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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hard truths about Europe’s soft power

Nick Witney is a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and was the first chief executive of the European Defense Agency.