The EGPP conducts research on European politics and governance at the intersection between nation-states and the European Union. Theoretically and empirically, it analyses the broad fault lines in Europe, the cleavages and tensions within increasingly polarized European societies, and how these dynamics shape political conflict and policy responses — including the challenges posed by democratic backsliding.
A Ukraine ceasefire on Russian terms is a top risk to the EU in 2025
A new report, just released by the European University Institute (EUI) and the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) charts the present landscape of conflict-related risks to the European Union: ‘Global Risks to the EU’ is the first
Europeans stand together despite crises, but view US as growing security concern
EUI-YouGov project’s “Solidarity in Europe” new survey wave reveals shifting attitudes across 22 European Union countries: solidarity towards Ukraine remains stable, with a striking shift on how the United States are perceived.
European politics and governance cannot be understood in isolation from one another. The dynamics within European societies — the cleavages, the grievances, the competing visions of the future — are the raw material of politics. How policymakers respond to these challenges is the essence of governance. Polarization is the thread that connects the two: it emerges from societal tensions, shapes political conflict, and ultimately determines whether Europe can build the consensus needed to move forward. Academic research underpins this process, providing the evidence that enables effective policy responses.
Lorenzo Cicchi
Robert Schuman Centre research fellow and EGPP co-director
Featured publication
Global Risks to the EU 2026
The first pan-European survey of expert perceptions on conflict-related threats to EU interests.
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