The Archive

The questions. The debates. The verdicts.

Explore every session of The Long Council.

19 of 151 sessions
  1. 20 June 2026

    Why don't EU countries invest in mutual train lines to reduce CO2 emissions?

    Verdict

    EU cross-border rail stalls because each member state pays now and waits decades to benefit, while no corridor-level institution enforces shared commitments.

    EUClimate
  2. 18 June 2026

    How can the Netherlands improve the sustainability reputation of its flower bulb industry?

    Verdict

    Bind the bulb sector to the *waterschappen* water rules, then price extraction and runoff so growers pay the real cost.

    NetherlandsGovernanceClimate
  3. 15 June 2026

    How can we solve an urgent problem like housing shortage?

    Verdict

    Government must build housing directly while removing barriers to private construction. Market signals fail when speculation dominates shelter.

    Climate
  4. 13 June 2026

    How can we create long term peace in Libanon

    Verdict

    Lebanon needs international partners who can fund state rebuilding while deterring Iranian interference.

    EconomyWarClimate
  5. 13 June 2026

    Who would win from European degrowth—the planet, China, or nobody?

    Verdict

    China wins from European degrowth while the planet loses.

    EUChinaEconomyGeopoliticsClimate
  6. 1 June 2026

    Should the US government's fast-track loan to Vulcan Elements, a firm with ties to a ruling official's family, be considered corruption or legitimate governance?

    Verdict

    This is corruption disguised as strategic policy.

    USGovernanceClimate
  7. 29 May 2026

    Should we restore ecosystems by leaving nature alone and reducing human intervention?

    Verdict

    Ecosystems damaged by humans require active human restoration, not passive rewilding.

    Climate
  8. 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.

    EUClimate
  9. 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.

    NetherlandsDemocracyClimate
  10. 14 May 2026

    Should Groningen's gas fields remain open for emergency situations?

    Verdict

    Emergency capacity requires local control over when emergencies justify production.

    NetherlandsClimate
  11. 14 May 2026

    Should the Dutch government reopen the Groningen gas field to secure energy supplies, and how should it compensate affected residents?

    Verdict

    The council agrees compensation must be automatic and generous, but splits on whether energy sovereignty justifies reopening.

    NetherlandsClimate
  12. 6 May 2026

    Should governments publicly acknowledge climate science?

    Verdict

    Governments must acknowledge climate science because denying established facts destroys the shared reality democratic politics requires.

    Climate
  13. 6 May 2026

    Should we have a flying miles system where every citizen of the EU gets a free amount of miles they can travel by plane each year. If they are out of miles they can buy from other eu members that are not using them in an open marketplace. This will ensure there is a redistribution of wealth. People with less money can sell their miles for a fun holiday by car while the rich can fly far away.

    Verdict

    The system could work but requires choosing between market efficiency and climate justice.

    EUEconomyDemocracyClimate
  14. 5 May 2026

    How can Europe develop a long-term strategy for climate and conflict migration that combines humane reception with social stability?

    Verdict

    Europe must prepare institutions for predictable climate migration rather than manage it as permanent crisis.

    EUWarClimate
  15. 5 May 2026

    How do we balance the acute need for economic growth and housing construction with legal obligations and the urgent need to reduce nitrogen emissions and protect biodiversity?

    Verdict

    Build housing and cut nitrogen in the same places through local control, subsidized energy, and redistribution from wealthy regions to constrained ones.

    EconomyClimate
  16. 30 April 2026

    How to secure Europe's future by allowing construction of datacenters, while protecting affordability in energy for the European population?

    Verdict

    Europe must choose between cheap energy for consumers today and digital infrastructure that prevents technological dependence tomorrow.

    EUDemocracyClimate
  17. 27 April 2026

    Should the US government refuse green cards to people who have criticized Israel and support the Palestinian cause?

    Verdict

    The government should not exclude green card applicants based on their criticism of Israel or support for the Palestinian cause.

    USWarClimate
  18. 25 April 2026

    What are humanity's biggest mistakes in human nature, and how do they show up in the world we're living in now?

    Verdict

    Humanity's greatest mistake is designing institutions that systematically fail to align human behavior with collective flourishing, though the council reveals this failure has multiple, interconnected dimensions that resist any single solut…

    EconomyGovernanceClimate
  19. 24 April 2026

    Should the Netherlands phase out all remaining Russian LNG imports by end of 2026, even if this means higher consumer energy prices for 18 months?

    Verdict

    The Netherlands should phase out Russian LNG imports by end-2026. Energy dependency on an adversarial supplier that has already weaponized energy exports constitutes a strategic vulnerability that outweighs temporary consumer costs.

    NetherlandsEconomyGeopoliticsWarClimate