Europeum

Rádio Expres | Political turnaround in the EU: Populists strengthen and changes in France and Belgium

June 10, 2024

In Europe populist and far-right parties strengthened in several member states. The European elections brought changes at the national level. France faces early elections, and the Belgian Prime Minister announced his resignation. Project Coordinator and Analyst from EUROPEUM Institute Filip Křenek, commented for Slovak Rádio Expres.

ČT24 | European Parliament elections begin

June 06, 2024

Do the elections across European countries have a common theme? If far-right parties succeed, can they unite? How can the problem of long-term low voter turnout in European elections be explained? Is this trend only in Central Europe? Can candidates for the European Parliament really deliver on what they promise? What happens immediately after the elections? Žiga Faktor, Deputy Director and Head of the Brussels Office of EUROPEUM Institute, answered these and other questions.

Euractiv | Ursula von der Leyen faces pre-election challenges

May 28, 2024

If Ursula von der Leyen wants to sit at the head of the European Commission for a second term, she will likely have to prepare a less green program than five years ago. While no surprises are expected for her nomination, a power shift is anticipated in the European Parliament, which approves the new head of the Commission. Pre-election models predict a strengthening of parliamentary factions critical of the Union. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Euractiv.

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.

Aktuálně.cz | Von der Leyen is almost certain to secure a second nomination, but she may face challenges in the European Parliament

May 28, 2024

The campaigns for the European Parliament elections are not only relevant to Czech politicians but also to those from other countries. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, spoke with Aktuálně.cz about the chances of the current President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. How did she perform in the previous electoral term? And what points should she focus on in her campaign?

ČT24 | Representatives of two factions absent from the Spitzenkandidaten debate

May 24, 2024

Five candidates for the post of President of the European Commission faced each other in the Spitzenkandidaten debate. Two factions did not send a representative at all. Moreover, these are the very factions that could be significantly stronger in the European elections than in the previous period. Missing were representatives of the far-right Identity and Democracy group, of which the SPD is a member for the Czech Republic, as well as the European Conservatives and Reformists, on which the Czech ODS sits. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for ČT24 about whether they were significantly absent from the debate.

RTVS | Does von der Leyen have a clear opponent after the Spitzenkandidaten debate?

May 23, 2024

Five candidates for the post of European Commission chief clashed in a Europe-wide debate on Thursday. Two factions did not field a candidate. The system of spitzenkandidaten, i.e. the leading candidates of each group for the post of president of the European executive, was created as an effort by MEPs to increase transparency in the filling of the highest posts in the European Union, which clearly includes the president of the Commission. Who will be the one who will form the majority after the elections and does the current head of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, have a significant opponent among the other spitzenkandidaten? Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, analysed the debate for RTVS.

TN.cz | Candidates' debate for the post of European Commission chief

May 23, 2024

With less than two weeks to go until the European Parliament elections, voters can choose their representatives with the help of a Europe-wide debate of candidates for the post of the future President or President of the European Commission. Five candidates, including the current head of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who is seeking her second mandate this year, met in the debate on Thursday. Topics discussed included defence and security, the environment and the importance of democracy. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute, spoke to TN.cz about the importance of the debate for Czech voters and the outcomes of the individual candidates.

BLOG | Radio Silence: EU Media Laws in the Hungarian Context

May 15, 2024

The European Union has passed major legislation to try and secure media freedom and independence in recent years. However, for the state of media pluralism in certain Member States, these efforts have come too late. In the Hungarian context, a pro-ruling party media ecosystem stands well-entrenched in the private and public media sector. Writes our researcher, Henry Barrett, a Fulbright-Schuman Grantee.

ČT24 | The rise of the far-right in the EU elections

May 10, 2024

What are the reasons for the rise of the far-right in the upcoming European elections? Can we say that the far-right still holds anti-European views? What would the agenda of the European Parliament look like if the far-right gained more support? How likely is it that the European People's Party and Liberals would cooperate with the Conservatives? Žiga Faktor, deputy director and head of EUROPEUM Institute's Brussels office, provided live answers on the program "Předvolební Evropa" on ČT24.