Europeum

168 hodin | EU yes, euro no

May 05, 2024

Czech public is afraid of the European currency and politicians listen to their voters. Businesses are calling for the euro the most. Czech crown is disadvantageous for businesses, they lose millions every year due to the constant conversion between the currencies and expensive loans in crowns. But now they have a strong ally. Czech president Petr Pavel has called for accepting euro, as we once pledged to do, on the anniversary of the Czech accession to the EU. But will it be enough? What is the mood in society? Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, comments on the situation for Czech TV's investigative programme 168 hodin.

Policy Paper | HOW TO PLAY THE DIGITAL POWER GAME WITH LIMITED MEANS Policy Principles for the Next European Commission

April 26, 2024

In the global competition for technological dominance, this policy brief sets out six principles for the next Commission on how to play the digital power game with limited resources. Despite the size of its market, the EU lacks common fiscal capacity, capital markets and labour market dynamics. Writes Silke Maes, Research Fellow at EUROPEUM Institute.

ČRo Plus | Visit of Jens Stoltenberg and Rishi Sunak to Poland

April 23, 2024

Donald Tusk was joined in Warsaw by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The aim of this meeting, according to Tusk, is to strengthen Poland's position in security policy. Polish President Andrzej Duda has even said that Poland is willing to let NATO allies deploy nuclear weapons on their territory. Martin Vokálek, director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the visit for Czech Radio.

TN.cz | The migration pact main topic in the Czech lower chamber, with meeting lasting hours

April 22, 2024

Czech MEPs debated the EU migration pact for over three hours. What came out of the session of the Chamber of Deputies on the migration pact? How do the government and the opposition feel about it? And what are the main issues that the Czech opposition have a problem with it? Deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute Viktor Daněk, commented for TN.cz

Seznam Zprávy | Europe is buying more and more Russian liquefied natural gas

April 12, 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron is talking about sending troops to Ukraine, but his country has already sent 600 million euros to Russia for liquefied gas this year. And the country is not alone in this. What do Martin Vokálek and Vít Havelka from the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy say about this?

ČT24 | The European Parliament approved new migration rules

April 12, 2024

The package consists of ten legislative proposals. Its support was by no means certain, with the fractions counting every vote. What demands does this comprehensive package place on the Member States? And does the package contain mandatory quotas, as the Czech opposition claims? Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, commented on the approval process of the new legislative package for ČT24.

RTVS | The European Union approves aid to Ukraine of 5 billion euros and creates a special fund

March 19, 2024

The countries of the European Union have approved aid in the form of an increase of the European Peace Facility (EPF) by five billion euros. The decision to create a special fund to help Ukraine represents an important step towards strengthening support for the country against Russian aggression. Žiga Faktor, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute and head of the Brussels office, commented on the creation of the fund and its possible results for Slovakian RTVS.

TN.cz | Blinken discussed war in Ukraine with EU foreign ministers in Brussels

March 19, 2024

The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken participated in the meeting of the EU foreign ministers of the member countries in Brussels. This unusual meeting may be motivated by the stalled financial aid of the United States to Ukraine or the upcoming elections on both continents. Current leaders have limited time to continue with existing projects and are likely to try to make deals before newly elected political leaders take their chairs. Martin Vokálek, executive director of the EUROPEUM Institute, spoke about this issue on the main evening broadcast on TV Nova.

Respekt | Is the veto fulfilling its function in EU or has it become a tool for blackmail?

March 11, 2024

Although Viktor Orbán didn't make good on his threat to veto the EU aid proposal for Ukraine, his actions have opened a debate on the need for a veto in the EU. Does it still make sense or has it become a blackmail tool? Even now, the veto isn't the only way to block a proposal. In addition to it, unanimity may be threatened by the so-called blocking minority, in which a group of at least four states representing at least 35% of the EU population can prevent a proposal from being presented. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the Czech Republic's position in the EU and the possible reform of the approval mechanisms for the weekly Respekt.

ČT24 | Leaders of twenty countries to discuss aid to Ukraine

February 26, 2024

What can we expect from the upcoming summit in terms of aid to Ukraine? Vít Havelka, an analyst at EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, describes possible developments of the negotiations for ČT24.