To infinity and beyond: Following the publication of the Space Strategy for Europe in 2016 and the promise of funding for space programmes under the new long-term budget, how can the EU take a scientific and governing lead when it comes to exploring a global framework for the use of space technology?
Breaking the Dublin deadlock: While talks between Member States on reforming the Dublin system remain deadlocked, the European Court of Justice has ruled that poor living conditions should not be grounds to prevent the relocation of refugees. How should the EU respond to continued calls for reform of the asylum system, given the human rights concerns arising from current policy?
I am Here, I Belong: The UNHCR estimates that up to one third of the world’s stateless people are children. How should the EU address the issue of child statelessness and ensure that the fundamental rights of these children are respected across the Union?
Me, my pension, and I: With legislation on the Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP) laying the foundation for easier cross-border retirement savings, what should the EU do to increase financial literacy among young people to ensure they benefit from such initiatives and are better equipped to save and invest for retirement, with a long term perspective and in a sustainable way?
Euro turns 20: While the euro celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, aspects of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) still remain incomplete. With the Commission’s stated ambition of finalising the work by 2025, what further steps should the EU take to ensure a robust governance structure for the euro area?
Green investment gap: It is estimated that in Europe alone an additional €180bn in investment will be needed yearly to meet the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. How should the EU seek to bridge the private investment gap and use the financial system as a tool to reach its climate targets?
A new social contract: Following on from the publication of the High-Level Expert Group report into the digital transformation of EU labour markets, how should the completion of the European Pillar of Social Rights take into account the changing nature of work?
Clean planet for all: As students and civil society movements march for a more ambitious climate policy, the ‘gilets jaunes’ (yellow vests) movement illustrates a growing discontent among those who feel constrained in their mobility and budget by ‘green’ regulation. How should the EU look to achieve its 2030 and 2050 climate and energy targets while ensuring the transition is fair and manageable for all socio-economic groups?
Be careful what you medicate for: With antimicrobial resistance (AMR) being responsible for an estimated 33,000 deaths per year in Europe, how should Member States and the EU respond to the overuse of antibiotics?
Precautionary vs innovation principle: With some businesses calling for Horizon Europe to move away from the precautionary principle to the innovation principle, how should the EU look to balance stimulating market and scientific innovation while ensuring consumers remain protected?
TTIP repeat or clean slate: With the Council having adopted two new mandates for the European Commission to begin negotiating a trade agreement with the US, how should the EU approach the negotiations to avoid talks breaking down while not compromising its commitment to the multilateral rules-based system?
Virtual pipelines: To meet the rising demand for energy while still reaching emission reduction targets, technological innovation in the energy sector will be needed. How should the EU encourage digitalisation of the energy sector while preserving the cyber resilience of vital infrastructure?
Science and society: With citizen science listed as a key policy orientation under the current Horizon 2020 Work Programme for ‘Science with and for Society’ (SwafS), what should the shape of civic participation in science be at the European, national and local level, and how can it be best implemented?
The Digital Mind: As the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for neuroscience continues to be explored, concerns still remain on the implications for privacy, liability, consent, agency, identity, augmentation and bias. How should the EU look to develop ethical guidelines into policy to address the possible human rights implications of such technological developments?
It’s my data: Following on from the Cambridge Analytica scandal exposing the extent of commercialisation of personal data by technology giants such as Facebook, how should the EU look to respond to the remaining gaps in the system to protect its ‘people first’ approach to data and privacy?