09 September 2026
If Enlargement Fails, So Will the Union
After a serious delay, von der Leyen's pre-enlargement review is now scheduled to appear in time for the meeting of the European Council on 15-16 October. One may regret that Iceland did not have the benefit of hearing her views before its botched referendum on 29 August. The Commission will repeat its customary exhortations for more differentiated integration and enhanced cooperation; it will plead for greater recourse to abstention, particularly in foreign policy decisions. But that will not be enough to save the EU's institutions, already in bad repair, from seizing up entirely under the pressure of enlargement. Continue reading >>
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21 July 2026
Parade of Fear
Since May 2026, Russia’s war against Ukraine has entered a new phase. Ukrainian long-range drone operations are increasingly reaching targets deep inside Russian territory, following a familiar pattern of war: sooner or later, it returns to the place from which it was launched. Whether these attacks will prove to be a strategic turning point remains unclear. One consequence, however, is already visible. The war is beginning to affect Russia’s state rituals and commemorative practices. Continue reading >>
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28 May 2026
Towards an “Associate Membership” Status for Ukraine?
In a recent letter addressed to the Cypriot Council Presidency and the leaders of the European Commission and the European Council, German Chancellor Friederich Merz proposed a status of “associate membership” for Ukraine. This “innovative solution” is presented as an intermediate step towards full membership. Whereas the political inspiration of Merz’s proposal is clear, its translation into practice raises significant questions. Continue reading >>26 January 2026
How Ukraine Should Join the European Union
The European Union is ill prepared for the new world of geopolitical competition. It faces grave external threats, some from unexpected quarters, and struggles to be united in its response. Eurosceptic and nationalist forces continue to obstruct the EU's internal reform. But there are external challenges, principally Ukraine, that will not disappear by the charm of inaction. If a sovereign Ukraine is to be salvaged, it must be admitted to EU membership, and quickly. Continue reading >>23 January 2026
Kreditaufnahme statt Konfiskation
Am 14. Januar 2026 veröffentlichte die Europäische Kommission eine Reihe von Legislativvorschlägen, um die Vergabe eines 90-Milliarden-Euro-Darlehens der EU an die Ukraine zu ermöglichen. Seit dem EU-Gipfel vom 18. Dezember 2025 steht fest, dass dieses Darlehen durch eine Kreditaufnahme der Union am Kapitalmarkt finanziert werden soll, nicht durch den Einsatz der russischen „frozen assets“. Diese Form der Finanzierung muss sich in den Rahmen des geltenden Primärrechts fügen. Aus europaverfassungsrechtlicher Perspektive spricht einiges dafür, die Kreditaufnahme im Eigenmittelbeschluss der Union zu verankern. Continue reading >>
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23 October 2025
The Pathologies of the Reformist Zeal
On 14 October 2025, the Venice Commission issued an Opinion No. 1247/2025 concerning the anticipated changes to Ukrainian judiciary legislation. The Opinion criticizes the proposed judiciary reform for being disproportionate or even erratic experimentation. Indeed, Ukraine’s judiciary reformers never rest – but perhaps that’s the problem. This blog post argues that a more measured, constructive path forward to proceed with the judiciary reform is now essential. Continue reading >>
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25 September 2025
Reparationsdarlehen für den Wiederaufbau
Die Debatte um die Finanzierung des Wiederaufbaus der Ukraine hat wieder Fahrt aufgenommen. Am Samstag beriet Brüssel über ein Reparationsdarlehen für die Ukraine, das aus eingefrorenen russischen Vermögenswerten finanziert werden soll. Neben dem Reparationsdarlehen stehen der EU zwei weitere Optionen offen: Beschlagnahme und Konfiskation. Beide stoßen jedoch an völkerrechtliche bzw. praktische Grenzen. Juristisch tragfähig hingegen ist das Reparationsdarlehen, mit dem die EU der Ukraine nicht zuletzt dringend benötigte Mittel bereitstellen kann. Continue reading >>04 September 2025
The Feasibility of Security Guarantees for Ukraine
The question of possible security guarantees is at the heart of current efforts to end the war against Ukraine. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff stated on 17 August 2025 that “the United States and other European nations could effectively offer Article 5-like language to cover a security guarantee,” which would serve as a trade-off for Russia’s insistence that Ukraine should not be able to join NATO. This has brought the term “Article 5-like protection” into focus. The feasibility of such a guarantee appears impossible given legal and practical obstacles. Russia is demanding untenable concessions from Ukraine in exchange for its consent. The prospect of a credible deterrent is also missing, which is why the entire process appears to be the Russians playing for time. Continue reading >>
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03 September 2025
The School Bell That Rings for War
On 1 September, known in Russia as Knowledge Day, thousands of schoolchildren were once again welcomed back with the ringing of the symbolic first bell, marking the beginning of new school year. However, this school bell does not toll for knowledge or peace. Instead, it symbolizes how Russia has transformed schools into factories for transmitting state-sponsored propaganda to younger generations. In this blog, I explain how Russia is strategically weaponizing the educational system to raise a militarized generation of subjects that accepts and embraces the normalcy of war. It seeks to achieve this goal, inter alia, through military training and involvement of children in the production of combat equipment; obligating teachers to teach state-mandated falsification of history; and forcing cultural assimilation of Ukrainians living in occupied territories. Continue reading >>
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08 July 2025