Blue Europe

Policy Papers & Analyses

From Quang Tri to Kyiv: Wartime Destruction and Prospects of Post-conflict Economic Recovery in Ukraine

Written by: Benedek Várszegi, Central European University. 1. Introduction The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought about immense destruction to the country. As of this year, tens of thousands of civilians, as well as soldiers defending against Russian aggression, have lost their lives, with DGAP estimating this number to total around 80,000…

Guest Author2026-02-06

Interviews & Discussions

Growth and capital markets integration in Central-Eastern Europe: Insights from CEE Forum 2026

1. Introduction As Europe confronts a convergence of geopolitical conflict, Central and Eastern Europe has moved from being a periphery to centre of the continent’s future. Across the region, governments and institutions are grappling with how to sustain growth, finance transformation, and preserve stability under conditions of uncertainty. From Austria’s…

B.F.G. Fabrègue2026-01-21

Briefs & Commentary

Energy and sustainability in Eastern Europe: a post-Černobyl’ scenario or a more recent dynamic?

Written by: Concetta Formisano, Università Federico II Napoli. Since the 1980s, the debate on sustainability, renewable sources of energy and energy transition has been one of the most lively discussions at the European level. Given the timing, one may be led to believe that the 1986 Černobyl' disaster, which occurred…

Guest Author2025-09-10

Policy Papers & Analyses

Romania’s place in the European Southeastern Flank: historical ambitions and structural limits

1. Introduction Romania occupies a unique position within the broader South-Eastern European region, both geographically and culturally. It stands at the intersection of Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the Balkans: a confluence where different historical influences have merged and clashed. This strategic positioning has not only shaped Romania’s identity but…

B.F.G. Fabrègue2025-08-13

Briefs & Commentary

Soft power in the Three Seas Initiative: its evolution after the 3Seas Local meeting in Lublin

On 12-13 March 2025, the fifth edition of the 3Seas Local Government Congress and Economic Forum was held. With an attendance of 1,500 people from 29 countries, including delegations and heads of regions, it provided an opportunity to discuss important issues such as transport, energy, digitalization, international relations (particularly inter-…

Piotr Wójcik2025-07-10

Policy Papers & Analyses

Soft power through cooperation in the Three Seas Initiative

According to the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), this regional format is mainly analysed and discussed in relation to the economic problems of this region of 13 countries in Central, Northern and Southern Europe (and some particular states). In this article, the author, Piotr Wójcik, focuses on the soft power dimension…

Piotr Wójcik2025-03-05

Briefs & Commentary

The Current Situation of Ukrainian Refugees in Poland

Article written by Andrea Bogoni and Jan Normann. Interviews conducted by Jan Normann. Introduction Since the war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, Poland has emerged as a major refuge for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict. In a matter of months, hundreds of thousands of refugees entered Poland, significantly impacting…

Andrea Bogoni2024-06-27

Policy Papers & Analyses

Can Poland and Ukraine become a European hub for semiconductor manufacturing?

This contribution was originally presented by Blue Europe Fellow Marceli Hazla at the "Three Seas One Opportunity: Toward a New Intermarium" conference and won the best paper award for its insightful and documented perspective. Introduction Just as the beginning of the 1990s was dubbed the 'end of history', the aggression…

Marceli W. Hazla2023-10-27

Briefs & Commentary

Resource factors of the conflict in Ukraine: what post-war prospects

1. Introduction The Russian Federation's February 24, 2022 invasion has shaken up the international political order, becoming the most serious conflict in Europe since the '90. It is impossible to clearly identify the causes of the war. On the one hand, it may have to do with Russian imperial ambitions,…

Marceli W. Hazla2023-04-28

Briefs & Commentary

The demographic cost of the war in Ukraine

Ukraine’s modern demography is ultimately shaped by war World War II had a profound impact on the age pyramid of Ukraine, as well as the ratio of females to males in the population, as we can see in this graph below. The war resulted in a significant loss of life,…

Henrique Horta2023-03-17

ukraine, energy, russia, war, donbass, economy, dependency, gas,

Briefs & Commentary

Ukraine at the crossroads of the EU and Russia, again

To commemorate Russia's invasion of Crimea, after the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia, Vladimir Putin decides to invade the whole of Ukraine after the Beijing Winter Olympics. War is nothing new in Ukraine, after the country's invasion and annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, the Eastern part of Ukraine,…

Henrique Horta2022-03-07

Ukraine

From Quang Tri to Kyiv: Wartime Destruction and Prospects of Post-conflict Economic Recovery in Ukraine

Growth and capital markets integration in Central-Eastern Europe: Insights from CEE Forum 2026

Energy and sustainability in Eastern Europe: a post-Černobyl’ scenario or a more recent dynamic?

Romania’s place in the European Southeastern Flank: historical ambitions and structural limits

Soft power in the Three Seas Initiative: its evolution after the 3Seas Local meeting in Lublin

Soft power through cooperation in the Three Seas Initiative

The Current Situation of Ukrainian Refugees in Poland

Can Poland and Ukraine become a European hub for semiconductor manufacturing?

Resource factors of the conflict in Ukraine: what post-war prospects

The demographic cost of the war in Ukraine

Ukraine at the crossroads of the EU and Russia, again

Latest From Europe

About Blue Europe