Francesco Nicoli
Associate Professor, Politecnico di Torino
Francesco Nicoli is associate professor of political science at the Politecnico Institute of Turin. He also serves as professor of political economy at Gent University and he is Affiliate Fellow at the department of economics of the University of Amsterdam. He was a Non-resident Fellow at Bruegel until September 2025.
He holds a PhD in political economy, and his research focuses on the role of long-term, fundamental socioeconomic challenges (such as technological change and globalization) in shaping processes of integration at European and international level. His work has appeared in leading scientific outlets such as the Journal of European Public Policy (JEPP), the Journal of Common Market Studies (JCMS), Economic Policy, European Union Politics, the European Journal of Political Economy, Policy and Society, the European Journal of Public Health, Comparative European Politics and others. He specialises in experimental survey research, econometric analysis, counter-factual methods, as well as a range of theory-based approaches.
Disclosure of interests
Featured work
Europe beyond unanimity on security
A new European Security Treaty using majority voting would end veto abuse and build shared defence capabilities for a new geopolitical era
Europe should build on France’s nuclear deterrent extension offer
Though not a proper European deterrent, a nuclear strategy partnership between France and other countries marks a new phase as the US wavers
What are governments buying?
How does the European Union manage public-sector procurement, and is there room for environmental goals?
European Green Industrial Policy at a Crossroads? A Pilot Set of Conjoint Experiments Among Policy Experts
All work
First Glance
28 April 2026
Europe beyond unanimity on security
A new European Security Treaty using majority voting would end veto abuse and build shared defence capabilities for a new geopolitical era
First Glance
16 March 2026
Europe should build on France’s nuclear deterrent extension offer
Though not a proper European deterrent, a nuclear strategy partnership between France and other countries marks a new phase as the US wavers
Podcast
22 October 2025
What are governments buying?
How does the European Union manage public-sector procurement, and is there room for environmental goals?
External publication
28 September 2025
Working paper
24 September 2025
Advantages and pitfalls of green public procurement as a European strategic tool
Green public procurement supports EU climate goals but may conflict with other objectives, creating trade-offs that challenge its effectiveness
Event
24 September 2025
Towards a Green Procurement Union: trade-offs and strategic choices
Is it possible to go green through procurement without compromising on cost or control?
Blueprint
08 July 2025
Relaunching Europe's space economy
This Blueprint analyses the scope for the European Union to become a leader on innovation, sustainability, resilience and security in the space sector
First Glance
01 July 2025
How Europe can live with NATO’s ill-conceived defence spending target
A joint approach to defence as a European public good is the only viable option for EU countries to spend 5% of GDP on defence
Newsletter
23 June 2025
Working paper
18 June 2025
How can Europe’s nuclear deterrence trilemma be resolved?
Uncertainty over U.S. nuclear support is forcing Europe to choose between vulnerability, shared deterrence or nuclear proliferation