The digital landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, bringing with it new challenges and opportunities for stakeholders across the board. In line with this ever-changing terrain, the European Commission has taken a significant step towards elevating the level of transparency and accountability in the digital services realm. Through the implementation of the Digital … Continue reading Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Digital Services: A Look at the European Commission’s Public Consultation

Central Asia's historical significance stems from its strategic location at the crossroads of East and West, nestled between empires and bordering areas of conflict and insecurity such as Afghanistan, China's Xinjiang province, and Iran. While the region was largely ignored throughout the Cold War, its vitality and importance were quickly rediscovered. Uzbekistan, a former republic … Continue reading Uzbekistan: A Growing Power Between Europe and Asia

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently spearheaded a high-level gathering at COP28 to advocate for the advancement of carbon pricing and carbon markets as pivotal tools in achieving the Paris Agreement objectives. This initiative further amplifies the Call to Action for Paris-aligned Carbon Markets, initially launched in June 2023 by the European Commission, Spain, … Continue reading The Role of Carbon Pricing and Markets

On December 7th, a momentous turning point swept the South Caucasus region as the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia took a significant step towards the long-awaited peace. Their joint statement, presented by AZERTAC, demonstrates a renewed commitment to normalize relations and … Continue reading Historic Joint Statement by Azerbaijan and Armenia Marks a Path to Peace in the South Caucasus

Far-right politicians across European countries have demonstrated a tendency to leverage crises for their own political gain. The recent actions of Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer serve as a poignant illustration of this trend. Using his nation's veto power, Nehammer blocked Romania and Bulgaria from accession to the Schengen Area, despite both countries meeting the necessary … Continue reading Austria’s Veto and the Fragility of European Solidarity

The recent events in the South Caucasus region have marked a significant turning point in the long-standing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the wake of the collapse of the separatist regime in the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan, there are newfound prospects for mutual recognition of territorial integrity and regional integration. These developments have set … Continue reading New Era of Regional Integration in the South Caucasus

The European Commission has recently given the green light to an Important Project of Common European Interest ('IPCEI') that aims to promote the research, development, and initial industrial deployment of advanced cloud and edge computing technologies in Europe. This exciting new venture, named IPCEI Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI CIS), has been jointly … Continue reading EU Approves Major Investment in Next Generation Cloud Computing Technologies

In 2021, the EU experienced an increase in employment supported by exports to non-EU countries, with 30.4 million individuals finding their livelihood through this channel, marking a 1.7% rise from the previous year. This figure represents 15% of total employment in the EU, highlighting the significant role of export-supported jobs in the region's economy. Germany … Continue reading The Impact of EU Exports on Employment and Value Added

In 2022, the European Union made significant strides in research and development (R&D) investment, as revealed by the latest data published by Eurostat. With a total R&D expenditure of €352 billion, representing a 6.34% increase from the previous year, and a remarkable 48.52% surge compared to a decade earlier (€237 billion in 2012), the EU … Continue reading The Latest Trends in Research & Development Expenditure in the European Union