what must we do next to safeguard and accelerate gender equality? Read more. 

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In the media

« La souveraineté numérique européenne est un défi d’ordre civilisationnel »

by Le Monde 15/11/2025
"European digital sovereignty is a challenge for civilisation as a whole". In an opinion piece in the newspaper Le Monde, FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues shares her concerns about European digital dependence on American and Asian giants

When Algorithms Undermine Democracy: Europe’s Wake-Up Call

by Social Europe 11/11/2025
Maja Fjaestad and Simon Vinge, co-editors of FEPS book "Algorithmic rule", wrote this op-ed on the power of algorithms and how they threaten the foundations of democratic oversight

Los mapas de las fronteras internas que alimentan el voto ultra en Europa

by El Confidencial 13/10/2025
"The internal border maps that fuel the far-right vote in Europe" - FEPS Secretary-General László Andor discusses the impact of cohesion policies on social inequalities and the rise of the far-right across Europe in this El Confidencial article.

Migranti: Amato a FEPS — “Socialisti e populisti fomentano ossessione”

by Avanti! 29/09/2025
“Migrants: Amato to FEPS — ‘Socialists and populists fuel obsession’” News article in Avanti! where Hedwig Giusto, FEPS Head of International Affairs, critiques how both populist and some socialist political forces are stoking fear around migration. Giusto calls for balanced migration policies that respect human rights, reinforce solidarity among member states, and reject securitarian obsessions.