Arts For The Masses: Irish-language rap group Kneecap recently won their lawsuit against the UK government withdrawing their arts grant funding due to their anti-governmental lyrics. The lawsuit has highlighted the issue of freedom of expression and the power of art as a tool to stimulate critical reflection. Balancing the need for governmental support of the arts, and art as a form of soft power and cultural diplomacy, what could the EU do to further stimulate critical artistic expression whilst governments are the main funder of cultural expression in most Member States?
Crimes of compassion: Human smugglers are increasingly associated with violence and human rights violations, and criminal groups are known to adapt methods and routes to avoid new legislation and maximise profit. At the same time, Amnesty International has found that people across Europe are being prosecuted for helping refugees under the premise of ‘anti-smuggling’ laws. What steps should the EU take to help its residents display solidarity towards those in need, while combating criminal human smuggler groups?
Head in the Clouds: as cloud computing becomes an increasingly indispensable tool of government and business, the cloud infrastructure market is currently dominated by US providers such as Amazon and Microsoft, sparking provider dependency, data protection, and national security concerns. How can the EU and its Member States act to ensure strategic autonomy for European cloud infrastructure, limit external dependencies, and ensure data sovereignty that ensures high-performing cloud computing capabilities for its governments and businesses?
In for a penny, in for a pound: Recent reforms of pension systems towards defined contribution systems have made early adulthood an increasingly important age for accruing future pension outcome due to the impact of compounding nterest. However, with young people often engaging in non-standard work and career breaks, alongside experiencing increased financial pressure, how can young people, their employers, pension providers, competent authorities and European states work together to ensure adequate pension funding for old age and, at the same time, financially sustainable pension solutions?
Glass half-full: By 2050, the global demand for water could increase by up to 55%, and 40% of the world’s population will face water shortages. Given the essential nature of water, and the current challenges in this area facing Europe and the world, how can the EU respond to water-related challenges to protect ecosystems and ensure wash, sanitation, and hygiene services are accessible, affordable, and sustainable for all?
Protect us, don’t arrest us: Sex workers across Europe face different forms of labour exploitation such as job insecurity, lack of benefits and bad working conditions. Belgium recently introduced labour rights such as maternity and sick leave, which provides sex workers with more labour protection than ever before. With European countries all having different approaches towards sex work, how should the EU combat the exploitation of sex workers and increase their access to social and labour protections all across Europe?
Stamp it out: In a research by Eurostat it showed that in 2023 alone, there were 1.3 million reports of child sexual abuse, and the EU continues to rank highest in the world for hosting images and videos of child sexual abuse. With technological advances enabling the monetisation of child abuse and increasing the difficulty/decreasing the chance of prosecution/discovery, how can the EU respond to end child sexual abuse and protect children affected?
Pier Pressure: Seaports are not only conduits for European trade, but also hubs for research, and the development of industrial and environmental innovations. However, European ports face a regulatory environment fragmented between the European and national levels and infiltration by drug trafficking networks, hindering investment needed to keep pace with growing worldwide competition and decarbonization commitments. With this in mind, what can the EU do to ensure European ports fulfill their economic and societal potential?
Pipeline Roulette: Three years on from the invasion of Ukraine, the EU has drastically reduced natural gas imports from Russia, but gas and energy prices remain far higher than prior to the invasion, harming the competitiveness of European industry and household finances. As the EU remains highly dependent on fossil fuel imports, what actions should the EU and Member States take to guarantee both energy supply security and affordability?
Parents Without Borders: It is estimated that around two million children in the EU may face a situation where their parents are not legally recognised as their guardians when traveling within all EU member states, thus going against the EU children’s rights. With countries having different ideas and laws on the recognition of parenthood, what should European states do to ensure the rights and safety of rainbow families across Europe?
Europe’s largest ethnic minority: The Roma are the largest ethnic minority in Europe, and face discrimination and exclusion in educational and healthcare across Europe. As a champion of equality and human rights, how can the EU guarantee equal access to health care and education for this marginalised group?
Free and Fair?: Election interference is a growing concern for the health of European democracies, with elections in Georgia, Moldova, and Romania having recently seen credible allegations of meddling by foreign actors, especially Russia, and even accusations towards the platform TikTok. What steps should the EU take to ensure European electorates are not manipulated by external influence, and that democratic exercises are free of foreign interference?
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Cutting the Cord: Recent incidents in the Baltic Sea in 2023 and 2024 have seen undersea telecommunication cables, which carry over 95% of the world’s data traffic, as well as the crucial Balticconector gas pipeline be damaged by passing transport ships, sparking accusations of intentional sabotage and hybrid warfare efforts by China or Russia. What action should the EU take to ensure the integrity of its infrastructure, and limit the impact of hostile actions on its economy and security?
More than a century after the first large-scale use of chemical weapons in European soil, the continent is once again faced with the prospect of a resurgence of their use by both state and non-state actors. What steps should European states take to uphold the Chemical Weapons Convention and non-proliferation practices, so as to effectively respond to new technological and geopolitical developments, and eliminate the possibility for the re-emergence of chemical weapons?
War on words: The period since October 2023 has been dubbed ‘the most deadly period for journalists since records began’ in 1992. Alongside this, the International and European Federation of Journalists has spoken out against increasing restrictions of press freedom across Europe, such as the unlawful deployment of spyware against journalists, and the use of lawsuits (SLAPPs) to hamper investigative work. What safeguards should the EU implement to protect press freedom and safeguard journalists in conflict zones?