Politics
Most Finns believe country can’t defend itself alone
In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Albania increasing imports from Ukraine and Russia, the Dutch prime minister’s address to the Ukrainian parliament, and so much more.
Scholz to face major litmus test in elections of largest German state
On Sunday, 15 May, voters in the largest German state, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), will head to the polls. The results in the 17 million inhabitant state will be the first time that Chancellor Olaf Scholz is being judged by voters.
The Brief – Treaty change
The public remarks made by a group of EU leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz, hinting at "the need to reform" the bloc have suddenly given life to the idea of a new EU treaty that would have been very unlikely just a few months ago.
United Kingdom hopes for a return to Eurovision glory, reverse of Brexit bias
A quarter of a century has passed since the UK last won the Eurovision Song Contest, leading to years of speculation on whether political events such as Brexit crushed their chances of winning, but this year the tables may well turn.
Why is Eurovision so political and what is the new European Political Community?
This week, our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on why the Eurovision Song Contest has become so politicised and whether this year’s event is a good reflection of current European affairs. Who are the traditional allies that we will see...
Tweets of the Week: Interpretive CoFoE, Finlandisation and Eurovision
Interpretive dance in Parliament is just pure cringe, when it comes to NATO, Finland is no longer on the fringe, and Ukraine in Eurovision delivers an emotional twinge.OpinionPromoted content
The future of Europe is on the ground
Whether they are looking far into the future for strategic orientations, or closer to the present for new legislation, EU decision-makers need local and regional leaders to show them how the Union is functioning on the ground.
Kuleba: No to EU candidate status would ‘kill our hope’
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba emphasised on Thursday (12 May) the importance of reaching EU-candidacy status for its morale in the war, while German economy minister Robert Habeck warned of giving “false promises.”
Macron backs right-wing hopefuls ahead of June polls
French President Emmanuel Macron has chosen to back several right-wing Les Républicains (LR) candidates in the June legislative elections, continuing his takeover of the now ailing traditional right-wing bloc. EURACTIV France reports.
NI protocol on the brink as London warns it will ‘have no choice but to act’
Talks between the EU and UK aimed at resolving the status of the controversial Northern Ireland protocol appear to be on the brink of collapse, after London warned on Thursday 12 May that it would ‘have no choice but to act’.
EURACTIV Archives: Five times Eurovision went political
Despite claims of being apolitical, year after year the Eurovision song contest never fails to disappoint political aficionados. As part of this year’s dedicated coverage, EURACTIV presents its selection from its archives of instances that highlight the special place this...
UK, Romania lose ground on LGBTI rights despite overall progress in Europe
LGBTI rights are slowly improving across Europe, but “big gaps” persist with a number of countries slipping down the ladder, according to a new ranking published by ILGA-Europe on Thursday (12 May).
Commissioner Dalli: Eurovision ‘undisputed element’ of European shared cultural identity
Artistic events bring people together, overcoming divisions and barriers, and as such, the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) is an "undisputed element" of the European shared cultural identity, which could this year help renew the call for peace on the continent, according to Maltese EU Commissioner Helena Dalli.Editor's picks
Resentment for Ukrainian refugees grows in central and eastern Europe
In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Austria prolonging Hungarian and Slovenian border control amid the Ukraine war, the UK's Johnson promising to protect Sweden in case it applies for NATO membership, and so much more.
Johnson’s case for the defence
One of the most hotly contested arguments following the Brexit vote in 2016 was whether Russian interference had played a role in the referendum campaign. As in the United States over Donald Trump’s election five months later, no Kremlin link...
Le Pen makes her comeback by roasting Mélenchon
After the two weeks of silence that followed her defeat in the presidential election on April 24, Marine Le Pen returned to the political scene by attacking head-on the union of the left and the "fairy tales" of Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Ahead of defence opt-out referendum, Denmark opposes EU Treaty change
In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Germany embracing Macron’s ‘European Political Community’ proposal, Kosovo NGOs asking Macron for visa liberalisation, and so much more.
Ukraine riding high in Eurovision song contest
The Ukrainian ‘Kalush Orchestra’ was voted through on Tuesday (10 May) to the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Italy, confirming that they occupy the pole position in Sunday's final.
The Brief – Why Eurovision matters
This year it will be remarkably tough to keep politics separate from the running of the world’s most-followed singing contest – and that is also why EURACTIV is stepping in with dedicated coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).
Germany embraces Macron’s proposal for a ‘European Political Community’
While Germany does not support a fast-tracked accession of Ukraine, foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said that she supports the idea of a reform of the EU to allow Ukraine and other countries to integrate more deeply with the bloc.
Thirty-one years after communism, Albanians demand democratic reform
A new report by the Albanian Insitute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) says the electorate wants more democratic progress in the EU candidate country, considered a hybrid, or only partly democratic, regime according to Freedom House.
French left-wing bloc divided over legislative nominees
France's new left-wing union has reached a compromise on sharing constituencies ahead of the legislative elections in June despite not everyone agreeing on the choice of nominees. EURACTIV France reports.
German foreign minister calls for prosecution of war criminals during Ukraine visit
German Foreign minister Annalena Baerbock travelled to Kyiv on Tuesday (10 May) as the first minister of Scholz’s cabinet, where she demanded that the “war crimes and the crimes against humanity” be investigated.
European politicians want citizen panels to be used at EU level
The Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) ended on Monday (9 May), but a group of politicians want citizens' forums that were at its heart to become a permanent practice at the EU level. EURACTIV Germany reports.