Europeum

Deník N | The far right will not strengthen in the European Parliament, elections in Member States will be a threat to the EU

June 10, 2024

The results of the European Parliament elections have confirmed the expected rise in the popularity of the far right and populism. Now it is the turn of negotiations within the factions. These will be decisive for voting on European legislation over the next five years. What is in store for MEPs in the coming days, how much will the election results rewrite the balance of power, what role will the far right play within the EP, or what is the real threat to Europe in the months ahead? Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy and EU analyst describes for Deník N.

ČT24 | The balance of power in the newly elected European Parliament

June 13, 2024

The European Parliament has many negotiations ahead of it, be it the distribution of political parties in the political groups, the filling of key positions or the names of the new European Commissioners. What is the most interesting thing to watch on the European stage right now? What other moments will now influence the development of European politics? Vít Havelka, research fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, comments for ČT24.

e15 | Summit in Switzerland will show the world that Ukraine wants peace. But it will not bring it

June 14, 2024

The luxury Alpine hotel Bürgenstock on the shores of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland will host the largest peace conference on Ukraine to date this coming weekend. Leaders and diplomats from nearly 90 countries will be there to seek ways to end the worst armed conflict in Europe since the Second World War. The ambitious event has been accompanied by criticism over the non-participation of Russia, China and US President Joe Biden. Even so, experts say the summit could be an important first step towards peace. Žiga Faktor, deputy director and head of the Brussels office of EUROPEUM Institute, describes the possibilities the conference will offer for e15 journal.

RTVS | Political Groups in the European Parliament

June 05, 2024

The European People's Party (EPP) in the European elections may face competition from political groups such as the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID). After the elections, negotiations on the structure of the political groups and the future President of the European Commission will commence behind closed doors. Žiga Faktor, Deputy Director and Head of the Brussels Office of EUROPEUM Institute, comments for Slovak radio RTVS.

JOJ24 | Post-election negotiations within the European Parliament and the potential of the far right

May 30, 2024

The far right is often disunited, as it lacks electoral discipline and prioritizes its own interests of national politics over its political group. In an interview for the Slovak television JOJ24, Žiga Faktor, Deputy Director and Head of the Brussels Office of EUROPEUM Institute, describes the role European Conservatives and Reformists and the far right from the Identity and Democracy Group could play in coalition building.

IEMED | Serbia: The Dilemma between European Accession and Alliance with Russia

May 30, 2024

With Ukraine’s defence against Russia heading toward a stalemate in the second half of the year and increased pressure inside the EU to deliver on its promises to provide the country with needed financial and military support, Serbia’s ambiguous relationship with Russia and the West has been brought increasingly into the spotlight in 2023. The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), ruling since 2012, and President Aleksandar Vučić have been responsible for continued democratic backsliding and have failed to align with the Union’s foreign policy during Serbia’s lengthy EU accession process, pushing the situation closer towards a tipping point in Serbia-EU relations. Senior researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, Jana Juzová, describes this in more detail in her article for the European Institute of the Mediterranean.

Hospodářské noviny | Sooner or later the Green Deal will hit our wallets and politicians are exploiting that fear. But it can't be stopped anymore

June 01, 2024

The Green Deal is becoming one of the main topics of the upcoming European Parliament elections. Candidate parties emphasize its importance and influence on future politics, with the expected changes affecting various sectors of the economy and the daily lives of citizens. In particular, the amendments to the rules for the ban on the sale of cars with internal combustion engines from 2035 and the upcoming ESG reporting, which could mean a significant administrative burden for medium-sized companies, are being discussed. The transformation towards green technologies brings both opportunities and challenges, and the outcome will depend on the skills and strength of individual negotiators in the coming negotiations. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, discussed the topic in the Hospodářské noviny podcast.

ČRo | Czech Republic abstains in the final vote on the migration pact

May 14, 2024

The Migration Pact heads to its final vote in the Council of Ministers. The Czech Republic will abstain in this final vote. What is the process of approval within the European Union? What led to the change of position? And what are the implications for the EU of the just-approved migration pact? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, comments for Czech Radio.

Vinohradská 12 | What is the Green Deal about?

May 06, 2024

Green madness. Tragedy. But also a challenge, an opportunity. This is what Czech politicians are saying about the Green Deal. What is it really about and how will this issue drive the European Parliament elections? A topic for Viktor Daňek, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, which he addresses in Czech radio podcast Vinohradská 12.

iRozhlas.cz | Pfizergate: Transparency or Privacy Protection?

April 04, 2024

Recent investigation into the purchase of Pfizer vaccines by the EU has revealed the involvement of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, raising questions about transparency and accountability. With the interconnection of several cases, including allegations of undisclosed agreements and legal actions, attention to negotiation processes and financial management within the Commission is increasing. The outcomes of these investigations may influence public trust and future leadership of the EU, highlighting the delicate balance between transparency and privacy protection. Žiga Faktor, Deputy Director and Head of the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute, offered a commentary for iRozhlas.cz.