The think tank for a more inclusive, sustainable and forward-thinking Europe. #RenewedSocialContract
Brussels, Belgium
Based in Belgium
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🚨Europe is at a crossroads.
Faced with geopolitical tension, growing security challenges and rising social inequality, Europe’s continued relevance and prosperity will come from its capacity to act with unity, clarity and confidence.
👉To meet these challenges head-on, Friends of Europe is proud to organise its annual Festival of Politics and Ideas – State of Europe, where 200+ influential figures from more than 40 countries reflect on the choices required to move from ambition to action.
Find more information about this year's State of Europe here ⤵️
friendsofeurope.org/events/s…
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📍 How can we craft a more equitable Europe for our young people? Ask them.
Each year, @FriendsofEurope brings together the young leaders shaping Europe's present to debate solutions for Europe's tomorrow.
💬In their own countries, cities and communities, European Young Leaders (#EYL40) play an essential role in reconnecting people with and rebuilding trust in politics by engaging a wider community around key policy issues.
They are facilitating civic participation in a more inclusive, sustainable and forward-looking Europe.
🗓️At the Summit in May, the #EYL40 cohort will discuss with senior decision-makers, key European actors and citizens, equipping a new generation of leaders to carry forward a common European vision well beyond Europe Day.
🔍Find more info on the #EYL40 programme here ⤵️
tinyurl.com/3p5xravf
📝Find the Summit agenda here ⤵️
tinyurl.com/vjuppfay
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⚠️Hybrid warfare, foreign election interference and under-developed defence systems — how can we keep Europe safe?
In our Peace, Security and Defence programme, we tackle questions on everything security: from how we can protect democracy while building robust defences to the lack of inclusivity in the armed forces, to how Europe can overcome enlargement stagnation.
Find here some of our key initiatives:
🇺🇦 Ukraine Initiative 👉shorturl.at/9YAGT
🔜 Balkan Journey 👉shorturl.at/uQblg
📣 Frontline Voices 👉 shorturl.at/I2Z8M
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❓Completing the Single Market is key to Europe's competitiveness, autonomy and growth - so what's holding us back?
In order to complete the Single Market by 2028, the #DelorsFoEFoundation has launched its Single Market Initiative - bringing together different stakeholders from across Europe to form a Coalition of Action and advocate with a single voice for the Single Market.
Now more than ever, Europe must have unity - because without a Single Market, we surrender our future independence.
Find out more about the Single Market Initiative here 👉shorturl.at/TrzAA
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🔜At the end of the week, Friends of Europe will deactivate this X account.
If you're wondering where you can find more of our sharp analysis, check out our weekly #CriticalThinking newsletter on LinkedIn, keeping you up to date with the latest expert insights on key policy issues shaping Europe and beyond.
Subscribe and don't miss a beat ⤵️
tinyurl.com/bdhxa47y
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📆 NEXT WEEK | How can Europe innovate and complement existing defence structures with lessons from Ukraine?
In collaboration with @DelorsInstitute, @FriendsofEurope will host an online #FoEDebate identifying Ukrainian lessons that could provide a much-needed update to Europe's defence ecosystem.
For this discussion, we are delighted to welcome our esteemed speakers:
🎙️@TomaszHusak, Director of Defence Policy @defis_eu
🎙️Marco Lotz, Governmental Relations Manager @Quantumdrones & Chair of the Ukraine Working Group @ASDEurope
🎙️@Piilaadzis, Adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence @MoD_Latvia
Register to join the debate 👉shorturl.at/KEWAT
Learn more about the event 👉shorturl.at/wjgd9
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🚨 Washington's recent aggression clearly defines an America-first worldview — but what about Europe?
In this #CriticalThinking article by Chief Spokesperson for @FriendsofEurope, @DharmendraBIG warns that Europe will only succeed if underpinned by social cohesion and a Renewed Social Contract – recognising that Europe’s social model is part of a foundation that must be strengthened, not feared.
Read the article here ⤵️
friendsofeurope.org/insights…
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🛡️Beyond the frontlines, Europe fends off internal attacks on democracy, disinformation and rising polarisation. How can we safeguard Europe's autonomy?
In this #CriticalThinking article, PDS Senior Fellow Gabor Iklody examines how Russia is waging war inside Europe, and calls for European leaders to adapt and reform in response to these hybrid threats.
Read the full article here ⤵️
friendsofeurope.org/insights…
#Ukraine #Defence
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🚨 Europe must take the fight to Russia.
Four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe is still at war — but this war is different to what we've seen in the past.
To adapt to this new hybrid warfare, we need to change our mindset.
In this video, our PSD Senior Fellow Gabor Iklody urges European leaders to accept, adapt and overcome — because this is about Europe's survival.
#StandWithUkraine
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💶If the EU had a unified financial industry everyone would benefit, but progress remains painfully slow.
In this #FranklySpeaking article, Founder of Friends of Europe Giles Merritt argues that in order to boost Europe's financial market, European leaders must first streamline it.
Read the full article here ⤵️
friendsofeurope.org/insights…
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❝The people don’t understand how it is to lose some territory. It’s like your body.❞
Today marks four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is not abstract - it is lived every day by civilians whose homes, cities and lives are under attack.
For Maryna Bratash, a Ukrainian citizen speaking from Kyiv, war is not a geopolitical debate. It is a daily reality.
Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security. The lessons of this war are urgent. Complacency will carry consequences far beyond Ukraine’s borders.
#StandWithUkraine
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🔴 TOMORROW | Join us to explore the lessons Europe must draw from Ukraine’s warfare against Russia's aggression.
Leaders across Europe must understand that Ukraine's victory represents a victory for European security, sovereignty and principles.
Tomorrow, Friends of Europe brings together a high-level panel to examine Europe's options. Because this is beyond just one country — it's about the survival of Europe.
Join the conversation👇
shorturl.at/Bl2Vh
Find out more about the event here 👇
shorturl.at/Y8Hvi
📆 NEXT WEEK | Europe must learn from Ukraine - or face the consequences.
As the war enters its fifth year, Ukraine’s ability to adapt under fire has offered Europe an unprecedented, real-time laboratory of modern conflict. At the same time, the war continues to expose structural weaknesses in Europe’s defence and resilience ecosystems.
Next Tuesday, Friends of Europe brings together a high-level panel to examine the lessons Europe must draw from Ukraine’s wartime effort and societal adaptation for its own defence cooperation, resilience and capability development
We are therefore delighted to welcome:
🎙️Sebastian Holzer, Director of Emergency Response Ukraine @GIZ
🎙️@TomaszHusak, Director of Defence policy @defis_eu
🎙️Kateryna Mykhalko, Managing Director @UxS_Alliance
🎙️Ambassador @RugeBoris, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy @NATO
Find out more about the event here 👇
friendsofeurope.org/events/4…
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🚨 Europe risks falling behind in the digital race.
High-capacity networks are no longer optional - they underpin work, healthcare, public services and national security. Fragmented rules threaten the Digital Single Market and Europe’s digital sovereignty.
Next week, @FriendsofEurope and @VodafoneGroup are hosting a key #FoEDebate gathering senior policymakers, regulators, industry leaders and civil society to explore how to harmonise rules, unlock investment and integrate Europe’s digital networks.
💡 This event will also mark the launch of @debatingeurope's latest report “Public views on connectivity in Europe”, highlighting citizens’ views on digital networks, next-generation investment, and Europe’s digital resilience in Germany, Greece, Portugal and Romania.
We are honoured to welcome:
🔸 @EnricoLetta (@DelorsInstitute)
🔸 @AlMastantuono (@EU_EESC)
🔸 Joakim Reiter (@VodafoneGroup)
👉 Find out more here: tinyurl.com/DigSM24
#Europe28 #DelorsFoEFoundation
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Europe faces demographic disaster. Its saving grace will be whether it sustains a central position in the international trading system.
In his latest #CriticalThinking article, founder Giles Merritt looks at the EU’s leadership opportunities in a world to be transformed by massive demographic convulsions.
Read the full article here ⤵️
friendsofeurope.org/insights…
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❝The Single Market must be complete by 2028.❞
Today, the Jacques Delors Friends of Europe Foundation is organising a debate with @EnricoLetta on advancing Single Market integration at a critical moment for Europe.
This event will kickstart the Foundation’s work toward a Coalition of Action to bring stakeholders together and unlock Europe’s Single Market to its full potential.
Europe cannot afford to stand still.
🔗 Learn more: tinyurl.com/2pthvpfu
#DelorsFoEFoundation #Europe28
@DelorsBerlin @DelorsInstitute
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🚨Without EU membership, Ukraine’s integrity as a sovereign state under international law cannot be assured.
In his latest #CriticalThinking article, former MEP @AndrewDuffEU outlines the three steps that the EU must take to modify existing accession rules while staying faithful to its treaty objectives.
Read the full article here ⤵️
friendsofeurope.org/insights…
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2028 is the deadline for completing the Single Market.
This week, the Jacques Delors Friends of Europe Foundation is hosting a key debate joined by @EnricoLetta on unlocking the Single Market to its full potential.
🔗More: tinyurl.com/2pthvpfu
#DelorsFoEFoundation #Europe28
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🚨Europe's youth are more at risk of poverty than the general population — and reversing the unfairness trend will be hard. How can the EU help?
This is the focus of our latest #FranklySpeaking article and a key focus of @DebatingEurope's upcoming #Voices4Choices survey. Both review the current state of affairs, point to areas of potential growth and call on Europe to urgently rehaul a broken system that weighs heaviest on its youth.
Read it here⤵️
friendsofeurope.org/insights…
Find out more about #Voices4Choices here⤵️
debatingeurope.eu/activity/v…
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⚠️ Europe’s sanctions are under attack - through private arbitration.
Last week, Friends of Europe hosted a key debate, moderated by our Senior Fellow @MGongadze, on how Cold War-era bilateral investment treaties (BITs) are being weaponised by Russian oligarchs and state-linked actors to challenge EU sanctions via Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) claims.
The debate made one thing clear: business as usual with Russia is over. Ending abusive treaties, neutralising sunset clauses and closing loopholes in sanctions enforcement are not radical steps - they are overdue acts of strategic self-defence.
Europe cannot afford to fight a war of values while losing a war of law.
Learn more here: friendsofeurope.org/events/t…
@foeeurope
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🟢 TODAY | Europe's success depends on proportionate, transparent, and innovation-friendly public procurement rules. How can we ensure this?
Today, Friends of Europe partners with @Lenovo for a #FoEDebate gathering policymakers, experts, business leaders and civil society to discuss how Europe can maintain openness, fairness, and efficiency in public purchasing while safeguarding strategic interests and market integrity.
👉Find out more about the event:
friendsofeurope.org/events/s…
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