Register now for the futurEU Competition 2026
Europe’s Path to Resilience: Shaping the Future of Security & Defence
We are excited to launch this year’s futurEU Competition, an initiative that brings students’ ideas into real policy debate. The 2026 theme invites you to think boldly about how Europe can strengthen its resilience and shape the future of security & defence.
We understand resilience and strategic autonomy broadly and inclusively: not only military security & defence, but also economic security and supply chains, energy and climate security, social cohesion, digital sovereignty and democratic stability. There are no limits to your interpretation!
Workshop Series
This year, we are again offering a series of workshops with experienced practitioners and experts to help you sharpen your skills and get direct insights into real world policy work. The sessions are designed to be interactive, with plenty of room for questions, discussion, and exchange.
Across the workshop series, we will cover a broad range of topics, from how to write a strong policy brief and craft clear recommendations to wider themes connected to European security, resilience, and policy making. Whether you are just getting started or already have experience, the workshops are a great opportunity to learn, get feedback, and connect with others involved in the competition.
Our first workshop for this year’s edition of the futurEU Competition features Leo Goretti, Head of the Italian Foreign Policy Programme at the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI). In this one hour session, Leo will walk you through how to write a strong policy brief, followed by a Q&A.
The workshop will take place online on 13 February, 15:00–16:00 (CET), and the participation link will be sent shortly before the session.
“The futurEU Competition is a dynamic and inspiring project where students like you can propose fresh ideas and innovative solutions for the European Union’s future.”
Enrico Letta, EU Rapporteur on the future of the Single Market, President of the Jacques Delors Institute and former Prime Minister of Italy
The competition
In 2020, futurEU launched the futurEU competition for its first edition ever, with the support of the Jacques Delors Centre Berlin, the Hertie School and CIVICA - the European University of Social Sciences. The competition on shaping the EU of tomorrow bridges the gap between young people’s voices and opinions on one hand and public discourse and academic research on the other. It is open to all students and PhD researchers of the CIVICA alliance.
Our supporters
futurEU is financed by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). The Funding is received through CIVICA.
