My engagement with policy is guided by the belief that research should generate usable knowledge for policymaking and public debate.
The questions that drive my research – geopolitical competition, democratic resilience, European security – unfold in real time. They demand sustained engagement beyond academia and continuous dialogue with policymakers, practitioners, and the societies affected by political decisions.
My objective is to contribute to clearer thinking about political choices, risks, and strategic alternatives. I seek to contribute historically informed and analytically grounded perspectives to debates that are often shaped by urgency, uncertainty, and competing political pressures.
This commitment informs several initiatives I lead and co-develop. The Global Risks to the EU Survey (RISK-EU) brings together academics, diplomats, security practitioners, and policy experts to assess conflict-related risks facing Europe and examine how strategic uncertainty is reshaping European security. Through RISK-EU I bring together — for the first time in Europe — the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), and the European Initiative for Security Studies (EISS), along with support from the U.S. based Council on Foreign Affairs.
My interest in data-driven planning for foresight also informs my role as as work-package leader in the Horizon Europe RESISTANCE project (2026-2029). Alongside a wide team, I am building an Observatory for Early Warning signals of autocratization. The project reflects my broader interest in collective foresight and in the role expert knowledge can play in strengthening democratic preparedness and strategic awareness.
A similar philosophy informs my work on EU enlargement and citizen engagement. Through the Horizon Europe project CitiSense (2026-2029), I examine how public attitudes, democratic legitimacy, and societal resilience shape the future of European integration and enlargement. This project seek to improve the evidence base surrounding enlargement and foster stronger connections between institutions and citizens at a moment of profound geopolitical transformation.
My engagement with policy is also shaped by practical experience. Before fully entering academia, I worked as a junior foreign policy adviser to the Romanian Presidency during Russia’s annexation of Crimea. That experience exposed me to the challenges of translating strategic knowledge across political and institutional settings and continues to influence how I think about security, diplomacy, and the responsibilities of public expertise.
I regularly contribute to policy and public debate through expert workshops, policy reports, media engagement, and public writing. My work has appeared in outlets such as Foreign Affairs and addresses questions related to European geopolitics, enlargement, democratic resilience, and international order.
See also selected media appearances and public commentary here.
Dr. Veronica Anghel 