Politics
The Brief – Don’t forget about the fish
A golden rule in politics is that the most belligerent rhetoric presages a climbdown. As lawmakers in Westminster passed a bill that would break the Withdrawal Agreement with the EU, accompanied with the usual bellicose statements about ‘taking back control’,...Promoted content
Europe needs a vaccine for inequality, not just COVID-19
A year from now we may well have a vaccine for Covid-19, but we certainly won’t have one for inequality or social injustice. In addition to its immediate health impact, the pandemic has shone an ugly light on the levels of inequality in Europe and around the world through a variety of lenses from demographic to financial to digital.
Corruption puts the future of the European Union at risk
Protests against government corruption have been rocking Bulgaria since August. MEP Daniel Freund, who was in Sofia last week to meet with protesters, shares his impressions.
The Brief, powered by ESA – A dose of reality on migration, or kicking the can
The EU migration pact announced on Wednesday (24 September) may not be remotely close to the “entirely new architecture” promised by the von der Leyen Commission but at least it offered a dose of reality. Altruism, or that much abused...![[European Parliament/Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/01/european_parliament_plenary_crediteuropean_parliament_flickr.jpeg)
How to break the taboo about EU funding and the rule of law
Democratic backsliding in Europe is evident and the EU must stop treating the rule of law and democracy in its member countries as a taboo subject. It should be discussed openly and impartially, writes Michal Šimečka.
The Brief, powered by ESA – The undemocratic habit of the democratic game
The unwritten rule of 'cordon sanitaire' has struck again. One more time, the far-right was prevented from taking a key post in the European Parliament.
Orbán’s attempt at blackmail
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is blackmailing the rest of the European Union, but MEPs and EU leaders must call his bluff to hold up the COVID-19 recovery fund if rule of law criteria are included. This may be the EU's last chance to crack down on his rogue regime. writes Csaba Molnár.
The Brief, powered by ESA – Always look on the bright side of EUCO
The EU needs to be more courageous in its diplomacy, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in her first State of the Union speech a couple of days ago. Some said her lengthy speech was bold. Others complained that there was too much wishful thinking. Others remarked that foreign affairs are not exactly her remit.
Towards a balanced EU migration policy
When it comes to migration, there should be tangible solidarity in the EU. However, Poland cannot accept the paradigm according to which solidarity is based on obligatory measures, including relocation, writes Andrzej Sadoś.
EU representatives and voters without borders
There is an urgent need to fully recognise the democratic rights of all European citizens, write Alberto Alemanno, Giorgio Clarotti, Olivier Costa and Christophe Leclercq.
For the benefit of youth – for the benefit of inclusion
Funding for Erasmus + should not be sacrificed as the EU gears up for its massive spending plan to combat the economic damage caused by Covid-19, writes Florian Sanden.
Free the ‘prisoners’ of Moria now!
Europeans frightened by migration must be shown concretely that their security will not be at risk if reasonable programmes are implemented with the direct help of organised civil society, writes Marco Impagliazzo.
The Brief, powered by Eurogas – SOTEU’s hidden gems
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s SOTEU speech hit all the main points expected of her but there were also less obvious yet still interesting ideas, hidden between the lines.
An EU law for the Romani people becomes possible
The European Parliament will pass today its Resolution “on the implementation of National Roma Integration Strategies: combating negative attitudes towards people with Romani background in Europe”. The rapporteur, Romeo Franz, who is of Roma origin, shares his emotional reaction.
COVID-19: Time to show citizens that they can count on Europe
European citizens have been exemplary in their fight against COVID 19. They have bravely overcome an acute sanitary threat and paid the high economic, social and psychological price of the lockdown, write a group of European lawmakers.
After one year of the ‘geopolitical’ Commission it’s time to get real
Last year Ursula von der Leyen promised to lead a 'geopolitical' Commission. It's time to get real on putting that into practice, argue Nicole Koenig and Nils Redeker.
Europe must take action to combat rising anti-Semitism
COVID-19 has fuelled anti-Semitism in Europe. We need to take it seriously or risk losing the Jewish community, writes Michael O'Flaherty.
The Brief, powered by amfori – A gamble too far
It’s the wise gambler who knows when his luck is about to run out. Boris Johnson always assumes that his luck is in and, so far, his faith has been rewarded. But his threat to break the Withdrawal Agreement looks like a gamble too far.
A European Education Alliance for the future of education
Two European lawmakers, Victor Negrescu and Eva Maydell, set out their plans for how a European Education Alliance can help advance education across the bloc.
Raising our game through strategic foresight
With the adoption of its first-ever Strategic Foresight Report, the European Commission is making a giant leap forward, by bringing robust long-term challenges and vision into short-term political focus and action, writes Maroš Šefčovič.
Why a deal on energy could break the Brexit logjam
The window for a post-Brexit trade deal is closing fast but the basics are already in place for an agreement on the energy sector, and mutual benefits would be huge, writes Michael Grubb.
Voting is every EU citizen’s right, regardless of disability
Persons with intellectual disabilities were disenfranchised in the 2019 EU elections. The European Commission should ensure this does not happen again, writes Jurij Toplak.
The Brief – Time for Europe to play the Nord Stream card
‘Deplorable’, ‘unacceptable’, ‘an attack on fundamental freedoms’. Europe’s leaders this week held their own competition on who could give the most magisterial admonishment to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin following the deliberate poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.