The Archive

The questions. The debates. The verdicts.

Explore every session of The Long Council.

68 of 127 sessions
  1. 11 June 2026

    How can the EU protect its economy from heavily subsidized Chinese imports?

    Verdict

    The EU must impose targeted tariffs to counter China's $57 billion subsidies while building its own industrial capacity.

    EconomyEuropeChina
  2. 11 June 2026

    Should the EU impose trade barriers against China to protect its economy?

    Verdict

    Trade barriers will slow European innovation more than they protect strategic industries.

    GeopoliticsEconomyEuropeChinaTechnology
  3. 10 June 2026

    How can Western democracies reduce bureaucracy?

    Verdict

    Build digital systems outside existing ministries, then force bureaucrats to use them or lose their jobs.

    DemocracyGovernance
  4. 10 June 2026

    Should societies celebrate cultural differences, or require newcomers to assimilate?

    Verdict

    Newcomers must accept core civic values but should keep their cultural practices.

    Democracy
  5. 9 June 2026

    Should the EU develop nuclear weapons itself?

    Verdict

    European nuclear capacity would either strengthen Europe's alliance position or destroy the security architecture that has protected it for seventy years.

    GeopoliticsEuropeWar
  6. 8 June 2026

    Can the European Union become both more democratic and more decisive at the same time, and if so, how?

    Verdict

    Europe can become more democratic and decisive by building delivery capacity first in energy, defense, and fiscal policy.

    DemocracyEconomyEuropeWarClimateGovernance
  7. 4 June 2026

    Should the EU build an army?

    Verdict

    Yes, but only if Europe commits real money and accepts unified command.

    GeopoliticsEuropeWarGovernance
  8. 3 June 2026

    Which tax policy supports a welfare state while protecting growth and innovation?

    Verdict

    High taxes can fund innovation or destroy it, depending on what they buy and whether citizens trust the system.

    DemocracyEconomyTechnology
  9. 2 June 2026

    Is Europe experiencing democratic backslide, and does a rightward shift among governments pose a problem?

    Verdict

    Europe's rightward shift represents democratic choice exercised against democratic norms.

    DemocracyEuropeGovernance
  10. 2 June 2026

    Should economic performance influence how nations respond to conflict in Iran?

    Verdict

    Iran's economic collapse under sanctions strengthens regime control while forcing dangerous adaptations that threaten global stability.

    GeopoliticsEconomyWarTechnologyGovernance
  11. 2 June 2026

    How to talk to Putin, or negotiate succesfully?

    Verdict

    Putin's survival depends on appearing strong, making normal diplomacy impossible until costs exceed benefits.

    GeopoliticsWar
  12. 31 May 2026

    Has the Dutch Polder Model become a brake on innovation and growth, and should it be dismantled?

    Verdict

    Reform the polder model with accountability mechanisms and decision deadlines, but preserve stakeholder consultation where it adds value.

    EconomyTechnologyGovernanceNetherlands
  13. 29 May 2026

    Should countries aim to build and control their own AI datacenters?

    Verdict

    Build selective domestic AI capacity while maintaining foreign partnerships. Total dependence is dangerous; total independence is wasteful.

    GeopoliticsClimateAI
  14. 29 May 2026

    How can we make democracy in Germany more resilient?

    Verdict

    Ban the AfD through constitutional procedures while rebuilding the economic security and civic engagement that extremism exploits.

    DemocracyEconomyEuropeWar
  15. 29 May 2026

    Who should pay for the added cost of sustainable kerosene in Europe?

    Verdict

    Airlines should charge passengers for sustainable fuel costs, but with progressive pricing that protects low-income access.

    EconomyEuropeClimate
  16. 29 May 2026

    When debt grows, why do governments choose to print money — and how does that shape the debt cycle?

    Verdict

    Governments print money because the political cost of fiscal adjustment arrives in months while inflation arrives in years.

    Economy
  17. 28 May 2026

    Will China surpass the US in economic output and technological leadership?

    Verdict

    China will likely overtake US GDP by 2030, but internal cohesion and institutional management matter more than raw economic size.

    EconomyChinaTechnologyGovernance
  18. 28 May 2026

    Should governments ban PFAS to protect the environment and health?

    Verdict

    Yes, governments should ban PFAS, but with transition timelines that fund alternatives development.

    Economy
  19. 27 May 2026

    Is it useful for the US to have military bases on every continent?

    Verdict

    America's 750 bases work when they serve host nations facing regional threats but become liabilities when they serve only global positioning.

    War
  20. 27 May 2026

    What actions must be taken today to ensure the future of next generations?

    Verdict

    Build institutions that survive electoral cycles and restore the environmental commons that sustain democracy itself.

    DemocracyGeopoliticsClimateGovernance
  21. 27 May 2026

    What conditions would make a Ukraine ceasefire durable and acceptable?

    Verdict

    Ukraine must choose between accepting territorial losses now for institutional protections, or fighting longer to build independent deterrent capacity.

    WarGovernance
  22. 21 May 2026

    Should European countries develop independent defence capabilities as a backup to US security guarantees?

    Verdict

    Europe must build independent defence capabilities while strengthening, not replacing, NATO structures.

    GeopoliticsEuropeWar
  23. 19 May 2026

    How can we structure Dutch democracy so that it works less divisively?

    Verdict

    Dutch democracy needs institutions that force hard decisions, but the council splits on whether centralized authority or distributed governance delivers them.

    DemocracyGovernanceNetherlands
  24. 18 May 2026

    Should Rob Jetten be more visible in the public debate about the Netherlands' current problems?

    Verdict

    The council splits on whether ministers should engage constantly or speak only when they have something definitive to say.

    DemocracyClimateNetherlands
  25. 18 May 2026

    Should the Netherlands limit ASML exports to China under American pressure, or determine its position independently?

    Verdict

    The Netherlands should set independent export limits based on Dutch security interests, not American strategic demands.

    EconomyChinaWarAINetherlands