Global Policy Center participated in a briefing session at the European External Action Service (EEAS)

On 4 December, the Global Policy Center participated in an EEAS Briefing titled "A New Europe in a World of Variable Geometries: A Conversation with Enrico Letta, Catherine de Vries, and Ilke Toygür" held at the EEAS Headquarters in Brussels. The session gathered more than 350 officials from EU delegations worldwide, offering a timely reflection on Europe’s strategic direction in an increasingly fragmented global landscape.

Panelists underscored the need to strengthen Europe’s strategic capacity through fiscal reform, deeper capital markets integration, cross-border infrastructure, industrial coordination, and stronger institutional leadership. They also highlighted the importance of adopting a flexible integration model where groups of willing member states can move ahead on key priorities.

Speakers noted that the current U.S. administration is not only unpredictable but is redefining the terms of the alliance. This is why Europeans should empower their partnerships in the world, not only with trade agreements, but also with issue-based partnerships to advance global interests. Furthermore, the speakers underlined the role of partnerships as an enabler of European competitiveness.

This engagement aligns with the GPC’s ambition to strengthen its role as an institution for policy-relevant research and strategic convening with European institutions. Through our Future of Europe program, we examine the political, economic, and institutional drivers shaping Europe’s strategic capacity. Our global research agenda complements this work by assessing geopolitical trends and their implications for European policymaking. By combining analytical insights with high-level dialogue, we aim to support a more resilient, forward-looking, and strategically autonomous Europe.