If you ask citizens what they want, they will say a better quality of life. And when you ask them what the European Union should do about it, they say it should provide it. But I don't see why we shouldn't believe their conclusions, says analyst JOHANNES GREUBEL in an interview.

The issue of common European defence is crucial for Paris. In the next six months, it intends to pursue six priorities in this area. It emphasises joint military operations, even in cyberspace, and the transatlantic partnership, despite disagreements with Washington.

A new US administration focused on China, the June summit, but also the withdrawal from Afghanistan, growing European defence ambitions and the worst relations with Russia since the Cold War. It is these events that have affected the Alliance the most in the outgoing year. Their consequences will continue to shape it in the year ahead.

In just a few months, the discussions at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation will intensify and the member countries will agree on the final form of the strategy for the next decade. The EURACTIV Slovakia portal presents ten recommendations that, from Bratislava's point of view, should not be missing from the concept.

Europeans at the Conference on the Future of Europe say that the Union should have more power to protect the rule of law. However, Justice Minister Maria Kolíková says changes to the basic treaties are impossible.