By: Georg Vobruba
NextGenerationEU (NGEU) is not the first EU bond programme of the European Commission, but it differs significantly from all its predecessors in terms of volume, earmarking, and issuance technique. The reactions on the capital market show great interest in bonds issued by the European Union, and this speaks for the continuation of the European Commission's debt competence as well as the formation of new institutions for its management. The expectation that NGEU offers an instrument against problematic developments in individual EU member states might work in the same sense, but nevertheless, EU community debt is not a panacea for all kinds of problems, argues the author of this Policy Brief. Against this background, he analyses the interests working towards a stabilisation of debt competence and the question of whether community debt could be the appropriate mode of financing for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

By: Andrei Tiut, Ana Maria Teacă
The European integration process and EU accession represent a turning point in Romanian emigration. Between 2001 and 2016, Romania’s emigrant population increased from 1.3 million to 3.6 million, or even 4 million. Almost 20% of the people born in Romania no longer live in the country but predominantly in Italy, Germany, and Spain. Emigrants leave Romania for shorter or longer periods of time in order to obtain better wages or to study. They send back remittances, and when they return, they bring new skills and attitudes. If Romania wants potential emigrants to remain and perhaps migrants to return, then it must become a more welcoming and inclusive country, conclude the authors of this Policy Brief. The authors analyse both the positive and negative consequences of migration, shift the focus to the future impact, and recommend that authorities, academia, and think-tanks work harder to better understand the new diaspora.

By: Fiona Kelmendi
Visa-free travel for Kosovo will start on 1 January 2024. The fact that Kosovars will be able to travel freely in the EU is not only a major benefit for the citizens of both sides but is also very important when advocating for youth empowerment in Kosovo. Over half of Kosovo’s population is under 30, whereas the current key indicators relating to human capital development are very low, with education outcomes being the most concerning. In order to give young people the tools to thrive, targeted interventions in the education system are urgently needed, as education is a key factor in individual empowerment. Against this background, the author of this Policy Brief discusses youth empowerment by addressing the main challenges in education and includes short-term as well as long-term policy recommendations for nurturing civic participation and building a progressive society that will lead Kosovo into the 21st century.

Von: Wolfgang Benedek
Die bereits mehr als 70.000 registrierten mutmaßlichen russischen Kriegsverbrechen in der Ukraine bedürfen ebenso wie die Vielzahl gravierender Menschenrechtsverletzungen einer fachgemäßen Dokumentation und rechtlichen Verfolgung. Für die Verfolgung der Täter bestehen verschiedene Ansätze, die vom Internationalen Strafgerichtshof über die nationalen Staatsanwaltschaften bis zu Vorschlägen für ein Sondertribunal für das Verbrechen der Aggression reichen, das jedoch trotz Unterstützung durch die Europäische Union nur schwer zu realisieren sein wird. Zu dieser Schlussfolgerung gelangt der Autor des Policy Briefs, der in seinem Beitrag unter anderem analysiert wie die Verantwortlichen zur Rechenschaft gezogen werden können, was die Prioritäten aus Sicht der Bedürfnisse der Opfer wären und welchen Beitrag Österreich in diesem Zusammenhang leisten könnte.

Von: Kurt Bayer
Die wirtschaftspolitische Steuerung der Europäischen Union ist seit mehreren Jahren mit einer Vielzahl an neuen Herausforderungen konfrontiert. Diese reichen von der Finanzkrise über die Pandemie und deren Bekämpfung, dem zunehmenden Klimawandel bis hin zu einer Energie- und Inflationskrise, wobei letztere durch den Krieg Russlands gegen die Ukraine verstärkt wurde. Auf alle diese Krisen haben die EU und die Eurozone mit neuen Instrumenten reagiert. Der Autor des Policy Briefs analysiert die europäische Krisenbewältigung und formuliert Handlungsempfehlungen für eine Neuorientierung der EU-Wirtschaftspolitik.

By: Philipp Heimberger, Andreas Lichtenberger
The member states of the European Union need to increase public investment to transform the energy and transport system and achieve climate targets. This necessity is also highlighted due to the geopolitical circumstances surrounding the war in Ukraine, in particular the price increases caused by fossil fuels. Current public spending is not sufficient to successfully fight climate change, argue the authors of the Policy Brief. They analyse the prospective reform of EU fiscal rules as announced by the European Commission, suggest the establishment of a permanent EU investment fund for climate and offer policy recommendations.

By: Daniele Fattibene, Federico Castiglioni, Matteo Bonomi
The Sustainable Development Goals are an ambitious benchmark that the United Nations has adopted to scientifically assess the advancement made by single countries in sustainable growth. The European Union fully embraces these objectives and is recently anchoring to these international standards many of its plans on sustainability and development. Indeed, even though the Copenhagen criteria do not explicitly mention environmental goals, the political dialogue on the Sustainable Development Goals between Brussels and all the EU candidate countries today is vibrant but not much investigated. The authors of this Policy Brief aim to shed a light on the relationship between Sustainable Development Goals and the EU policy of enlargement, focusing the attention on the Western Balkan region, and provide policy recommendations to both European and national decision-makers.

By: Dominic Maugeais
The European Union’s enlargement policy towards the Western Balkans aims at promoting democratic reforms, good governance and economic transformation to support the countries in fulfilling the Copenhagen Criteria, as precondition for a future EU membership. This policy reflects the democratic values that are fundamental for the functioning and cohesion of the EU as a political system. The author of this Policy Brief claims that the social dimension of the enlargement policy should be strengthened, and a credible enlargement perspective should be ensured to improve the overall social and economic development outlook in the region. The socio-economic policy of the EU member states towards the Western Balkans is not long-term oriented, the author argues and proposes policy shifts to make it more sustainable.

By: Inva Nela, Gresa Smolica
Today, the Western Balkan region suffers from high unemployment rates especially among youth, brain drain, high migration rates, low levels of trust in public institutions, devastated health systems, weak economies and harmed environments. The European Union’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans aims to boost the long-term recovery, economic development, accelerate a green and digital transition, foster regional cooperation and convergence with the EU. However, not enough attention has so far been given to the next generation, argue the authors of this Policy Brief. In their analyses they focus on the mechanisms in place and the space offered to ensure youth participation in sectoral policy-making, provide recommendations for increasing involvement of young people and establishing more inclusive and youth-friendly policies.