The PursEUt of Happiness: The adoption of the controversial “foreign agent law” in Georgia in May 2024, months after the country gained EU candidate status, has sparked concern among the local population about Georgia's EU accession prospects. How should the EU approach this development and assist Georgia in navigating the challenges related to democratic governance and transparency?
Farming for the future: With Europe's level of urbanisation expected to increase to 83.7% by 2050, ensuring sustainable food production and adapting to associated challenges posed by climate change becomes increasingly imperative. How can Member States implement policies to promote climate-smart agriculture practices and enhance food security in urbanised settings?
In Flames: Record-setting heat in recent months has triggered wildfires across Europe, damaging livelihoods and posing a significant threat to ecosystems. Amidst the ongoing debate surrounding the mitigation of the growing climate impact, how can the EU improve fire resiliency, adapt to heating environments, and enhance efforts to preserve biodiversity?
AIscapes: For over a decade, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has shown promising strides in developing smart cities, particularly in gaining new insights into urban environments, optimising energy management, water distribution, and more. How can Member States leverage AI to transform developing areas into smart cities, ensuring that technological advancements enhance sustainability and quality of life without compromising human values and community engagement?
An Act of Balance: As a result of escalations of Islamic extremism in Afghanistan, Iran, and more recently, Gaza, the EU has seen a surge in Islamophobic sentiments, reflecting on the social perception of the local Muslim population. How can the EU confront this harmful rhetoric in political and media discourse and foster quality intercultural dialogue in the context of current events?
Care for the Caring: Care work is considered a key factor in the gender pay gap, given that care work is largely carried out by women under poor working conditions and salaries, or informally, without any kind of payment altogether. How can the EU address these structural challenges to improve working conditions, enhance recognition, and ensure fair compensation for care work?
Unequal Before the Law: Increasing instances of offshore assets and untaxed earnings among wealthy individuals and public officials across Europe underscore the need for enhanced financial transparency and regulatory oversight. What action should Member States take to combat tax fraud, evasion, and money laundering?
Cloud Care: In recent years, the EU has prioritised digitising the health sector to streamline patient care delivery and optimise healthcare resource allocation. How can Member States maximise the benefits of telemedicine and eHealth while safeguarding human values and patient data amidst varying national regulations?
Fact or Fiction?: Despite the EU’s efforts through initiatives like the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act to regulate AI, predictive algorithms and generative AI continue to amplify human biases and spread false information, thus challenging democracies. How can the EU effectively tackle the propagation of AI-generated misinformation while safeguarding freedom of expression and other democratic ideals?