When Icelanders asked themselves what the European Union had to offer them, they concluded that the economic and security benefits of EU membership were not as obvious as the negative consequences for their identity and sovereignty. On 29 August, Icelanders rejected the resumption of EU accession negotiations: 52.8% against, 47.2% in favour, on a turnout of 82.5%. The margin was just under 13,000 votes. The result almost mirrors Brexit (51.9% against 48.1%) and the Norwegian

What restrictions does the 21st sanctions package impose on Russia? The EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia became the second such list approved by the Council of the EU this year. The package covers increased pressure on: the banking and cryptocurrency sector; Russia's energy revenues, including the establishment of a price cap on oil; the 'shadow fleet' and oil refining; the military-industrial complex and drone manufacturers. It also provides for an expansion of exp

Since assuming the presidency in 2017, Emmanuel Macron has energetically promoted the idea of European ‘strategic autonomy,’ a concept deeply rooted in French international relations theory. It envisages, among other things, the expansion of pan-European collective security mechanisms that would ultimately minimise the role of the United States. Despite the general difficulty of implementing this concept, Paris made substantial progress on one of its key aspects in March 2026

Throughout Trump’s second term, his administration’s policies towards Ukraine, russia, and transatlantic alliances have been unpredictable and sometimes contradictory. The recently-released National Security Strategy attempts to outline a coherent vision for America’s new relationship with the world. The two-and-a-half pages on Europe are perhaps the most notable part of this vision, with the document’s harshest criticism reserved for its closest allies. Europe is portrayed a