After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Eastern Europe successfully ended its dependence on Russian natural gas. To ensure the region’s energy security, the EU must continue to diversify its supplies and invest in LNG infrastructure across the continent.

Despite repeated declarations of historic turning points, deep structural reforms to the European project remain elusive. While defense spending rises are welcome, EU governments must also pursue systemic changes to Europe’s political and security architecture.

The EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy has increasingly sidelined democracy-related commitments in favor of security priorities. As geopolitical challenges mount, the union must restore CSDP as a meaningful part of its democracy-security toolbox.