Europeum

Policy Paper | Enlargement on Hold: The Price Europe Pays

June 25, 2024

How can the EU enlargement process regain its lost momentum? And how can we learn from previous rounds of enlargement? These questions are answered by a group of authors together with EUROPEUM Institute senior researcher Jana Juzová in a new publication within the REWEU project.

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.

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.

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.

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.

e15 | Slovak government toughens up after attack on Fico. Violent acts may increase, experts warn

May 20, 2024

Democracy and the rule of law in Slovakia are in even greater danger after last week's assassination of Prime Minister Robert Fico than before. According to the local media, there are fears that government politicians, led by Fico's interim deputy Robert Kaliňák, will try to take advantage of the current situation to introduce repressive measures against the opposition and the liberal media, which could also affect local business. Project manager of EUROPEUM Institute Kristína Chlebáková comments on the situation for e15.

BLOG | A Proposal for Politically-Willing Countries to Resolve Europe’s Rule of Law Crisis

April 26, 2024

Given the lack of adequate EU responses over rule of law violations, politically-willing European states ought to consider a novel accountability mechanism. It is high time for committed European states to take innovative and decisive action on more than a decade of democratic backsliding sweeping the region and the world. Should European Union Member States concerned about rule of law violations seek a solution outside the EU institutions? Our researcher Henry Barrett, a Fulbright-Schuman Grantee, writes about this topic in his blog.

20 Years of Reuniting Europe’s East and West: Is the EU Ready for Another “Big Bang” Enlargement?

April 04, 2024

We would like to invite you to a debate on a topic "20 Years of Reuniting Europe’s East and West: Is the EU Ready for Another “Big Bang” Enlargement?" The debate will take place on Thursday, April 4, from 16:00 to 17:15 h at Prague University of Economics and Business.

E15 | Fico is "orbanising" Slovakia faster than expected. Presidential elections are the hope

January 30, 2024

In Slovakia, Robert Fico is preparing changes to criminal law that could seriously undermine the functioning of democracy and the rule of law. In particular, the planned abolition of the Office of the Special Prosecutor is a cause for concern. Our project manager Kristína Chlebáková assessed the situation for E15.