The Priorities of the Next EU Commission

The new European Commission has taken shape during a period of significant geopolitical unrest. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine approaches its third year with no signs of abating as Russia continues to build its arsenal with assistance from North Korea. The United States prepares for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, ushering in a new era of uncertainty in the transatlantic relationship with worries about tariff threats and questionable security commitments. In the European Union, numerous challenges await the Commission from the rising cost of living and housing shortages to ensuring more clean energy and migration management. These challenges are further compounded by broader environmental, security and economic shifts. In this Forum, our authors look at some of the priorities for the European Commission for 2024-2029 and beyond. How can the EU prepare itself for the uncertainty of a possible global trade war? What should the EU do about its Eastern Neighborhood expansion plans that have continued to stall? How can industrial policy help to create a Single Market for defence goods? What should be the priorities of the Commission with regards to the financial sector? This Forum examines these questions deeply and offers recommendations.