This month's edition explores the EU's quest for lithium to power its defence build-up and energy transition; the bloc's addiction to cheap Chinese goods, despite its re-industrialisation push; how Hungary is thwarting the bloc's enlargement agenda; and much more.
This year has reshaped Europe in ways few policymakers were prepared to confront. Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January sent a shockwave through the transatlantic relationship, leaving the EU to contend with high tariffs and ambiguous US security guarantees.
Europe has found itself forced to reckon with what had long been politically uncomfortable — taking real responsibility for its own defence, energy resilience and economic future.
At the same time, Ukraine’s fight against Russia has entered a more grinding, precarious phase, with the EU shouldering the bulk of the economic burden. And within the bloc, the gap between strategic ambition and industrial capacity has grown more visible.
It’s against this backdrop that Federica Di Sario’s cover story lands with particular force. In Cinovec, a small Czech town with a long history of coal mining, Europe faces a new strategic challenge: securing critical raw materials for its defence build-up and green transition. Lithium — the ‘white gold’ powering batteries for electric vehicles and drones — could help the EU achieve greater industrial and technological independence. Yet a planned lithium mining project in Cinovec faces multiple uncertainties: falling global lithium prices, unclear political support, environmental risks to protected lands, and local resistance from residents.
Federica’s reporting captures a core tension for Europe in 2025: balancing urgent industrial and strategic needs against environmental, social and democratic responsibilities.
Her story is also emblematic of the kind of journalism we’re aiming for at The Parliament as we continue to grow our newsroom — going beyond the headlines with in-depth, on-the-ground reporting that makes clear what’s at stake for policymakers in Brussels.
Federica is now joined by a cadre of top-notch journalists who have recently come on board: Paula Soler, Francesco Puggioni, Peder Schaefer, Margherita Dalla Vecchia — and, last but not least, our indefatigable features editor and newsletterwriter-in-chief Carl-Johan Karlsson.
Looking ahead to 2026, our mission is straightforward: to continue producing richly reported journalism that prioritises policy over politics to add value in an increasingly crowded media ecosystem in Brussels.
Thank you to the team for their stellar journalism and to you for reading, engaging with, and supporting our work. Happy holidays!
— Christopher Alessi, Editor-in-Chief