At the latest summit of European leaders in Brussels, the original economic debates quickly turned to serious geopolitical issues, such as the extension of sanctions against Iran and the strengthening of Ukrainian air defenses. However, as pointed out by Vít Havelka, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute, there is no fundamental shift in the EU's approach to countries such as Russia, Israel or Iran.
Show moreWith Hungary taking over the EU presidency in July 2024, many are questioning the EU's ability to promote its values in its member states. Indeed, the EU is about to hand over its presidency to a state that has been criticised for its actions that threaten the rule of law and is subject to the procedure set out in Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), writes Maxime Painot in his blog.
Show moreThe European Union lags behind the United States of America and China economically. The recent meeting in Brussels reflected concerns about a slowdown in the EU economy, which entered 2024 with lower-than-expected growth. EUROPEUM Institute analyst Vít Havelka commented on this situation for the radio station ČRo.
Show moreThe extraordinary summit in Brussels is focusing on competitiveness and the EU's strategic agenda, including the strengthening of the single market, Turkey-EU relations, Ukraine and Israel. Žiga Faktor, head of the Brussels office and deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on this for Slovak RTVS.
Show moreEuropean Parliament's moving from Brussels to plenary sessions in Strasbourg carry symbolic significance, but the logistics costs up to 3 billion CZK annually. Implementing a change would require amending the fundamental treaties of the European Union, which would need approval from all member states. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on this topic for Radio Impuls.
Show moreMyths and disinformation about allegedly bad European officials and their bans spread in the Czech Republic even before joining the EU and persist to this day. What is the origin of these disinformation, and what are the most common myths? Žiga Faktor, head of the Brussels office and deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, addressed these questions in a comment for Newsroom ČT24.
Show moreInterest in the European Parliament elections remains low, and increased turnout is not expected this year either. The Czech perception of the European Union is partly shaped by political expressions, influencing a rather eurosceptic public perception. Although Czech MEPs have the potential to contribute significantly within the Parliament, the public has only limited awareness of their work and influence. Speculations about future positions within the ECR faction and possible commissioner positions are still premature. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, opened these topics on the evening broadcast 90’ on ČT24.
Show moreHistorically, there has been relatively low interest in elections to the European Parliament, and the same is likely to be true this year. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, this interest is the lowest compared to other European countries. The main reason for this is the long-neglected debate on the European Union in the Czech Republic. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the issue and European elections for ČT24.
Show morePetr Fiala will discuss the future direction of the European Union with other European leaders in Vilnius, Lithuania. At an informal working dinner the new strategic agenda is the main topic. The strategy is always defined in the context of the European Parliament elections and before the appointment of each European Commission. In an interview for ČRo Plus Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, spoke about both the Czech and EU priorities.
Show moreThe anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the European Union are not having the desired effect. After two years, it is becoming clear that the sanctions are hitting the Russian economy, but are not preventing them from being circumvented, with Asian countries, led by China, playing a major role. Thus, the Union included several companies from China and Hong Kong in the February round of sanctions. Viktor Danek, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the possible consequences in a report for the main broadcast news TV Nova.
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