Future EU
All eyes on Germany’s ‘crisis’ presidency, expected to lead EU recovery
The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has forced Germany to radically revise the priorities for its EU Council Presidency in the second half of the year. One thing is clear: the biggest EU country takes the helm in the midst of an unprecedented crisis, at a crucial time for the bloc's recovery efforts. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Italians least satisfied with EU’s coronavirus response
According to a survey carried out for the European Parliament, Italians are the least satisfied EU citizens when it comes to the EU's response to the coronavirus crisis. EURACTIV Italy reports.
Karlsruhe vs. Luxembourg: Resolving the clash of courts
Following the row between the ECJ and Germany's Constitutional Court, Europe need to develop mechanisms to avoid a repeat of such conflicting judgements between top courts, argues Patrick Breyer.
The Brief – Marshalling the funds
‘Whatever it takes’ was the message from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday (27 May) as the EU unveiled an ambitious recovery plan to help its members who have been worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Volt MEP: Abolishing unanimity is key to making the EU more effective
The coronavirus crisis has once again shown that reforms of "the basic structure" of the EU are necessary, including abolishing unanimity in the European Council, to strengthen the EU's ability to act, German MEP Damian Boeselager (Volt) told EURACTIV Germany in an interview.
2020 will go down in history as the EU’s turning point thanks to COVID-19
In the two months since mid-March, the European Union has seen a change of course that was unthinkable at the start of the year. Entrenched taboos are falling away, and things that had been awaited for more than 20 years are happening within days and weeks. We must not waste this historic moment, writes Luca Jahier.
Ernesto Rossi and the Call to Europe
It is time to rebuild the EU on the foundations set by Ernesto Rossi and others, writes Roger Casale.
Europe’s Franco-German ‘motor’ sputters back to life
President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Angela Merkel have jump-started the Franco-German "motor" at the heart of Europe by jointly pitching a hugely ambitious economic recovery plan, even if it faces a bumpy road ahead.
German ECB ruling should ‘spur’ more eurozone integration: Merkel
Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday (13 May) that a bombshell ruling on the European Central Bank by Germany's top court should "spur" efforts toward greater eurozone integration.
Hungary summons Nordic diplomats over rule-by-decree row
Hungary summoned the ambassadors of four Nordic countries on Monday (11 May) over their countries' criticism of a controversial law that empowers Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to act by decree against the novel coronavirus.OpinionPromoted content
Normality is not an option: the post-pandemic Union must be a new Europe of all peoples
Coronavirus has exposed the structural problems in our societies at all levels. To mark Europe Day, EFA believes a post-pandemic Union must be a more diverse, representative and democratic Europe of all peoples.
Defending our imperfect but vital European Union
Alone, we fail. Together, we overcome. This was true 70 years ago and still is today, writes Antonio López-Istúriz White. Antonio López-Istúriz White is a Spanish MEP and Secretary General of the centre-right European People’s Party. Five years after the end...
It’s the long-term, stupid!
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic there is a temptation to revert to nationalism and close borders. But working together and eschewing damaging short-term measures is the best response to the crisis, writes Henning vom Stein.
Can you take no for an answer?
The political attacks against the Hungarian Government's response to the coronavirus work against a strong and unified Europe, argues Judit Varga.
Why coronavirus is likely to be bad news for Europe’s radical right
Even if coronavirus has a negative effect on attitudes to immigration, it will be bad news for Europe’s radical right, argue Dr James Dennison and Professor Andrew Geddes.
Hungarian PM Orbán accuses EPP of spreading fake news
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has sent a letter to the party leaders of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), accusing both political opponents and allies of spreading fake news about the Hungarian coronavirus law that enabled his government to rule by decree without set time limits.
The free and democratic Europe: a death by a thousand cuts?
The Hungarian parliamentary elections in April 2010 changed the country – for worse. Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz took power for the second time. Today, ten years later, we can see how the prime minister has turned his country into an illiberal state, ignoring the basic principles of the rule of law, writes MEP Udo Bullmann.
Time for governments to listen to their European citizens
Amid the range of appeals and open letters on the policy-changes need to combat the coronavirus, one constant is that all are demanding an effective common EU response to the pandemic, writes Roberto Castaldi.
COVID-19 and the need for deep EU reform
The management of COVID-19 cases seems to be working more on the basis of Darwin's well-known theory of natural selection, where the strong survive, rather than on any European strategy, writes Bashkim Smakaj.
The Brief – Throwing down the gauntlet
For French president Emmanuel Macron, there is no way around Coronabonds, a position he made perfectly clear last Friday to the northern Naysayers, particularly Berlin. Because his own political future is at stake.
By surrendering to autocracy in the fight against COVID-19, Hungary poisons European ideals
The EU must swiftly propose and adopt sanctions against the latest 'democratic backsliding' by the Hungarian government, say leading European politicians, media and civil society leaders in an open letter whose signatories include former Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy, and EURACTIV founder Christophe Leclercq.
Michel: EU’s way of working is ‘too slow’
European Council President Charles Michel has voiced regret that Europe’s way of working, also evident during the coronavirus crisis, is ‘too slow’ and called for more solidarity with countries that have been hard-hit by the pandemic, like Italy and Spain.
Von der Leyen: ‘We now need to build a resilient, green, and digital Europe’
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen believes the “real Europe is standing up” to the coronavirus crisis now. In a written interview with EURACTIV's media partner Efe, she spoke about a broad range of issues, from the challenges facing the Eurogroup earlier this month to the expectations for the summit of European leaders this week.
Will Italy’s coronavirus epidemic fuel the far right?
Italy is staring down the barrel of the worst recession since World War II, which could bolster the far-right and damage the country's love affair with the European Union, analysts say.