About: The Brief
The Brief, powered by WindEurope – Fat Balkan lies
There is a saying that “the biggest lies come before elections, during a war and after hunting”.
The Brief, powered by ifaw – Boris v Farage to be the British Trump
“Of course I'm going to go for it," said Boris Johnson of the upcoming Conservative leadership race on Thursday. That shouldn’t have surprised anyone. Johnson has been positioning himself for the leadership for years.
The Brief, powered by ifaw – Europe’s Formula One lesson
Strange as it may sound, the EU could learn a lot from the glitzy and nostalgic world of Formula One, which recently underwent the ‘big refresh’ many people want for the European project.
The Brief, powered by ifaw – Black Box Brussels
Nobody can deny that the Spitzenkandidaten competing for the votes of European citizens remain largely unknown outside the Brussels bubble. Maybe adding a bit more fluff and glitter to the European election circus would do the trick.
The Brief, powered by ifaw – Game of Thrones
During last week’s ‘Future of Europe’ summit, the figures on the chessboard moved again and the stage has been largely set for the new edition of the EU’s own Game of Thrones. **no spoilers ahead** Starting on 23 May, Europe takes...
The Brief powered by ifaw- Is the S&D losing its D?
There was a time when the European Parliament's contingent of socialist were socialists and nothing else. But could that be all set to change?
The Brief powered by CITA – ‘Verfassungspatriotismus’
On May 8, 1949, Germany’s Basic Law (Grundgesetz) was adopted, thus laying the fundament for its constitution - and democracy. In times of rising populism in Europe, a 70th birthday worth celebrating beyond the German frontiers.
The Brief, powered by CITA – Taboo talk in Transylvania
EU leaders gather in the Romanian city of Sibiu this week to talk about the future of Europe but what kind of chat will be off limits over coffee and cake?
The Brief – Europe’s ‘free’ media
Back in those bygone days during my journalism studies, I memorized a quote that from time to time I turn to as a means to reify the importance of my craft, in a world ever blighted by existential challenges to the industry.
The Brief – EU enlargement, the untold story
Isn’t the EU schizophrenic? Jean-Claude Juncker has just given a very positive assessment of the 2004 “big bang” enlargement. At the same time, older EU members don’t dare mention the prospect of new countries from the Western Balkans joining the...
The Brief – An afternoon in Berlin
Today is one of those days when it’s nice to step outside the EU bubble, leave behind the whole election spiel and walk into the cool shade of the Western Balkans, where things unfold at a more leisurely pace.
The Brief – The Zombie-Factor
It is one month to go until the European elections, the campaign is starting in earnest and the favourite sport of political pundits around Europe has become trying to predict the outcome of the elections. But can we really?
The Brief – Cowering from Saint Nigel of Brexit
“If we have one, we will let you know about it,” a Downing Street spokesman told reporters on Wednesday when asked when the Conservative party would be launching their European election campaign. While Nigel Farage’s newly formed Brexit party used...
The Brief – Green is the new black
Politicians on both sides of the Atlantic are talking more and more about a 'Green New Deal' as climate change concerns start to actually take hold. But can Europe’s leaders square the worries of the gilets jaunes with the gilets jeunes?
The Brief – Europe, the big absent in Spanish election debate
Spain is heading for general elections on Sunday (28 April). In the first electoral debate ahead of the vote, barely a month before the crucial EU-wide elections, none of the main candidates made a single mention of the EU.
The Brief – Tales from the ‘Bourg
MEPs closed the Strasbourg shop this week before the EU elections and EURACTIV was there to see all the comings and goings. What happens in Alsace, definitely does not stay in Alsace...
The Brief – Against all odds
If the race for the EU's top job this summer really comes down to a choice between Manfred Weber and Michel Barnier, the outcome might still surprise us.
The Brief – Trade at any cost
The elusive transatlantic trade deal is back alive and kicking but how much will Europe’s supposed principles actually be worth when the chips are down?
The Brief, powered by CEN-CENELEC – The biggest election in the world
The European Commission is looking forward to advancing "the strong and broad EU-India partnership across all areas of our bilateral and multilateral agenda," an EU spokesperson told EURACTIV after the Indian elections began on Thursday (11 April).
The Brief, powered by CEN-CENELEC – Could Labour land Timmermans the top job?
The twists and turns of Brexit never stop. It is now increasingly likely that UK citizens will take part in the European elections in May, and might even play a decisive role. If the EU elections were held with the UK...
The Brief powered by CEN-CENELEC – Brexit black holes
Who says eurocrats don’t have a sense of irony? A European Commission press release landed in unsuspecting inboxes on Wednesday afternoon (10 April), breathlessly proclaimed that EU-funded scientists had successfully captured the first image of a black hole.
The Brief powered by CEN-CENELEC- Juncker and the press
A hopefully useful exchange took place at the Commission midday briefing on Monday and Tuesday (8-9 April) about whether Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is accessible to the press. The midday briefing is the best place to take the EU temperature....
The Brief, powered by CEN-CENELEC – Echoes from the nationalist Internationale
Matteo Salvini’s master plan to bring together the entire European right did not get off to a great start, as no representatives of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally or Austria’s ruling Freedom Party (FPÖ) showed up at a conference he called in Milan today.