At the first EPC Update of 2023, we will discuss what lies ahead. Are the EU and member states rising to the challenges posed by the geopolitical and geo-economic impact of the war in Ukraine, and what decisions will they face in the coming months? Are they doing enough to tackle energy and cost-of-living crises, or is there more to be done? How is the war affecting the Union’s relationship with the US, China and other key partners, and how much progress is the EU making towards achieving greater strategic autonomy? What are the prospects for EU-UK relations, not least in light of the war in Ukraine? And will the EU look afresh at relations with other countries in its direct neighbourhood? Is this the right moment to launch fundamental EU reforms, including institutional adaptations and treaty amendments? How important will the 2024 European elections be for this process and, more broadly, for the future of EU democracy? And can EU politicians provide the leadership required to meet these challenges and move on from more than a decade of permacrisis?