Security & Geopolitics#8
Internal security: organised crime, drugs & terrorism
Cocaine ports, gang violence and terror alerts move up the ballot.
+2
Europe's public debates
The Agenda
62 issues shaping Europe's politics.
From Ukraine to pensions — the debates every European government and party is answering.
62 topics9 themes27 countries
2 topics
Wider Europe & World#55
Drug policy
Legalise, tolerate or crack down?
+2
Trade policy & tariffs
Open for business in a world of tariffs.
In short
The EU is the world's largest trading bloc and negotiates trade agreements as one. It is diversifying through deals with Mercosur, India, Indonesia and others while handling US tariffs and Chinese competition. Farmers oppose some agreements fiercely.
Why it matters now
The EU–US tariff arrangement and the Mercosur ratification fight split governments and farm lobbies.
The divide
Free-traders (Nordics, Germany, Spain, Netherlands)
diversify through deals
Protectionist and farm-sensitive (France, Poland, Ireland, Austria)
protect farmers and standards
Populists
sceptical of both deals and Brussels.