Konkurencyjność Unii Europejskiej: na fali czy na marginesie?

This paper looks at how France and Germany are dealing with demographic decline – and why this matters for Europe as a whole. It explores the pressures ageing populations put on labour markets, welfare systems and regional balance, and highlights where the two countries diverge and where they must act together. The focus is on practical policy options and the role of Franco-German cooperation in turning demographic risk into strategic opportunity. Rather than offering quick fixes, there is a need for coordinated, long-term strategies to safeguard the sustainability of European welfare models and enhance economic competitiveness. As demographic pressures mount, such joint efforts serve as an example of how ageing societies can respond – not with resignation, but with reform, innovation and shared leadership.

Levelling up the European defence industry will require vision and action in three major areas: leadership formats and political decision-making; capabilities, procurement and funding; and creating a genuinely European strategic culture. The key task for European countries will be navigating these challenges simultaneously and ensuring that the measures constitute a coherent strategy. Especially France and Germany as the biggest EU member states, alongside the UK, Italy and Poland as partners, should lead the way: the window of opportunity for political ambition in this format is limited in light of the French presidential elections in 2027 and must not be wasted.

At the heart of economic security, technological resilience is a backbone of the European Union’s (EU) competitiveness. The EU’s energy and digital transitions rely on critical raw materials (CRMs), the supply of which is increasingly constrained by export restrictions, creating significant challenges for EU industries. In order to “de- risk” by reducing one-sided dependencies, the EU needs to build its own value chains, further innovation and diversify its suppliers. France and Germany, Europe’s main economies, share this diagnosis, but while France prioritises a state-geared industrial policy, Germany follows a market-driven path. However different political traditions do not have to be an obstacle but can complement each other in a joint European raw materials strategy.