Cuardaigh

This briefing explores the potential of generative AI in supporting foresight analysis and strategic decision-making. Recent technological developments promise an increased role for large language models (LLMs) in policy research and analysis. From identifying trends and weak signals to fleshing out rich scenario narratives and bringing them to life in experiential and immersive ways, generative AI is empowering foresight analysts in their endeavour to anticipate uncertainties and support policymakers ...

Initiatives to restore European primary forests and thereby reverse centuries of decline are gaining traction. Such restoration could deliver significant ecological, environmental, climate-related and socio-cultural benefits, ranging from biodiversity conservation, water regulation and climate mitigation, to ecotourism and renewed human relationships with nature. However, a number of challenges and trade-offs need to be addressed, including the lack of primary forest mapping, concerns over human ...

The European Commission's communication on a vision for agriculture and food, published in February 2025, aims to secure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the farming and food sector. The document consists of four distinct parts: making agriculture an attractive sector with affordable food for all, a competitive and resilient sector, a future-proof sector that is sustainable and contributes to food security, and a vibrant sector with fair living and working conditions. To future-proof ...

This study explores the design of future Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation (R&I) in the European Union. Employing a foresight methodology – comprising a literature review, case studies, scenarios and foresight workshops with stakeholders – the study examines prevailing discourses on Framework Programme structures, identifies key R&I trends, and analyses the challenges posed by current developments. It presents a set of hypothetical programme structures alongside policy recommendations ...

Driven by the rapid pace of technological change and the need for a human-centric approach to the development of artificial intelligence (AI), AI skills have a significant role in shaping the future European workforce. The growing skills gap in the EU, with almost half of the population lacking basic digital skills, including AI skills, poses a significant challenge for the future that needs to be addressed for the EU to maintain its competitiveness and manage regional disparities. Several EU initiatives ...

This study addresses the interplay between the health and socio-demographic conditions characterising the EU's ageing population, focused on populations at risk of social inequality, to provide information that policymakers can use to promote healthy ageing. The goal of the study is to compare trends in healthy life years across both populations (countries) and specific populations (by gender and level of education), and to address the social inequalities associated with healthy ageing so that we ...

Following a request from the European Council in June 2024, the European Commission and the High Representative are due to adopt a joint communication on the EU strategic approach to the Black Sea region on 28 May 2025. This new initiative aims to: • offer a political vision regarding the Black Sea, based on an overview of the challenging security situation in the region following Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine; • re-confirm the EU's strategic interest in the Black Sea as well as its ...

This report examines the emerging field of exposomics, which studies the cumulative impact of environmental exposures on human health. It highlights the limitations of established environmental health research and advocates a more comprehensive approach. The report explores exposomics' application in various sectors, including urban planning, chemical safety, climate adaptation, child health, workplace safety, clinical practice, and citizen empowerment. It emphasises the need for improved exposure ...

This study aims to offer an in-depth analysis of water scarcity, availability, and usage in the face of climate change. By employing a comprehensive foresight methodology that includes an extensive literature review, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and broad stakeholder consultation, the research provides a detailed overview of current water availability and consumption within the European Union (EU). It highlights the current and projected trends related to water resources, identifying ...

Academic freedom is widely recognised as a fundamental value of contemporary higher education and science, and as a prerequisite for well-functioning democratic societies. However, in recent years, major concerns have been expressed by various stakeholders about the state of academic freedom in the European Union. The European Parliament launched an annual EP Academic Freedom Monitor in 2022, to help improve the promotion and protection of academic freedom in the European Union. This report presents ...