Russia's war in Ukraine has destabilised supply chains and strained food systems in Africa and the Middle East, highlighting their vulnerability and the need to increase their resilience. Writes Clément Steuer, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of International Relations Prague.

Given the lack of adequate EU responses over rule of law violations, politically-willing European states ought to consider a novel accountability mechanism. It is high time for committed European states to take innovative and decisive action on more than a decade of democratic backsliding sweeping the region and the world. Should European Union Member States concerned about rule of law violations seek a solution outside the EU institutions? Our researcher Henry Barrett, a Fulbright-Schuman Grantee, writes about this topic in his blog.

On April 18th, EUROPEUM’s Brussels Office in partnership with PISM Brussels Office under the Think Visegrad platform hosted a discussion titled “Regional Cooperation in Central Europe in the Aftermath of Russia’s War: Changes and Prospects”. This event was attended by 15 experts from think tanks and representatives of EU institutions.

Another in the series of EU-Pacific talks dealt with fostering work-life balance in diverse societies. The debate focused on examining current demographic trends and their social consequences in high-income countries in Europe and Southeast Asia. The discussion also touched on social systems, flexible job opportunities, and the pressures women face when balancing work and private life.

On April 11, 2024, EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy along with its partner INCIEN Institute for Circular Economy, held a roundtable titled A Circular Solution for Czechia. This round table was part of a project called The End-of-Life Management of the Automotive Industry and the Opportunities for Czechia.

With Hungary taking over the EU presidency in July 2024, many are questioning the EU's ability to promote its values in its member states. Indeed, the EU is about to hand over its presidency to a state that has been criticised for its actions that threaten the rule of law and is subject to the procedure set out in Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), writes Maxime Painot in his blog.

Energy communities are an effective means to decentralize and renew our energy systems with sustainable solutions as they are usually based on renewable energy. They have already started emerging in 1970´s, yet there has been a significant increase in their development only in recent years, also in terms of their introduction into the EU legislation. Especially in Western and Northern European countries the concept already enjoys vast popularity. On the other hand, in Central and Eastern European countries (further referred to as CEE) energy communities are only beginning to emerge. The policy brief (based on literature and interviews with various stakeholders ) examines the benefits energy communities may bring, and more importantly, the main obstacles remaining in their way for greater evolution in the CEE region – and especially Visegrad countries (V4). As these initiatives progress, sharing the best practices will ensure the success of the community energy in the energy transition. Writes Alžbeta Gavalcová.

In December 2023, the Hungarian Parliament passed a law establishing the Office for the Protection of the Sovereign, a state agency that now has unlimited access to personal data to search for and prosecute alleged foreign agents among the Hungarian population. Our researcher Henry Barrett, a Fulbright-Schuman Grantee, writes about this topic in his blog.

During the fifth debate of the third edition of the EU-Pacific Talks, organised by EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, participants focused on the importance of the Global South and the events taking place there that require attention. In the debate, participants stressed the importance of recognising regional differences, showing respect for the countries in the region and actively engaging in listening to their views. Read what our guests discussed in the report written by Adéla Jehličková.

This policy brief analyses the prospective changes in the European Parliament (EP) composition following the 2024 elections. It reflects on the evolving political environment since 2019, highlighting shifts in party dynamics within the EP, such as the fragmentation of traditional party dominance and the emergence of new political alignments. Additionally, it explores potential reconfigurations in top EU positions post-elections and examines ongoing concerns regarding geographical representation within EU institutions, particularly the European Commission. Writes Tomasz Zając from the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM).

Belgium is gearing up for several elections this year. In addition to the European elections, Belgian citizens will also vote for the federal and regional parliaments on the same day. Although this arrangement is nothing new in Belgium, it may make it more difficult for voters to distinguish between the different election campaigns. Growing Flemish nationalism may also bring complications. These topics are addressed by Nicolas Rouillard in his new blog.

Can Ukraine take lessons from the Czech approach to the recovery plan? Alina Boiko focuses on the Czech implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which could help the Ukrainian authorities improve their ability to implement new policies.