In April, a delegation of eleven people from Mistra Geopolitics went to Brussels. The purpose of the trip was to present the programme and make sure that our analysis and results are relevant for decision-makers at the EU-level. The meetings in Brussel gave valuable contacts and input on needs and new perspectives that enables us to contribute with current analysis and formulate the programmes continued research.

Mistra Geopolitics’ research programme is unique in being the single largest programme entirely focusing on the interactions between geopolitics, security and climate change.

The delegation from the left: Caroline Ankarcrona, Thomas Nilsson, Robert Egnell, Niklas Bremberg,  Annika Markovic, Björn-Ola Linnér, Maria Cole, André Månberger, Therese Bennich and Henrik Carlsen. Photo by Mistra Geopolitics.

“The interest in the research program is great. The current war and crisis we are facing in the international community and the world economy, show how important it is that these issues are studied and that potential hotspots are identified. We are well equipped to deliver knowledge in this space,” said Björn-Ola Linnér, Programme Director of Mistra Geopolitics and Professor at Linköping University.

The packed Brussel agenda included meetings with the ambassador of Sweden’s delegation to NATO, the European Commission’s Vice President Frans Timmerman’s cabinet and the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU, along with meetings with members of the European Parliament. A seminar on food security and raw materials at Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) were also held.

Timely input from our research on the consequences of the war in Ukraine

Much of the discussion in Brussels revolved around security policy and the EU green deal in relation to the different countries’ adaptations, the ambitions in the Paris Agreement, and climate adaptation.

The war in Ukraine was at the centre of the discussions and we could see a special interest in the Mistra Geopolitics research themes on Food security and Decarbonization and rare metals.

It was also apparent that the Russia’s war against Ukraine is accelerating the pace of the transition from fossil fuels within the EU. The desire to become independent of Russian oil and gas gives a whole new impetus to the work on the green deal that the EU has pursued for several years.

“From our Brussels meetings we can conclude that foresight capabilities and the ability to deliver policy relevant input is an area that is high in demand,” said Henrik Carlsen, Co- Director of Mistra Geopolitics and Senior Research Fellow at SEI.

The Mistra Geopolitics research theme Foresight Capabilities and Emerging Technologies — focusing on future-oriented perspectives on geopolitics and sustainable development — plays right into this demand.