The Declaration of the Semicon Coalition marks a decisive moment in Europe’s ongoing effort to consolidate technological sovereignty within the global semiconductor ecosystem. Signed in Brussels on 29 September 2025 by ministers from twenty-seven Member States, the document calls for a “revised and forward-looking EU Chips Act”—a legal and strategic recalibration of the Union’s approach to a sector
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When a single chip can halt a factory: the strategic exposure of Europe’s automotive supply chain
Volkswagen AG’s recent production halt at its Wolfsburg plant has become a symbol of how technological dependencies can turn into strategic vulnerabilities. The issue is not steel, labor, or consumer demand — it is semiconductors. The immediate trigger: Nexperia and the Dutch intervention Nexperia NV, a Dutch semiconductor manufacturer owned by Chinese investors, has been
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Foreign entity of concern (FEOC)
1. Origin and context The term foreign entity of concern emerged within U.S. legislation designed to protect national security, economic interests, and technological supply chains. It appears prominently in: In short, it designates a foreign entity that poses a potential or actual risk to U.S. national or strategic security. 2. Legal definition The definition is detailed but can be summarized
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Italy’s imports from China after U.S. Section 301 tariffs (2018–2025): evidence, method, and legal–policy context
Euro-area evidence from the ECB shows that the 2018 U.S. Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods redirected part of China’s exports towards Europe, consistent with trade diversion. The ECB quantifies non-trivial shifts in export destinations and discusses channels through which an influx of Chinese goods can affect euro-area prices and trade composition. ECB economists, using product-level data, document that
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China turns its rare earth dominance into a national security weapon
In recent months China has tightened its export regime for rare earth elements and related technologies, describing these steps as essential to its national security. The change is not a minor adjustment but a structural move that turns China’s dominance in critical minerals into an explicit instrument of geopolitical strategy. In early October 2025, the
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The Nexperia Case: Europe’s New Line in the Silicon Sand
Who is Nexperia ? Nexperia is a European semiconductor company based in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.It produces essential electronic components — diodes, transistors, MOSFETs, and logic circuits — used in mobile devices, automobiles, consumer electronics, and industrial systems.The company is controlled by China’s Wingtech Technology, a large tech manufacturer integrated into global supply chains. The origins of the
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Beyond the Parrot: Anthropic’s Research Reveals the Dawn of True Reasoning in AI
Introduction: A Paradigm Shift in AI Comprehension Two recent, seminal papers from the research organization Anthropic (one and two) have sent shockwaves through the artificial intelligence community, offering the most definitive evidence to date of what truly happens inside the mind of a large language model (LLM). The findings are not merely incremental; they represent
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The “Frequency Battle”: How SpaceX’s spectrum deal reshapes the global space economy
The competition for radio frequencies—especially those enabling mobile communications—has become one of the defining fronts of the new space economy. Control of the spectrum now determines not only who connects the planet, but who shapes the architecture of global information, defense, and digital sovereignty. 1. The Spectrum Deal: Verified Facts In September 2025, SpaceX announced the acquisition of wireless
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Unlocking Freedom: Hurst’s vision of 19th-century American law
James Willard Hurst’s Law and the Conditions of Freedom in the Nineteenth?Century United States (1956) is a landmark collection of essays that redefines how we see American legal history. Drawing on his 1955 Rosenthal Lectures at Northwestern, Hurst offers a compelling reinterpretation: law was not merely a restrictive force but a dynamic engine for unleashing individual and collective
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Frozen funds, court doors, and a narrow key: CJEU on paying docket fees under Russia sanctions (C-384/24, 11 September 2025)
Sanctions freeze assets with a heavy hand; court systems often demand money up front just to open the door. What happens when these two logics collide? In C-384/24 (RKDF v Belgium), the Court of Justice (Tenth Chamber) offers a crisp answer: Member State authorities may authorize the release of frozen funds to pay the mandatory fees needed
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The Italian and European efforts on the transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) for critical infrastructures and digital services.
The Quantum threat and the urgent need for PQC The coming era of quantum computing threatens to undermine much of the cryptographic infrastructure we rely on today. The asymmetrical algorithms that protect data, communications and digital services may, in time, become vulnerable. In response, both the European Commission and the Italian government have signalled that
Continue reading The Italian and European efforts on the transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) for critical infrastructures and digital services.
The night Moscow knocked on NATO’s door
When Russian drones breached Polish airspace on September 9–10, they carried no warheads—only a message. Stripped of explosives but heavy with intent, these aircraft weren’t instruments of war but tools of psychological warfare, probing for cracks in the Western alliance. The Kremlin’s calculus was transparent: test NATO’s reflexes while America grapples with electoral uncertainty and
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EU General Court endorses sanctions on cybersecurity firm connected to Russian intelligence services
The General Court of the European Union has upheld the EU’s decision to maintain restrictive measures against Positive Group PAO, active in Russia’s IT sector, following its judgment in Case T-573/23. The court dismissed the company’s challenge, reinforcing the legitimacy of the so-called “IT criterion” employed by the Council of the EU. This criterion targets entities operating with FSB-issued or military/arms-related
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EU General Court Upholds New EU–US Data Transfer Framework
Luxembourg, 3 September 2025 The General Court of the European Union has dismissed a challenge against the Commission’s July 2023 adequacy decision, which established the latest framework for the transfer of personal data between the EU and the United States. The action was brought by Philippe Latombe, a French citizen, who argued that the U.S.
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Europe at a Crossroads: Mario Draghi’s Urgent Call for a New Era of European Integration
In a pivotal speech, Mario Draghi delivered a stark message regarding the European Union’s current standing on the global stage, arguing that a long-held illusion about economic power automatically translating into geopolitical influence has evaporated. His address serves as a powerful call to action, urging Europe to fundamentally transform its political organization and deepen integration
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The Russian approach to deterrence
The Russian approach to deterrence, referred to as “deterrence à la Russe,” differs significantly from the Western conceptualization in several fundamental aspects, including its etymology, underlying logic, scope, typology, and the cultural factors that influence it. Here are the main differences: • Etymology and logic The English term “deterrence” is derived from “terror” (fear) and
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The EU-US Tariff Agreement: beyond the 15%, Carlo Altomonte’s Analysis of European Fragilities and US Geopolitical Strategy
Carlo Altomonte, a professor at Bocconi University and Vice President of ISPI, provided a detailed analysis of the tariff agreement between the European Union and the United States, placing it within a broader geopolitical and trade policy context (ISPI YOUTUBE CHANNEL) Here are the key points of his intervention:
How Europe may end up paying for America’s debt
While headlines are fixated on tariffs and trade spats, a more dangerous mechanism may be quietly unfolding under Donald Trump’s second presidency. Italian economist and journalist Federico Fubini lays out a disturbing yet well-documented argument: the real price of Trump’s economic strategy may not be paid by Americans, but by Europeans. And it won’t come
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Petros C. Mavroidis, Litigating National Security in the WTO Era (in: K. Nadakavukaren Schefer, R. Polanco, P. Sauvé (eds), International Economic Law as Symphony, Hart Publishing, 2025, pp. 80–92)
Petros C. Mavroidis has identified a major problem in how the WTO handles national security disputes. Countries are increasingly using “national security” as an excuse to break trade rules, and the WTO’s courts don’t know how to respond effectively. When countries claim their actions are necessary for national security, WTO panels are caught in a
Continue reading Petros C. Mavroidis, Litigating National Security in the WTO Era (in: K. Nadakavukaren Schefer, R. Polanco, P. Sauvé (eds), International Economic Law as Symphony, Hart Publishing, 2025, pp. 80–92)
The United States and the unraveling of the WTO Appellate Body
The World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement system is considered a central pillar of the multilateral trading system, providing a structured mechanism for managing disputes among its members. Established in 1995 with the creation of the WTO, the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU) offers a legal framework for addressing violations
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The America’s AI Action Plan
The America’s AI Action Plan (July 2025), issued under the Trump administration, sets out an expansive and unapologetically assertive roadmap for establishing the United States as the unchallenged global leader in artificial intelligence. The document is framed not merely as a technology strategy but as a national security imperative, a geopolitical contest, and a civilizational opportunity. It
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Stablecoins are quietly becoming major players in the U.S. Treasury Market
Recent analyses published by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) highlight a significant but underappreciated development: the increasing structural role of stablecoins in the U.S. short-term sovereign debt market. As of early 2025, leading stablecoin issuers—most notably Tether and Circle—collectively hold over $200 billion in dollar-denominated assets, with a substantial portion invested in U.S. Treasury bills. During 2024
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The Decline of U.S. Soft Power: Key Problems and Implications
Conclusion The decline of U.S. soft power is not just symbolic; it has tangible effects—from diplomatic alienation and strategic loss in key regions, to economic fallout and diminished influence. Without renewed investment in foreign aid, public diplomacy, and cultural outreach, the U.S. risks relinquishing the narrative and agenda-setting power that underpin its global leadership.
White Paper “China’s National Security in the New Era”
On May 12, 2025, China’s State Council Information Office released a major white paper titled “China’s National Security in the New Era”. It presents a comprehensive shift in Beijing’s strategic thinking—distinguishing this as their first dedicated national security declaration since 1949 . The paper analyzes China’s holistic national security strategy—spanning political, economic, technological, and social spheres—and its global
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The Anti-Coercion Instrument and the Paradox of Deterrence
The EU regulation on countering foreign economic coercion (Reg. 2023/2675) sets up an instrument that, at first glance, appears robust: it allows the Union to identify coercive acts by third countries, initiate consultations, and—if necessary—adopt response measures. The stated goal is to “deter economic coercion” (see Recital 7, 8 and Article 1(2)). “Recital (7) Whilst
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A provocative idea: the case for “mirror tariffs”, a symmetric tit-for-tat or strategic proportionality ?
Imagine a trade policy that reacts automatically—if the U.S. imposes 30% on imports, our system instantly mirrors with 30%. No announcements, no grandiose threats, no ambiguous deadlines, just a simple rule: escalate, and we escalate equally. Mirror tariffs: a strategic analysis The strategic logic Automatic mirror tariffs would fundamentally disrupt trade strategies that rely on
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Russian Cognitive Warfare according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
Summary of “A Primer on Russian Cognitive Warfare” – Institute for the Study of War (ISW), June 30, 2025 Russia’s cognitive warfare represents a foundational pillar of its strategy for both war and governance. More than mere disinformation, it is a long-term, multilayered effort to reshape how adversaries think, reason, and decide—with the aim of achieving
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Between Courtesy and Coercion: unpacking the July 2025 U.S. Letter to the European Commission
An analysis and critique of the letter sent by President Donald J. Trump to the President of the European Commission on 11 July 2025. The aim is not merely to parse its diplomatic language, but to dissect its rhetorical construction, strategic implications, and political tone—with particular attention to its underlying logic of coercion. A letter of intent—or
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An historic judgment: Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia before the ECHR
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, in its historic judgment in Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia (9 July 2025), delivered a sweeping condemnation of the Russian Federation for what it characterized as multiple, flagrant, and coordinated violations of the European Convention on Human Rights across Ukrainian territory between 2014 and 2022. At
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Satellite audio frequency jamming: legal and regulatory challenges
1. Applicable international legal frameworks 2. State responsibility and attribution 3. Use of force and electronic warfare 4. Regulatory gaps and enforcement 5. Sources and further reading Key Legal Issues on the Table
SPHERE – Space Policies, Humanities, and Exogeographical Research Ecosystem – LUISS Center for International and Strategic Studies (CISS)
I am proud to be part of SPHERE – Space Policies, Humanities, and Exogeographical Research Ecosystem, a research initiative that explores the political, social, and strategic dimensions of space in bold, interdisciplinary ways. SPHERE is an interdisciplinary research unit hosted by the LUISS Center for International and Strategic Studies (CISS). It is dedicated to the exploration of
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Europe’s Place in Space: Between Strategic Ambition and Earthly Reality
A trajectory links Earth to outer space, and it is not only the one traced by rockets. It is the political, economic, and regulatory path that the European Union is trying to chart while the cosmos becomes ever more crowded, contested, and—above all—relevant to daily life. Why does space matter to us? Satellite signals now enable
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Strategic indispensability over sovereignty: a critical reading of RAND Europe’s response to the EU Cloud and AI Development Act
RAND Europe’s response to the EU Cloud and AI Development Act consultation is a compelling and at times blunt strategic diagnosis of the European Union’s position within the global AI race. It offers a vision that moves away from romanticised ideals of full technological sovereignty and instead embraces the colder, more transactional logic of strategic
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Winning without understanding: the rise of dark logic in AI
The term “dark logic” in this context seems to refer to the AI’s ability to derive effective strategies or solutions that are outside the realm of human reasoning, often leading to unexpected yet successful outcomes. We’ve entered a strange new era in which artificial intelligence doesn’t just imitate how we think—it begins to think in
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“Lawful but Awful”: regulating misinformation, disinformation, and the rise of generative AI — Reflections on Simon Chesterman’s latest article
In an age where synthetic realities are indistinguishable from truth, and deepfakes spread faster than fact-checkers can blink, Simon Chesterman’s recent article “Lawful but Awful: Evolving Legislative Responses to Address Online Misinformation, Disinformation, and Mal-Information in the Age of Generative AI” (2025) lands with the urgency of a fire alarm in a room full of sleeping regulators.
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Power is closely linked to the management of uncertainty: who controls the questions, controls the world
“Today, those who control the questions shape the answers and those who shape the answers control the world.” — Luciano Floridi (L., Floridi, The Politics of Uncertainty, Philosophy & Technology, volume 28, pages 1–4, (2015)) In the age of information, power no longer resides solely in who has the answers. It lies deeper—in who decides which questions get asked
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Intelligence agencies and echo chambers for political narratives.
Intelligence agencies must remain candid truth-tellers, not echo chambers for political narratives. When assessments are shaped to align with a government’s domestic agenda, the risk of distortion grows: facts may be selectively emphasized or downplayed to fit a desired storyline. As David Gioe and Michael Hayden caution (Foreign Affairs July 2, 2025), such politicization increases
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Conclusions from Nicholas Mulder’s “The Economic Weapon: The Rise of Sanctions as a Tool of Modern War” (Yale University Press, 2022)
In the concluding chapter of his comprehensive and interesting study, Nicholas Mulder traces the evolution of economic sanctions from their early twentieth-century origins to the present day, offering three key insights into their historical development and contemporary significance. The transformation of liberal internationalism Mulder argues that economic sanctions as we know them today emerged after
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Grace Hopper: A Visionary Pioneer in Computer Science
– Grace Murray Hopper, born on December 9, 1906, was a groundbreaking figure often referred to as the “grandmother of computer programming”. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in math and physics from Vassar College in 1928, and later a Master’s and a PhD in mathematics from Yale. After her studies, she returned to Vassar as a
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“Universities and schools need to develop first-class humans, not second-class robots”
In his thought-provoking article, ‘Universities as Innovation Ecologies for Human and Planetary Flourishing’, Otto Scharmer challenges the traditional role of universities, advocating a transformative approach to higher education. He argues that universities must evolve into dynamic ecosystems that actively engage in regenerating society and the planet, as well as disseminating knowledge. From knowledge transmission to
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