Articles and Publications

During the next debate in the EU-Pacific Talks series organised by EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, participants engaged in a lively debate covering various aspects of the Russian attack on Ukraine. They also discussed the potential impact on the dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region and the ability of allies and partners to navigate their Indo-Pacific commitments. Read what our guests discussed in this report by Zuzana Augustova.

Even in the most developed countries in the world of today, there is still inequality between men and women, especially in the top public positions. One way of tackling this problem is gender quotas, which the European Union has now taken up in a business context. You can read about the adopted directive and the EU's overall strategy to address the under-representation of women in our intern Natálie Hendlingerová's new blog.

Up to two million children may currently have difficulties in having their parentage recognised within the EU. This is due to different laws in different Member States, which often severely restrict children's rights. The European Commission's proposal, supported by a vote in Parliament, aims to harmonise these different approaches and thus create a more child-friendly situation. Read more in our intern Veronika Vráblíková's new blog.

Coal has been an important part of the Czech economy for decades. As a fossil fuel, however, it is a significant producer of greenhouse gases, especially CO2. Our Research Fellow Jonathan Lyons and Senior Research Fellow Kateřina Davidová write in their blog about the benefits of decarbonisation and switching to wind energy.

What were the trends in the views of the Czech population towards the European Union in 2023? Read the analysis by EUROPEUM Institute Senior Research Fellow Vít Havelka.

In order to fight major problems facing the European Union, including the constant accusations of the democratic deficit of the entire integration project, it is necessary to understand the importance of adopting, respecting, and implementing fundamental European values in member states. Writes Dario Čepo in his Policy Paper.

Prague faces increasing dependence on intensive car traffic, leading to growing problems with traffic, parking and deteriorating quality of public space. The increased number of vehicles means not only pressure on safety and traffic fluidity, but also environmental risks associated with internal combustion engines. Despite growing public support for public transport and car traffic regulation, finding a compromise between individual convenience and urban sustainability remains a challenge.

On September 30th, the long-awaited parliamentary elections held place in Slovakia drawing particularly strong global attention due to their perceived impact on the nation's democratic trajectory and their significance for the unity of the European Union. As a result, Robert Fico, leader of the opposition Smer-SD party, and a former Prime minister in three governments, emerged victorious once again, while his populist, aggressive, and anti-West rhetoric sparked further concerns among the EU leaders. Writes Simona Štibraná.

As the final phase of negotiations between the European Parliament and the Member States on the EU Platform Work Directive approaches, the fate of millions of workers hangs in the balance. Time is running out to protect Czech and EU workers from the Turbo Shvarc system. Read the full article by Silke Maes Junior Research Fellow at EUROPEUM Institute.

During the first debate of the third edition of the EU-Pacific Talks, organised by EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, participants engaged in a lively debate covering various aspects of Taiwan's status. They discussed the economic, military and value drivers behind Taiwan's importance, addressing concerns about China's approach and lessons from other global conflicts such as the war in Ukraine. Read what our guests debated in this report by Adam Horry.

Food waste causes the production of greenhouse gases, wastes water and makes inefficient use of fertile land. In addition to its negative environmental impacts, it is also a social problem. Food is wasted despite the fact that some people are starving. The EU is trying to halve the amount of food waste by 2030 compared to 2015, but current developments suggest that this target will not be achieved. Writes Patricia Vanicka in her blog.

The Czech state administration is facing mistrust because of problems with civil servants and delays in social benefits. Researcher Klára Votavová examines how the administration deals with the distribution of the Fair Transition Fund, which is intended to help coal regions transition to a new economy. The CZK 42 billion goes to the Moravian-Silesian, Karlovy Vary and Ústí Regions.