Explore the innovative ideas showcased at Ideas Lab 2025

2024 was dominated by important elections, rising geopolitical tensions and looming challenges that the EU simply cannot ignore. 2025 promises to be yet another turbulent year, meaning that the EU will have to draw on its own strengths in a rapidly changing world order.

On 3-4 March, CEPS hosted its flagship event Ideas Lab – the most high-profile policy event in the Brussels calendar – bringing together policymakers, civil society and industry representatives. This means that Ideas Lab is the forum for thought-provoking and insightful discussions on a wide range of policy issues.

Among its many sessions, Ideas Lab also showcased a series of new and innovative ideas to help tackle some of our most pressing challenges. Covering topics such as digital sovereignty, AI, climate change and the energy transition, sustainable trade, and democracy, 13 new ideas were presented and rigorously debated. As such, please find below 13 CEPS Expert Commentaries, one for each idea, outlining their key recommendations and arguments.