Politics

An EU Copyright law for the 21st century film and TV industry

The EU Copyright Directive, which is currently being finalised by the Council and the European Parliament, must include a principle of fair and proportionate remuneration to be fit for the 21st century film and TV industry, writes Cécile Despringre.  

Why the hysterical reaction to the UN migration and refugee compacts matters

Right-wing leaders are guilty of an hysterical reaction to the UN migration compact, writes Udo Bullman MEP.

In the House of Commons, Brexit has no winners, only losers

Britain neither wants Brexit nor knows how to escape from it. The result is that everybody loses, and the camp of losers just gets bigger and bigger, writes Denis MacShane.

Will European Parliament truly stand up for all people persecuted worldwide?

On 6 December, the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee will vote an important report for people who are mistreated, discriminated or persecuted for their beliefs worldwide, writes Giulio Ercolessi. At stake here is whether the EU will step up for everyone whose human rights are violated worldwide, including non-believers.

Three democratic parallels

Numerous analyses of democracy have shown that democracy is under stress around the world, not least in the European continent. Books with titles such as ‘How Democracy Dies’ or ‘The End of Democracy’ hitting bookshelves exemplify the current mood, writes Ken Godfrey.

EU regions affected by Brexit should not be left behind

While studies and reports about the consequences of Brexit on EU27 regions are multiplying, it is increasingly clear that the EU needs to create mechanisms to support territories negatively affected by the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the Union, write Marc Joulaud and Lambert Van Nistelrooij.

Asia Bibi – the EU’s lack of leadership in protecting religious minorities worldwide

The plight of Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi underscores the need for the EU to beef up its policy tools on protecting religious freedom, writes Adina Portaru.

Trading away the EU principles in the name of national export interests?

MEPs need to follow the lead of the European Ombudsman and force the European Commission to shine the light on the opaque role of national Export Credit Agencies, writes Antonio Tricarico.

Women’s reproductive safety – the most important moral concern

Women in Europe are still dying because doctors refuse to perform abortions. Caroline Hickson explains why moral concerns should not stand in the way of the primary goal of any healthcare system, to care for and protect its patients by providing quality care for all.

The Brexit saga will go on for years

The deal agreed between the United Kingdom and the European Union has detonated the biggest political dispute in British politics since Neville Chamberlain came back from Munich in 1938 waving a leaf of paper and proclaiming he had won “Peace in our time”, writes Denis MacShane.

Why Europe should back a robust whistleblowers directive

Those who report corruption, criminal acts and breaches of public trust must be protected, writes Martin Jefflén, who calls for lowering the barriers when it comes to reporting wrongdoing in the corporate sphere.

Seizing the window of opportunity to rethink Brexit

The UK government is paralysed by Brexit as it reaches decision time over whether to agree a messy compromise or crash out with no deal. In the meantime, support for a second referendum is growing, writes Sandra Khadhouri.

Pakistan, democracy and the demise of the independent press

Pakistan's new military-supported government is targeting independent media and poses a grave threat to the country's democracy, writes Shada Islam.

Electrifying Europe to win over populists

Some years ago, Europhobes were a few solitary but loud people who said they wanted to wipe out the European Union. Things have changed: now they are many more and became more ambiguous about their wishes, writes Beatriz Becerra.

Come back, Mother Britannia! 

Seeing Brexit crumble towards a single market fudge with no UK say, daughter Europa pleads to re-unite her mother - with her father Franz-Emmanuel, not the ideal home-maker.

Spitzenkandidat is only as strong as the europarties make it

If the Spitzenkandidat process is to succeed it must be the result of a transparent primary, not a back-room deal, argue Henrik Vuornos and Juho Mäki-Lohiluoma.

Racism against one group eventually affects all

After the Pittsburgh Attack, Jews must unite with Muslims and other minorities, says Joseph Dana.

Why Europe needs Alex Stubb

University Professor Brent F. Nelsen explains why his former student, Alexander Stubb, should be the next European Commission president.

The Sakharov Prize winner is dying behind Russian bars

The only way to save the Ukrainian citizens from the Russian captivity is consistent international pressure and our unity, writes Mykola Tochytskyi

In the next seven years Central Europe will determine the future of Europe

Central Europe could become more positive to the core EU in the likely case of another major economic crisis, which would oblige them to marry the eurozone family, writes Wojciech Przybylski, who also looks at several other, more dramatic, scenarios for the region.

Why are we not reforming the Dublin Regulation yet?

In view of the long-blocked negotiations about the reform of the EU's Dublin asylum system, Luigi Achilli argues that it is not migration but the lack of a common European response that is putting the EU's future at risk.

EU is as comfortable as China with the African thugs and dictators

The EU has long frowned at China’s action in Africa for not requiring respect for human rights as a condition for aid and thus promoting a Chinese-inspired authoritarian Africa. But in recent years the EU is not better, writes Fabian Wagner.