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  • Think tank review
  • 27 marca 2018

Think Tank Review - Issue 55/2018

Welcome to issue 55 of the Think Tank Review compiled by the EU Council Library (click to share on Twitter). It references papers published in February 2018. As usual, we provide the link to the full text and a short abstract.

Click to open TTR 55 

Issue 55 deals with a number of important topics, ranging from preparations for the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework, the role of the Kremlin's influence and disinformation in the Czech presidential elections, demographic challenges in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, German-Polish European dialogue, the EU enlargement process, and recurrent Brexit-related issues. A special focus is put on Russia following the recent presidential elections. Apart from the elections, think tanks explore the costs of Russia's foreign policy, Russia's economic footprint in the Western Balkans, as well as Russo-British relations in the age of Brexit.

The first section, EU Politics and Institutions, brings articles on the global rise of populism and the re-emergence of the far right, on the ways to reform the European Union, and on globalisation scepticism.

In section 2, Economic and Financial Affairs, one can find articles on a number of subjects, such as the ECB's interventions in distressed sovereign debt markets and the recommendations on the economic policy of the euro area under the European Semester.

Section 3, EU Member States, looks at 16 states during February, offering insightful and diverse articles on topics such as Cyprus after elections, President Macron's reform of the higher education system, Italy's defence policy, Latvian foreign and security policy, Chinese investment in Spain, and many more. The subsection on Brexit highlights human rights in relation to the UK's decision to leave, environmental law and the rocky road ahead, as well as the hotly debated issue of the consequences of Brexit for financial market law.

Section 4, EU Policies, explores issues ranging from the future of crime and politics, cybercrime to electric vehicles for smarter cities, wage progression and the gender wage gap, Europe's demographics, climate change in 2018, the ways in which Europe's education systems can boost migrant inclusion, and the role of youth organisations in better inclusion of young refugees in education, labour market and society.

In Section 5, Foreign Affairs, think tanks cover numerous topics, including multilateral peace operations and the challenges of organised crime, NATO and the opportunities for the south, PESCO, and possible French and German foreign policy initiatives.

This issue also brings many articles regarding the enlargement process and the future of Western Balkans, Turkey-EU relations, Eastern Partnership and novel solutions to resolve the conflicts in the EU's eastern neighbourhood, to name just a few. It also covers important developments in the MENA region, Central Asia, Japan, India, Latin America, China and the US, and in other parts of the world.

The Review can be downloaded from our blog. As always, feedback is welcome at [email protected].

The next Review will be out in April 2018, with papers published in March 2018.

The Library is open to all staff of the Council of the European Union and European Council, trainees, permanent representations of Member States, staff of other EU institutions and bodies, and to researchers and students. Access to some library holdings may be restricted to on-site consultation.