Europeum

ČT24 | Síkela to be EU Commissioner for Energy, says Die Welt

September 03, 2024

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already decided on key positions in her new team. The energy portfolio should go to Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela, the Die Welt website reported citing its sources. Prime Minister Petr Fiala will not comment on the information, a government spokeswoman said. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for ČT24.

Hospodářské noviny | The Czech Republic can raise billions to fight transport poverty, but the government is hesitant on key legislation

September 02, 2024

A household is at risk of transport poverty if it either spends a large proportion of its budget on transport needs, cannot meet all its transport needs, or has no cheaper alternatives to private or public transport. According to a study by the analytical institute STEM, on average three percent of households in the Czech Republic are at risk of this situation. Rebeka Hengalová, a researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, comments for Hospodářské noviny.

STVR | Last day to announce EU Commissioner candidates

August 30, 2024

25 of the 27 EU Member States have already nominated candidates for the new European Commission. So far, 17 are men and 7 are women. According to the President of the European Commission Ursula von den Leyen, only Bulgaria has nominated both a man and a woman. The President also confirmed that there will be a new position of European Commissioner for Defense. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Slovakian STVR.

ČT24 | Von der Leyen knows almost all the candidates for EU Commissioners

August 30, 2024

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen already knows almost all the candidates for her future team. The deadline for member states to make their views known ends on Friday, August 30. In July, the EU chief executive asked member states to propose both, a man and a woman so that she will have an equal representation in the Commission. So far, only Bulgaria has heeded the EC chief's request and as the only country offered both a man and a woman. Also, the Lithuanian candidate has not been officially nominated, but his name has been mentioned in some media. For ČT24 comments Žiga Faktor, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute.

iDnes.cz | Emission allowances for households

August 25, 2024

By postponing the approval of emission allowances for households, the Czech Republic is harming itself. If the permits are not approved, the Czech Republic will have to come up with other instruments to achieve climate neutrality. Kateřina Davidová, Senior Research Fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, commented on this issue.

ČRo Plus | Formation of the new European Commission

August 26, 2024

Ursula von der Leyen has asked EU Member States to send her two names of candidates for the post of Commissioner in the European Commission, one man and one woman, so that she can create a balanced team. The Czech Republic ignored this request and proposed only Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela for the post of EU Commissioner. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Český rozhlas Plus.

e15 | Síkela has a chance at a key position in the new European Commission, von der Leyen faces tough negotiations

August 23, 2024

Intense behind-the-scenes negotiations are currently underway in Brussels over the allocation of 27 positions in the new European Commission, which will once again be led by Ursula von der Leyen. The German politician faces two major challenges: the limited number of strong economic portfolios, which many member states, including the Czech Republic, are vying for, and the effort to create the first-ever gender-balanced Commission, complicated by the predominance of male candidates. The situation was commented on for e15 by Žiga Faktor, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute.

Seznam Zprávy | Jozef Síkela is set for the European Commission, aiming for a strong economic portfolio

August 21, 2024

It has now been confirmed by the government that minister Jozef Síkela is headed to the European Commission as the Czech candidate. Although President Ursula von der Leyen called on member states to nominate a pair of candidates, both men and women, the Czech Republic did not comply with this request. The outcome is expected to be decided in September when the portfolios for all new EU commissioners will be announced. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Seznam Zprávy.

TV Nova | Final stage of EU Commissioners iselection. Fiala meets with von der Leyen in Brussels

August 20, 2024

Petr Fiala met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels. This is just two days before the Czech government is due to definitively confirm the nomination of minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Sikela for the post of European Commissioner. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for the main evening broadcast on TV Nova about what they could discuss at the closed-door meeting and how strong the position of the future Czech Commissioner is in Europe.

Café Evropa | Prague Pride: Is there a lack of tolerance in today's society?

August 06, 2024

We invite you to another Café Evropa debate, this time as part of the Prague Pride week! What are the biggest challenges we face in protecting minorities in public debate? How can we combat hateful comments in the digital world? How do we deal with such comments? At the Scout Institute, we will discuss the state of dialogue in society and focus on the space that tolerance has in social debate.