Voices from CEPS Ideas Lab – Details, episodes & analysis

EU Enlargement and Security Challenges  

As the EU has re-energised its enlargement policy, countries such as Ukraine and Moldova have made rapid progress towards EU integration. However, concerns remain about the EU’s ability to provide security guarantees to candidate countries. Increased defence cooperation, military spending and deeper collaboration with the UK and other European allies could address these concerns by strengthening the EU's security framework, especially in the face of NATO’s uncertain future role. 

Joining host Tom Parker is Tinatin Akhvlediani, Research Fellow in the EU Foreign Policy Unit at CEPS, who examines the geopolitical drivers of enlargement, the EU’s security gaps, and the steps needed to ensure a credible and resilient enlargement strategy. 

For further reading on CEPS’ research on EU enlargement and security, follow this link. 

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The enlargement of the European Union has traditionally been guided by a commitment to stability, democracy, and economic integration. In the current geopolitical landscape, however, additional complexities and have emerged. With Ukraine, Moldova, and other candidates seeking membership, the EU must navigate security concerns, economic preparedness, and external pressures from disruptive forces. Today, the accession process to the EU is no longer solely defined by technical criteria but also by an evolving global landscape. 

Joining host Tom Parker is Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, who shares insights on the EU’s current approach to enlargement, the role of geopolitical dynamics, and how boldness and unity can strengthen the EU’s future. 

For further reading on CEPS’ research on EU enlargement policy, follow this link. 

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 The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was designed to protect privacy and personal data, but its enforcement has been rather lacking across Member States. Some argue that it no longer fully delivers on its original ambitions whereas others denounce it unnecessarily burdens SMEs with regulation.  

Our host, Tom Parker, is joined by Paula Gurtler, Associate Researcher in the Global Governance, Regulation, Innovation and Digital Economy (GRID) unit at CEPS. Her work focuses on Applied Ethics and in particular the ethics of new technology. Together, they talk potential reforms, the need for agility in data regulation, and how GDPR interacts with newer legislative frameworks such as the Data Act. 

For more information on Paula Reiners and the work of CEPS, visit this link. 

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Women’s health includes well-being across all life stages and while reproductive health is often the focus, there are many overlooked areas such as mental health or diseases prevention that require attention. Greater investment in these often-overlooked areas of research could yield social but also economic benefits worldwide. 

Our host, Tom Parker, is joined by Cosima Lenz, associate researcher in the Global Governance, Regulation, Innovation and Digital Economy (GRID) Unit, specializing in global health policy. Together they discuss the economic benefits of investing in women’s health, and how policy shifts can help close gaps in research and healthcare access. 

For more information on Cosima Lenz and her work at CEPS, visit this link. 

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AI and the division of Labour 

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the division of labour by making certain tasks more accessible while exposing others to automation. This shift is creating new learning opportunities, changing workplace dynamics, and raising questions about job security and productivity. While some roles, such as programming and content creation, are highly exposed to AI, jobs that require human empathy, ethical judgement, and creativity remain less affected. A key question, therefore, is how workers and businesses in different sectors can leverage AI to improve efficiency, while ensuring that AI enhances, rather than replaces, human expertise. 

Our host, Tom Parker, is joined by Laura Nurski, Associate Research Fellow and Head of the Future of Work Programme at CEPS. Together they discuss the evolving role of AI in the workplace, the risks and opportunities it presents, and how organisations can successfully integrate AI while supporting workers in an era of rapid technological change. 

For more on CEPS’ research on the future of work and digital transformation, and Laura Nurski’s work on AI, labour markets, and skills development, follow this link. 

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Citizen participation in EU policy-making remains low, partly due to the complexity and inaccessibility of the system. Digital tools offer a potential solution to increase citizen involvement, but challenges such as mistrust, accessibility gaps, and fragmentation of efforts hinder progress. This episode therefore explores how digitalisation, if implemented effectively and transparently, could strengthen democratic participation in the EU.  

Our host, Tom Parker, is joined by Berta Mizsei, Researcher in the Global Governance, Regulation, Innovation, and Digital Economy (GRID) unit at CEPS. Together, they discuss the obstacles to greater public involvement, the role of digital tools in enhancing democracy, and the vision for a more participatory and inclusive EU policy-making process.  

For further reading on CEPS’ research on citizen engagement and democratic innovation, and Berta Mizsei’s work on EU policy-making and public participation, follow this link.  

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Understanding how to foster economic growth across different regions is crucial to strengthening the EU’s competitiveness. The framework of evolutionary economic geography provides valuable insights into this process, explaining why some regions develop thriving industries while others struggle. Using these insights can help policymakers to foster cross-border collaboration and design policies that reflect regional strengths.  

Our host, Tom Parker, is joined by Prof. Dr. Ron Boschma, Professor of Regional Economics at Utrecht University. Together, they explore how a smarter, regionally tailored approach to EU competitiveness could unlock new opportunities for growth and ensure that economic policies reflect the unique strengths of different regions.  

For more on CEPS’ research on EU economic growth and regional development, follow this link.  

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Effective policymaking depends not only on data, but also on asking the right questions. While data science has advanced significantly, "question science" remains underdeveloped, leading to inefficient decision making and overlooked societal needs. The “100 Questions Initiative” therefore seeks to identify the most pressing issues by prioritising question formulation, for example in women’s health research, where biases in data collection and framing often exclude key perspectives. Extending this approach to other fields could counteract AI-driven biases and ensure more equitable outcomes.   

Joining host Tom Parker is Stefaan Verhulst, co-founder of GovLab and Data Tank, who explores how question science can refine policymaking, address systemic biases, and foster a smarter approach to AI-driven research and innovation.  

For more on GovLab’s and Stefaan Verhulst’s research on question science, policymaking, and AI-driven innovation, follow this link.  

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The EU’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme is an important funding tool, accounting for around 10% of total European research investment. Concerns are therefore rising over its potential absorption into a broader competitiveness fund, as this risks reducing its visibility and effectiveness.  As the U.S. and China increase their research spending, Europe faces pressure to address declining interest in research careers and to strengthen bottom-up scientific governance.  

Joining host Tom Parker is Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, ISC Fellow and former President of the European Research Council (ERC), who discusses the future of EU research funding, the need to attract young researchers, and how bottom-up scientific governance can drive innovation and competitiveness.  

For further reading on CEPS’ research on EU economic growth and regional development, follow this link.  

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The rapid development of AI has exposed significant gaps in liability laws, making it difficult to determine responsibility when AI systems cause harm. This is particularly challenging due to the "black box" nature of AI and the fragmented regulatory landscape across EU member states. One future solution may be the “Product Liability Directive”, set to take effect in 2026, which will shift the burden of proof onto AI companies and will require greater transparency. However, key issues like misinformation, discrimination, and intellectual property violations remain unaddressed, raising concerns about the need for a more comprehensive AI liability framework in the EU.  

Joining host Tom Parker is Artur Bogucki, Associate Researcher in the Global Governance, Regulation, Innovation and Digital Economy (GRID) unit at CEPS, to examine the challenges of AI regulation and discuss what policymakers need to do to ensure a clear, enforceable liability system that keeps pace with technological advancements.  

For further reading on CEPS’ research on AI regulation and liability, and Artur Bogucki’s work on digital governance and technology policy, follow this link.  

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