Research published by the European Central Bank (ECB) has revealed that the European Union (EU) is increasingly engaging in trade with autocratic and dictatorial regimes. This trend has raised concerns that such trade relationships may inadvertently fund threats to the EU itself. The findings, highlighted by ECB economists, point to a potential existential risk to the EU stemming from its commercial ties with non-democratic governments. In a related development, ECB staff have publicly criticized ECB President Christine Lagarde, accusing her of managing the institution through an 'unaccountable legal fortress' and describing the ECB's behavior as 'anti-democratic,' according to reports from the Financial Times.