The EU-VALUES Network (EU Research and Education Network on Foreign Policy Issues: Values and Democracy) unites 21 leading higher education institutions from Europe and beyond to enrich the debate and deepen understanding of values and democracy in the EU's foreign policy.
Comprising nearly 100 academic experts from six continents, this coalition was formed with a focus on scholarly excellence and inclusiveness, emphasising gender equality and geographic diversity. Our network recognises the urgent need to bolster the EU's external legitimacy as a force for good amid global challenges.
European Values, Climate Policy and the Green Backlash: A Conversation with Catherine E. De Vries
European Values, Climate Policy and the Green Backlash: A Conversation with Catherine E. De Vries
Prof. Catherine E. de Vries (Bocconi and IE University) reflects on whether climate protection still stands as a core European value—and how resilient EU climate policy remains amid growing political pressure. Watch now to learn about:
How the European Union has embedded climate commitments into its internal agenda and external climate engagement.
Whether the EU is facing a green backlash under the second von der Leyen Commission and what this means for climate ambition in 2025.
How far-right parties are shaping the political debate around climate action, costs, and public support.
What the backlash could mean for the European Green Deal and the EU’s credibility as a global climate actor. - What it would take to make EU climate policy more politically sustainable in the years ahead.
This conversation with de Vries explores the intersection of values, power, and political contestation at a critical moment for Europe’s climate future.
Now Playing on the European Dialogue Podcast:
From Backsliding to Building: Philanthropy’s Role in Europe’s Democratic Crisis – with PHILEA
What does it take for philanthropy to defend democracy, and is the sector rising to that challenge? Sevda Kilicalp and Nils Luyten from PHILEA - the Philanthropy Europe Association reflect on how democratic backsliding is unfolding across Europe, and what funders can and should do about it.
Drawing on their newly released 2025 Democracy Briefer for Funders, this conversation explores the emotional and structural drivers of polarisation, the quiet legal forms democratic erosion often takes, and why younger generations are losing faith in democratic institutions. Sevda and Nils invite us to think seriously about philanthropy's role in sustaining civic space — and what it means to build shared democratic narratives in an increasingly fragmented world.
Understanding Right-Wing Populism in Europe & How to Respond with Prof. Daphne Halikiopoulou
What is driving the rise of right-wing populism across Europe, and what does the evidence actually tell us about how to counter it? Professor Daphne Halikiopoulou unpacks the economic, cultural, and political forces fueling populist movements across the continent, challenging the simplistic narratives that too often dominate this debate.
Drawing on her co-authored research with Professor Tim Vlandas, this conversation explores why populist parties succeed in some contexts and fail in others, how historical legacies continue to shape contemporary political landscapes, and what strategies might actually make a difference. Daphne invites us to move beyond surface-level explanations — and to take seriously the regional variation and structural complexity behind one of Europe's defining political phenomena.
Does the EU Still Have Normative Power? Rethinking Europe in a Time of Crisis with Prof. Ian Manners
What does it mean for the European Union to have “normative power” in today’s world, and does that idea still hold?
In this episode, Professor Ian Manners revisits the concept he famously coined and reflects on how the EU’s global role is being reshaped in a time of overlapping crises.
Drawing on his latest research, this conversation explores new ways of understanding Europe, from his concept of European Communion to his work on planetary politics. Ian invites us to rethink Europe beyond traditional notions of power, and to consider how the EU might act ethically, collectively, and credibly in an increasingly complex world.
Just published: our latest newsletter:
Climate, Migration, and Security: Safeguarding Democracy in the Green Transition
Expert Survey underway on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the European Union
As part of the Jean Monnet Network EU-VALUES Network, we are conducting an international expert survey on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the European Union. This global initiative gathers the perspectives of academic experts from diverse regions to assess the EU’s role, priorities, and performance in advancing the SDGs through its external action.
The survey represents one of the first large-scale, comparative efforts to evaluate how the EU contributes to the implementation of the SDGs as a global actor. It examines the EU’s leadership, policy frameworks, and instruments, as well as the extent to which sustainability objectives are integrated across areas such as development cooperation, trade, climate diplomacy, governance, and global partnerships.
The findings will provide valuable insights into how experts worldwide perceive the EU’s effectiveness, coherence, and transparency in promoting sustainable development. The results will be analysed and published in academic and public fora, contributing to broader debates on global governance, multilateral cooperation, and the EU’s credibility and impact in advancing the 2030 Agenda in an increasingly complex international context.
Findings Coming Soon - Subscribe to our mailing list to be notified!
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