Library blog

To mark the 20th anniversary of the European single currency, the Archives of the Council of the European Union has prepared a series of posts on the origins of the euro, bringing to light little known facts about the currency, all thanks to the rich documentation conserved in the Council’s depositary in Brussels.

This month's new titles cover migration, digital technologies, international relations, among other subjects.

The evolution of political, economic, and societal reactions towards COVID-19 effects, Herman van Rompuy tracing the values of Europe, responses to counter inflation, the results of the COP26, the 'Fit for 55' climate package, cyber threat protection, and a more strategic autonomy agenda for the whole EU external action are some of the topics covered in the Think Tank Review.

The Council recently adopted conclusions on the governance of the European Research Area (ERA) and a Pact for Research and Innovation (R&I) in Europe, setting out priorities and a streamlined governance framework for the ERA.

On 23 November the Irish Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, Ambassador Tom Hanney of Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the EU, and Maeve Collins, Director General of EU Division, visited the Council Archives to explore some of the treasures relating to Ireland’s accession to the EU.

On 2 December, the Council Library invited Oxford Analytica’s Director of Analysis, Nick Redman, and Senior Analysts Katerina Fytatazi and Mike Taylor to discuss the geopolitical risks and opportunities for 2022.

While various initiative and avenues have been introduced to further democratise the EU’s institutional architecture, the question of how to bring European citizens even closer to Brussels and encourage their political engagement remains topical and pressing – and it is this question that James Organ and Alberto Alemanno set out to answer in their 2021 book, Citizen Participation in Democratic Europe: What Next for the EU?

Following the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), please see below a selection of recent publications added to the Council Library collection. As well as climate change and energy transition, topics highlighted this month include the COVID-19 pandemic, diplomacy and misinformation.

Analysis into the European fiscal framework, policy aspects of the 2030 digital compass, escalating energy price considerations, European strategic autonomy plans, and the evolution of China's market are included in the Think Tank Review.

How will the transition to renewable energy affect the geopolitics of a world increasingly focused on security? What are the drivers of the ‘alternative energy megatrend’, and its implications for our future energy, defence, environmental and economic security challenges? The Prologue, by Alexander Mirtchev, provides answers to these questions in a sweeping exploration of the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century, through the prism of alternative energy developments.