Future EU
The Brief, powered by VDMA – Facebook 2.0 for the Future of Europe?
Key EU officials presented today a multilingual digital platform for the Conference on the Future of Europe, a massive event that will be launched officially on Europe Day (or should we say Saint Schuman Day) on 9 May.
EU institutions launch online platform of Conference on the Future of Europe
Top EU officials launched on Monday (19 April) a multilingual digital platform of the Conference on the Future of Europe, a year-long democracy exercise meant to involve Europeans in shaping the future direction of the bloc.
Launch event of EU reform conference will be online focused, says Commissioner
The event formally launching the Conference on the Future of Europe on 9 May is set to be a ‘hybrid’ of online and physical participation because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the EU Commissioner tasked with guiding the process said on Thursday (15 April).
The age of permacrisis
Despite the fatigue with the pandemic and the longing for stability and predictability, Europe has entered the age of ‘permacrisis’, in which volatility, uncertainty, and a prolonged sense of emergency have become the new normal, argue Ricardo Borges de Castro, Fabian Zuleeg and Janis A. Emmanouilidis.
The Brief, powered by FACEBOOK – Michel’s musical chairs
European Council President Charles Michel missed a few good chances in Ankara. But despite his apology tour, where he tried to frame the 'Sofagate' incident as a diplomatic snub rather than a sexist move towards a female leader, this musical chair mishap will mark his mandate, which is up for evaluation in less than a year.
The Brief, powered by bp – An elusive elixir: how to unite the right
A “European renaissance based on Christian values” is probably not what Emmanuel Macron and others have in mind when they think about the EU’s future. But that was top of the agenda for Europe’s three populist musketeers on Thursday. After...
European political parties play a key role now and in the future
The Conference on the Future of Europe should not be a PR exercise but a genuine people’s convention to deliberate all the tough issues we face together and to hear what citizens expect from Europe, argues Hans van Baalen.
A dozy dozen
The EU needs democratic rebalancing. Veto powers have given the EU multiple Achilles heels that have been exploited by the likes of China, Russia and Silicon Valley. But the signals coming ahead of the Conference on the Future of Europe are not promising, writes Sophie in 't Veld.
Lisbon, Brussels want citizens to participate now in Conference on the Future of Europe
The Portuguese presidency of the Council and the European Commission today indicated that it wants citizens to start participating in the Conference on the Future of Europe now, even before the formal launch planned for 9 May.
Fidesz and the EPP are now at a crossroads
The EPP lacks diversity and vision regarding the Conference on the Future of Europe and unless it rethinks its role in European politics, it will gravitate towards the Left, writes László Trócsányi.
Conservatives mull radical shake-up of European Parliament groups
The departure of Hungarian Prime Minister’s Fidesz party from the EU centre-right family has opened the Pandora’s Box in the European Parliament and whetted conservatives’ appetite to reshape the political scene.
Rebuilding on Equal Foundations
This International Women’s Day takes place roughly one year after the start of the coronavirus pandemic. On 5 March last year we adopted the EU’s Gender Equality Strategy for this mandate with a number of measures aimed at ensuring that women are free, can lead and thrive on an equal basis to men, writes Helena Dalli.
Trouble brews in Macron’s Renew as EU Parliament power shift looms
Trouble is brewing in Renew Europe, the third-largest group in the European Parliament, pitting the old 'liberals and democrats' of ALDE against the group leadership and the French delegation of Emmanuel Macron's party, according to an insider source in the centrist group.
Future of Europe project set for launch in May after lawmakers give green light
The European Parliament’s leaders endorsed on Thursday (4 March) the blueprint for the much anticipated Conference on the Future of Europe, a day after national governments also backed it. The Conference, which aims to reform the European Union and bring it “closer” to its citizens, is set to start its work on 9 May, Europe Day.
The Brief, powered by FACEBOOK – Conquistador
Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party has left the European People’s Party. Or the EPP has kicked out bad-boy Orbán. Both narratives are true, choose the one you like. Today we will dwell on the consequences.
The Brief, powered by FACEBOOK – Fidesz and EPP part ways at last. What now?
After years of disagreements, Fidesz's exit from the European People Party’s (EPP) group in the European Parliament was a step long overdue. The question remains, however, where Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's puszta populism will find its new shelter.
Orbán’s Fidesz leaves EPP Group before being kicked out
Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party is leaving the European People Party's (EPP) faction in the European Parliament, the Hungarian prime minister announced on Wednesday (3 March), after years of disagreements with the conservative group, which was preparing to vote on their expulsion.
Jointly steered Conference on Future of Europe awaits go-ahead
The European Union's Conference on the Future of Europe could this week finally get the green light, when member states and the European Parliament give their verdict on the joint declaration negotiated under the aegis of Portugal's presidency of the Council of the EU.
The Brief, powered by FACEBOOK – Strangled at birth
It’s been nearly twenty years since Giscard d’Estaing’s European Convention drew up a Constitutional Treaty that eventually became the Lisbon Treaty. Now, after a decade of muddling through, an assessment of what the EU’s role should be, how it should...
EPP silent over Orban’s flirt with nationalist Brothers of Italy
Europe's biggest political group, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), has declined to comment on a letter of support Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbàn sent to Italy’s nationalist party Brothers of Italy, member of another political family, where he cites their shared "Christian and conservative values".
The Brief, powered by APPLIA – EU summit post-mortem
EU summits are like a regular medical check-up for our union. Expert eyes can immediately see how good its health is. One very good measurement is EU leaders’ ability to decide.
The Brief, powered by Facebook – Tourism with a mask
Within less than 12 months, the coronavirus pandemic has completely changed the travelling patterns of Europeans.
Appointment with history
Crises boost EU integration: an unprecedented budget, common bonds, border guards in EU uniforms. But EU parliamentary democracy is lagging far behind and the European Parliament should defend democratic oversight. If it shies away from using its powers, it will lose them, writes Sophie in ‘t Veld.