The summer of 2026 brought Europe record-breaking temperatures along with wildfires that tore through France and Spain. In June record temperatures were recorded in multiple EU member states such as 42.7°C in Spain, 41.7°C in Germany, and 43.8°C in France. Compounding the temperatures devastating wildfires tore through France and Spain affecting over 675,000 hectares of land cementing that climate change is no longer a distant risk for Europe but a present reality that carries significant health and economic risks.

The European Union and its Member States have entered a decisive phase in the development of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). Following the political agreement on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum in May 2024, the focus has now shifted to practical implementation.

The digital euro is set to become the digital counterpart to cash in the near future: a public means of payment available across Europe that brings key benefits of cash, particularly privacy and anonymity, into the digital realm.

Morocco's new digital campaign rules reduced the power of money to buy political attention. But algorithms, established audiences and AI still complicate electoral equality.

Three months on, the events of 30 July on the Moroccan-Ceutan border allow for three conclusions: the defenselessness of Spain’s borders on the African continent, the Spanish government’s helplessness vis-à-vis its Moroccan counterpart, and the inability of Spain’s executive branch to resolve an acute humanitarian crisis.

How can ASEAN and the EU strengthen economic cooperation amid geopolitical uncertainty? Watch highlights from our Experts Dialogue in Bangkok, exploring trade, strategic autonomy, and economic resilience.