Publications

Regulating Cyberspace: UN Consensus-Building in a Fragmented Digital World

Research Report

5.5.2025

Regulating Cyberspace: UN Consensus-Building in a Fragmented Digital World

How well is cyberspace governance working? Key UN processes for digitalisation have produced mixed results and are often undermined by geopolitical friction and competing visions of cyberspace regulation.

Federica Marconi, Ettore Greco

The UN Human Rights Council: Challenges and Opportunities for Reform

migration and human rights

Research Report

5.5.2025

The UN Human Rights Council: Challenges and Opportunities for Reform

The Human Rights Council is at a critical juncture. How can it reform? Targeted improvements like stronger membership criteria, protected civil society participation, and adequate funding for Special Procedures may help.

Samuel King, Inés Pousadela

The Intellectual Property and Public Health Regime Complex: Considerations on Vaccine Access and Equity

health and pandemics

Research Report

5.5.2025

The Intellectual Property and Public Health Regime Complex: Considerations on Vaccine Access and Equity

How have multilateral institutions shaped policy responses on vaccine access? During the COVID-19 pandemic, intellectual property rights were often prioritised over quick, equitable vaccine access. How will global health address this going forward?

Óscar Fernández, Mirko Heinzel

Climate Negotiations Under Scrutiny: Is UNFCCC Decision-Making Up to the Challenge?

climate and sustainability

Research Report

5.5.2025

Climate Negotiations Under Scrutiny: Is UNFCCC Decision-Making Up to the Challenge?

With COP30 on the horizon and a worsening climate crisis, can the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change meet the demand? Its procedural structure, which requires consensus, may be a significant obstacle to achieving the goals set out in the Paris Agreement.

Franziska Petri, Jan Karlas

Revitalising and Reforming the World Trade Organization in an Age of Geopolitics

trade and inequality

Research Report

5.5.2025

Revitalising and Reforming the World Trade Organization in an Age of Geopolitics

How are rising geopolitical tensions and recent US tariffs threatening the future of the World Trade Organization (WTO)? A renewed focus on safeguarding the institution’s robustness may be essential for its survival.

Michal Parizek, Clara Weinhardt

The G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro: Brazil’s Agenda and What It Means for the EU

EU foreign policy

Policy Brief

13.11.2024

The G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro: Brazil’s Agenda and What It Means for the EU

The club's meeting is an opportunity for the EU to formulate a shared agenda with Brazil around specific priorities like ending hunger or climate change, and to jointly promote common initiatives.

Victor Cabral, Mylena Lucciola, Vitória Kavanami, Beatriz Fernandes

BRICS and Multilateralism: Four Dynamics to Watch at the Kazan Summit

EU foreign policy

Policy Brief

15.10.2024

BRICS and Multilateralism: Four Dynamics to Watch at the Kazan Summit

The 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia, will be the first real test of whether the now-expanded BRICS can effectively collaborate on new initiatives and potentially lead the "global majority." Here's why the EU and others should pay attention.

Mihaela Papa

After the UN Summit of the Future: Lessons for Enhancing Civil Society Participation in Global Governance

Policy Brief

8.10.2024

After the UN Summit of the Future: Lessons for Enhancing Civil Society Participation in Global Governance

From a civil society perspective, the process that led to the Summit of the Future as well as its outcomes were disappointing. In light of this, the EU and its member states should do more to enhance civil society participation in global governance.

Inés Pousadela, Andrew Firmin, Mandeep Tiwana, Jesselina Rana, Reylynne Dela Paz

Civil Society Perspectives on Global Governance Reform

academic theories

Research Report

30.9.2024

Civil Society Perspectives on Global Governance Reform

This report presents the main findings of ENSURED's initial consultations with civil society on the state of global governance and the project’s conceptual framework.

ENSURED’s Research and Findings

Regulating Cyberspace: UN Consensus-Building in a Fragmented Digital World

The UN Human Rights Council: Challenges and Opportunities for Reform

The Intellectual Property and Public Health Regime Complex: Considerations on Vaccine Access and Equity

Climate Negotiations Under Scrutiny: Is UNFCCC Decision-Making Up to the Challenge?

Revitalising and Reforming the World Trade Organization in an Age of Geopolitics

The G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro: Brazil’s Agenda and What It Means for the EU

BRICS and Multilateralism: Four Dynamics to Watch at the Kazan Summit

After the UN Summit of the Future: Lessons for Enhancing Civil Society Participation in Global Governance

Civil Society Perspectives on Global Governance Reform