Laurens Cerulus

7 experts on Europe’s biggest media innovators
The media's search for new business models and the potential of new and social media has brought about a wave of enterprises and entrepreneurs across EU member states. What are Europe’s most innovative news applications and initiatives? EURACTIV asked the experts.![The English Defence League in a rally against islam [Clive Chilvers/Shutterstock]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/09/english_defence_league_islam_anti_racism_clive_chilvers_shutterstock.jpeg)
It’s time to take action against Islamophobia in Europe
Islamophobia is one of the most violent and frequent forms of racist violence and discrimination in Europe today. But it remains unrecognized, leaving the EU powerless in quantifying and countering this phenomenon, writes Elsa Ray.
A bad start for the new Commission
The directorate for public health (DG Sanco) took over the lead role for medicines and medical devices, only some years ago. Mr Juncker's announcement that these units will be moved back to DG Enterprise, is a step backwards, writes Jim Murray.![Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Angela Merkel [Medien Bundeswehr/Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/09/rasmussen_merkel_nato_credit-medien-bundeswehr.jpeg)
Building NATO’s ‘Weimar Triangle’
The West’s military response to Russia’s new assertiveness has been uncoordinated and reluctant. The upcoming NATO summit offers an opportunity to demonstrate Europe’s commitment to collective defense, write Tobias Bunde, Dominik P. Jankowski and Martin Michelot.
How France set off a protectionist arms race on tech
The French government acquired patents from the private sector to protect their national smartphone producers from emerging markets' products. This has changed the game for the increasingly disputed market, writes Hosuk Lee-Makiyama.
A black day for the EU’s climate policy
Donald Tusk’s nomination as the next president of the European Council is a major game changer for the EU's energy and climate policy. And it is not a good one, writes Andrzej Ancygier.![Michael Heise, Chief Economist at Allianz SE [Project Syndicate]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/michael_heise_crop_credit-project_syndicate.jpeg)
A European lost decade?
Europe's economic woes resemble Japan’s situation in the 1990s, which led to a 'lost decade' of economic stagnation and deflation from which the country is still working to recover. Michael Heise asks whether Europe will suffer a similar fate.
Hoping for an unexpectedly strong EU foreign policy chief
On 30 August, European leaders will gather to announce what they hope will be a weak successor to Catherine Ashton. It would be better for the EU if those hopes were dashed and a strong individual were to emerge, writes Jan Techau.![Viktor Orbán [European People's Party/Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/04/viktor_orban_hungary_credit_epp.jpeg)
Fixing Europe’s Orbán problem
Viktor Orbán recently revealed his ultimate objective to build an “illiberal state” on “national foundations”. One might expect European conservatives, in particular, to react strongly to Orbán’s actions, but they continue to treat Orbán with kid gloves, write Thorsten Benner and Wolfgang H. Reinicke.![Campaign against Spain's canon AEDE law: "Linking is not a crime" [Miguel Angel Aranda (Viper)/Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/stop_aede_credit-miguel-angel-aranda-viper-flickr.jpeg)
Spanish law raises concerns of EU-level ‘Google Tax’
Spanish newspaper publishers could soon demand fees from news aggregators like Google News for posting links to their articles. The law is the latest in a series of similar initiatives by national legislators, leaving EU stakeholders wondering if the Commission will follow suit with EU law.![Antonio Mugica [Smartmatic/YouTube]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/antonio_mugica_smartmatic_ceo_e-voting_credit-none.jpeg)
e-Democracy entrepreneur: ‘Online voting will boom in coming years’
More and more governments are introducing tools to have citizens vote electronically and via the internet in elections. The next step, according to the e-democracy entrepreneur, Antonio Mugica, is creating tools for people to engage with lawmakers on a daily basis.
Ukraine conflict shows Europe’s weakness for Moscow’s propaganda
The Kremlin’s use of disinformation has been laid bare after the shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane on 17 July. Europeans must confront the grotesque propaganda machine on which President Putin’s authoritarian rule depends, William Horsley writes.![Emily O'Reilly, EU Ombudsman, with EU Commission president 2009-2014, José Manuel Barroso [European Commission]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/emily_oreilly_jose_manuel_barroso_ombudsman_ombuds_corruption_credit-european_commission.jpeg)
Ombudsman pushes for more protection for EU whistleblowers
The EU Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, on Monday (27 July) opened an investigation into nine EU institutions, which have failed to put in place protective measures for staff members that report corruption or malpractice.
Freedom of movement under European conditions
Freedom of movement is one of the main achievements of the EU. So why doesn't it apply to refugees living in Europe? A mutual recognition of countries' asylum decisions is urgently needed, Gilbert Granjon writes.![Günther Oettinger, German Commissioner for energy, 2009-2014 [European Commission]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/p026018000501-767935.jpeg)
Brussels puts 30% energy savings target on the table for 2030
The European Commission on Wednesday (23 July) proposed reducing the bloc's energy use by 30% by 2030, leaving it up to EU heads of states to decide whether or not to endorse the target at a forthcoming summit in October.![Luigi Epomiceno [WWF]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/luigi-epomiceno-wwf-italy.jpeg)
True ‘growth’ for Europe’s nature and people
The Italian presidency puts forward smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as one of its priorities, leading the EU in the coming months. But what does this mean, exactly, for the European citizen, Luigi Epomiceno wonders.
Should the ‘right to be forgotten’ be reviewed by an international court?
The questions surrounding the investor-state dispute settlement are not about "corporate profits" or "promoting foreign investment", but about the role of international courts in global governance, writes Simon Lester.
Can Europe ‘copy paste’ an energy union?
A European energy union is increasingly on the agenda, as tensions with Russia rise and the EU is confronted with its energy dependence on Russian gas. But replicating the model of the banking union is a naive approach, Ivana Jemelkova and Hans Hack write.![Yves Bertoncini, director of Notre Europe [Parti socialiste/Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/yves_bertoncini_notre_europe_credit-parti-socialiste.jpeg)
New president, new ‘Constitution’?
Juncker's election might mark a new phase of European construction. But the Union's institutional, political and constitutional foundations need renovation, writes Yves Bertoncini.
EU member states not reaching 2020 energy efficiency goals, Commission says
EXCLUSIVE / Further efforts are needed by member states to reach the EU's energy saving target of 20% by 2020, the European Commission said in a leaked draft communication obtained by EURACTIV. The Commission also watered down the target for 2030 considerably in the latest draft.
The Single European Sky: “We have a problem”
The project of a 'single European airspace' is currently in gridlock. Negotiators focus on fragmented solutions rather than building shared infrastructure through integrated technology, writes Matthias Finger.![Judy Dempsey [Atlantic Council/Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/06/judy_dempsey_carnegie_europe_credit-atlantic-council-flickr.jpeg)
Europe’s self-imposed blindness toward Russia
It is shocking how, five days into the crisis following the crash of Malaysia Airlines' MH17 flight, European leaders can only threaten Moscow with more sanctions, writes Judy Dempsey.![Demonstration for quality internships, Brussels, 18 July 2014 [European Youth Forum]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/interns_not_slaves_youth_internship_jobs_credit-european-youth-forum_facebook.jpeg)
Europe’s first ‘Intern Day’ highlights unfair work conditions
Internships replacing jobs are an "increasing problem" in Europe, civil society organisations protested on the first-ever European Interns Day on Friday (18 July), explaining that up to 60% of interns in Europe are still unpaid.![Nick Witney [Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung/Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/5865725823-e0f0595ec2-o.jpeg)