About: EU Presidency

Defeating extremism in the Balkans

As a region deeply connected to the EU, the Western Balkans should no longer be forgotten. With Austria’s upcoming presidency of the EU, it is high time to reboot the region’s economic development and its integration into the Union, as well as recognise its progress in countering terrorism, writes Peter R. Neumann.

Eastern Europe and Brexit: Avoiding an ‘ever looser union’

In the wake of the Brexit vote, it remains unclear how aware Central and Eastern European countries are about the short and medium-term risks of the UK leaving the bloc and which strategies they should pursue to mitigate them, writes Ivaylo Iaydjiev.

Will the Polish Presidency invigorate the EU?

Poland's optimism and Europhilia will be a boon to the EU in this time of crisis. But calendar constraints may limit Warsaw's achievements during its six-month presidency of the bloc, which is going through its most difficult period since its inception after the Second World War, writes Arsim Mulaku of the Kosovo Public Policy Centre.

Hungary’s turn as EU president

Hungary's EU presidency will focus on reclaiming some visibility for member states' presidencies after Belgium's turn – which saw the country move into the background to allow Herman Van Rompuy to lead as European Council president – and the contentious EU budget process for 2014-2020, writes global intelligence company STRATFOR in an analysis.

Clear Swedish air for EU presidency

"It's the Swedes' success in melding capitalism and social welfare and environmental responsibility that will serve it well over the next six months," writes Gerald Loftus, a former diplomat, in a July post on Blogactiv.

Can France reclaim intellectual leadership of the EU?

"We need a firmer hand at the EU's helm," argues Sylvie Goulard, president of the European Movement in France, exploring whether France is capable of "reclaiming the intellectual leadership of the EU" in the autumn edition of Europe's World.

How France intends to meet all those EU presidency expectations

The French EU Presidency will concentrate on a common approach to migration, climate change, energy policy and security and defence as its key areas, writes French EU Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet for the summer edition of Europe’s World.

Blair’s candidacy would give EU more credibility

Tony Blair would give the new position of Council President a "public momentum that very few others would," bringing "credibility to the EU project," argues Luis Simon, a teaching assistant at the Centre for European Politics, Royal Holloway College, University of London. But his candidacy ultimately depends on the "ability and will of the EU 27" to balance the divisions evoked by Iraq and his Eurosceptic image, he explains.

Analysis: Finland at the helm of the EU

In this article, published in Politik & Kommunikation (in German), Christophe Leclercq and Kristina Hondrila from EURACTIV sum up the main issues on the agenda of the Finnish presidency.

Analysis: Will Germany provide new momentum for Europe?

In this article, published by Politik & Kommunikation (in German), Christophe Leclercq and Kristina Weich Hondrila from EURACTIV summarise the main points of the EU policy statement that was held by German chancellor Angela Merkel on 11 May 2006.

What the Austrians’ presidency will bring

Christophe Leclercq and Kristina Weich Hondrila from EURACTIV.com write in this Politik und Kommunikation article about the upcoming presidency of Austria.

In Lockstep

Christophe Leclercq and Kristina Weich Hondrila from EURACTIV.com write in this Politik und Kommunikation article about the state of the EU at the end of the British presidency.

Make or Break Summit? – Britain’s persistent EU delusions

"Copy me, I'm the best and you're wrong" - that is the UK government's attitude towards its guests at the Hampton Court Social Council, on 27 October 2005, says Kirsty Hughes in this commentary for EURACTIV. The 24 other EU countries are rather unlikely to follow such a charming invitation. New Labour's economic policy still places the Blair government to the right of European Christian Democrats and in the camp of right-wing populists like Italy's Berlusconi or Spain's Aznar. 

Enhancing Political Leadership in the EU