As 2025 draws to a close, we thank the EPC’s members and friends for your trust and engagement. At a time of profound political, economic and geopolitical uncertainty, your support enables the EPC to do what it exists to do: analyse, challenge and inform European policymaking when it matters most.
The transactional turn of US politics, Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, and China’s use of economic coercion are upending assumptions about Europe’s security, prosperity and role in the world. Over the past year, EPC has sharpened its work on what a more contested global order means for Europe. Among other areas, we are driving European policy debate on:
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Economic security: The flagship Brussels Economic Security Forum is contributing to the EU's renewed Economic Security Strategy;
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Health and Societal Resilience: EPC events on Social & Affordable Housing are the most attended, and research on access to medical therapies (e.g. Ensuring patient access to transformative therapies) also attracts many policy decision-makers;
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Enlargement: A Test of Times: Permachange through enlargement and EU reform is one of our most-read publications;
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Ukraine and Russia’s war of aggression: The Language of Power podcast explores the diplomatic minefield facing Ukraine from both European and US perspectives (List to the 15 December episode);
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Liberal Democracy & Rule of Law: our Annual Conference focused on the rising threats to liberal democracy, and we foster a “Rule of Law Community” of over 40 civil society organisations.
Europe’s post-war foundations - peace, democracy, social progress, open economies and the rule of law - are being tested in real time. What once felt unshakeable now demands active defence. At a moment of declining trust in public institutions and shrinking space for civil society, independent policy debate must build a more robust democratic infrastructure.
As European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera has noted, “Think tanks like the European Policy Centre exist to hold institutions to account and keep the European dream alive.” That mission has rarely been more urgent.
From all of us at the EPC, we wish you and your loved ones a peaceful and hopeful holiday season!
Fabian Zuleeg and the EPC Management Team
European Policy Centre
