Europe’s southern border in Lampedusa: migration, crisis and the responsibility of the European Union

This paper explores the European Union’s response to irregular migration across the Central Mediterranean, with a specific focus on the Italian island of Lampedusa as a key entry point. It examines how the EU balances border security, migration control, and humanitarian obligations within the broader framework of international humanitarian law, refugee law, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Through an analysis of EU actions including border operations, partnerships with third countries, and emergency response mechanisms, the paper investigates whether current policies genuinely protect the rights and dignity of migrants or whether they reflect a securitised and externalised approach to crisis management. Lampedusa serves as an example for understanding the broader tensions and contradictions in EU migration governance.

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Renegotiating Alliances: Trump’s America’s first foreign policy and the European Union’s quest for strategic autonomy

In light of Donald Trump’s second administration and its transactional America-first foreign policy, this paper considers the implications for European strategic autonomy amid the heightened importance of US security commitments and defence capabilities. Trump’s foreign policy is driven by the belief that Europeans have taken advantage of the US within the NATO alliance and international trade, and seeks to renegotiate trade agreements, returning manufacturing to the US and shifting its strategic orientation towards Asia. In the short term, this can constrain Europe’s strategic autonomy, as European capitals are pressured to accommodate the America-first agenda to ensure the US retains vital military capabilities in Europe and continues to provide military support to Ukraine. However, in the long term, the Trump administration’s pressure on allies to spend more on defence and a degree of ambiguity over security commitments reinforces the need for European strategic autonomy and accelerates the development of capacities that enable Europe to pursue its interests more independently.

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The High Representative of the Union (HR/VP) and the new Commissioner for Defence and Space: Necessary Cooperation for the Future of the European Defence Union

The recent appointment of Andrius Kubilius as the first-ever Commissioner for Defence remarks the importance of the industrial defence strategy for the Commission Von der Leyen II. However, the complementarity between this new portfolio and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/ Vice President of the European Commission (HR/VP) is still uncertain. Overlaps and conflicts of competence could undermine the role of the HR/VP and cause unnecessary delays and upset among the Member States. This leads to two fundamental questions: Where are conflicts likely to emerge between these roles, and what mechanism can push forward better coordination to strengthen European defence?

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From PESCO to EU Battlegroups: Poland’s Role in Advancing EU Land Force Interoperability

This study investigates Poland’s role in enhancing EU land force interoperability through its participation in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and the EU Battlegroups initiative. Drawing on Poland’s strategic geopolitical position and its leadership in PESCO projects, this paper highlights contributions to mobility, cybersecurity, and rapid response capabilities. Poland’s leadership in EU Battlegroups, including the Visegrád and Weimar groups, underscores its commitment to EU defence frameworks despite operational challenges, such as political discord among allies. Findings reveal Poland’s dual role in bridging EU and NATO defence efforts, emphasising military modernisation and shared standards. This study concludes that Poland’s proactive engagement is vital for advancing European defence capabilities and fostering strategic autonomy in an evolving security landscape.

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Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Warfare

New artificially intelligent technologies are being developed and becoming crucial for commercial, economic, and scientific progress. The defence sector is adopting AI to enhance security, using it “for repetitive tasks to free up security staff for projects that require human ingenuity” (Murugesan, 2022, p. 4), and “NATO Member States have already started to invest in this technology” (Carlo, 2021, p. 269). While AI offers benefits, it brings “dramatic changes in the strategy, operational art, tactics and doctrines of the warring sides” (Ploumis, 2022, p. 1) and may increase cyber-attack threats (Kline et al., 2019). AI is expected to impact “the conduct of warfare, bring new capabilities into being, and alter power equations” (Singh Gill, 2019, p. 169). This paper explores how AI affects conflicts, focusing on its benefits, risks, and implications for military cooperation, technological compatibility, and ethical considerations.

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