Voices from CEPS Ideas Lab

Today in Europe, far-right parties are playing a prominent role whether we like it or not, as partners of broader coalitions and even as leaders in some cases. As a result, political forces must coexist with this new player and find ways of limiting its influence. 

Our host Tom Parker is joined by Sophia Russack, Researcher at CEPS in the Institutions unit. Together, they discuss the growing significance of the far-right in Europe, explore the factors that have contributed to its rise, and consider potential measures to protect Europe from this form of extremism. 

For more information on Sophia Russack and the work of CEPS, visit this link. 

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Funding, infrastructure and fundamental research are all areas in need of focus if we want to discover the next big thing and, maybe more importantly, attract the right people capable of doing it. The European Research Council has taken steps into ensuring the continent remains a welcoming ecosystem for researchers and investigation on the global stage. 

Our host Tom Parker is joined by Maria Leptin, president of the European Research Council. Together, they will discuss if a “CERN for AI” to support AI innovation is the right move to remain attractive in the field. 

For more information on Maria Leptin and the work of the ERC, visit this link. 

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Migration has become a highly politicised area of discussion in the last decade with the refugee crisis, illegal migration and more recently Ukraine refugees. With so much movement within the European continent the EU institutions have the duty to enforce the law upon Member States and ensure migrants’ rights are respected, which is not always the case. 

Our host Tom Parker is joined by Sergio Carrera, senior research fellow at CEPS and Head of Justice and Home Affairs unit. Together, they will discuss migration, fundamental rights and the dangerous consequences of failing to enforce the law for the future of Europe. 

For more information on Sergio Carrera and CEPS check this link. 

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While the EU’s Green Deal aims to promote sustainability, high levels of resource consumption remain a major challenge. One approach to addressing this issue is sufficiency, a concept focusing on meeting societal needs while staying within planetary boundaries. Rather than simply increasing efficiency, sufficiency emphasises the need to reduce overall demand, for example by re-using existing buildings rather than constructing new ones, by promoting shared transport, or by preventing waste rather than recycling it. Integrating the concept of sufficiency into policy-making can therefore help the EU achieve its climate goals.  

Our host, Tom Parker, is joined by Luca Nipius, researcher at the Energy, Resources & Climate Change Unit at CEPS. Together, they discuss the role of sufficiency in the Green Transition, how it can be incorporated into EU policies, and why it is essential for achieving net-zero goals while ensuring a just transition.  

For further reading on CEPS’ research on sustainability and green policies, and Luca Nipius’ work on resource consumption, sufficiency, and the Green Deal, follow 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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