Europeum

EURACTIV: Bosnia prepares for elections, but will go nowhere without reform. Not even closer to the EU

August 18, 2022

The head of the Brussels office Žiga Faktor commented for EURACTIV. What are the chances of reforming the electoral system in Bosnia? How should parties work on it and what should it include? According to Žiga Faktor, it must not only reflect political proposals and ambitions, but it is necessary to think about what citizens themselves want and how the reform will affect them.

Conference: Building momentum for CCS deployment in the CEE region

September 06, 2022

The purpose of the conference is to establish familiarity of regional (CEE) actors with the EU-level CCS policy initiatives, to introduce them to funding opportunities that could be used to facilitate and accelerate the deployment of CCS projects in the region, as well as to enable and encourage communication and cooperation among interested parties. The conference will take place on 6 September at 15:00 in Brussels at the Residence Palace (155 Rue de la Loi, 1000 Brussels) and will also be streamed online.

RTVS: Some EU countries are returning to coal energy

August 02, 2022

The return of coal as a source of electricity production is a direct consequence of the Russian aggression in Ukraine. The resumption of coal-fired power stations in Europe means an increase in harmful emissions, jeopardizing the EU's climate targets. EUROPEUM Institute researcher Kateřina Davidová spoke in detail about the energy crisis in Europe, the measures that Brussels is taking to prevent countries from turning to sources of electricity such as coal, and the compensatory measures taken by member states.

Hospodářské noviny: Breakthrough: Macedonians and Albanians start talks on EU accession, Fiala flies to Brussels for a U-turn

July 19, 2022

The leaders of Northern Macedonia and Albania will open their countries' accession talks to the European Union in Brussels on Tuesday, something for which Northern Macedonia has been waiting for over 17 years and Albania for eight. The head of our Brussels office, Žiga Faktor, commented on this fact for Hospodářské noviny. Žiga Faktor also comments on the agreement between Northern Macedonia and Bulgaria. In his view, the EU may have set a precedent by allowing bilateral historical and cultural disputes to become part of the accession process.

Aktuálně.cz: Macedonians and Albanians start negotiations on EU accession. Fiala flies to Brussels for this

July 19, 2022

The leaders of Northern Macedonia and Albania will open their countries' accession talks to the European Union in Brussels on Tuesday, something for which Northern Macedonia has been waiting for over 17 years and Albania for eight. The head of our Brussels office, Žiga Faktor, commented on this fact for Aktuálně.cz. Faktor also commented on the agreement between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, which opened the way for North Macedonia to join the EU. Faktor believes that the EU may have set a precedent by allowing bilateral historical and cultural disputes to become part of the accession process.

Le Figaro: Eurosceptic Czech Republic takes over EU reins

July 13, 2022

Žiga Faktor, head of our Brussels office, commented on the Czech EU Presidency for the French daily Le Figaro.

DW: Czech Republic takes over rotating European presidency

July 01, 2022

The Czech Republic has taken over the rotating presidency of the European council. It has vowed to focus largely on aid to Ukraine and the war's repercussions. Žiga Faktor, the head of our Brussels office talked in a brief interview with DW. Žiga Faktor finds the Czech Republic a perfect fit for trying to find a consensus on the situation and the position towards Russia.

Blisty: Rozhovor Britských listů 505. Are the Visegrad Four irrevocably discredited?

July 01, 2022

The head of our Brussels office Žiga Faktor gave an interview to the British Gazette. In the interview they compare how the Czech Republic and Slovenia are dealing with the legacy of populist governments.

iDnes: Czech sounds through Brussels. Spejbl and Hurvínek will be there with the Presidency

July 01, 2022

The Czech Republic will sit on the EU Council for the second time in July. Thanks to the presidency and the growing number of visiting diplomats, the Czech language is spreading through Brussels more than usual, so you can hear "ahoj" or "rád tě vidím" here and there in the streets, writes Žiga Faktor in his commentary for iDNES.cz.

DELO.SI: Prime Minister Fiala's presidency will be hampered by past mistakes

July 01, 2022

The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU begins today. One of the challenges that the Czech Republic will face is the possible extension of sanctions against Russia, for instance in the gas sector. However, the geographical proximity of Ukraine to the Czech Republic should facilitate negotiations on this issue. Žiga Faktor, head of our Brussels office, commented on this topic for the Slovenian online daily DELO.