Today more than ever, the European Union needs to be a value-based project, as well as geographical and political player with the ability to ensure the prosperity of its citizens, in an increasingly competitive world, writes José Manuel Albares.
With the recently adopted eleventh package of sanctions on Russia and Spain’s new EU presidency, Madrid should prioritise Ukraine, according to Gonzalo Saiz Erausquin. Gonzalo Saiz Erausquin is research analyst at the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies at Royal …
The best way to prevent Eurosceptic governments from damaging EU interests is to scrap the rotating presidency of the EU Council. It would also be an important step in the necessary reform of the EU, writes Alin Mituta.
What do safety matches, aerated concrete, tetra packs, zip fasteners, ball bearings, adjustable spanners, seat belts, national identification numbers, baby carriers, dental implants, pacemakers and Bluetooth have in common?
It is crucial to complete the EU's enlargement to the Western Balkans and prepare the Union for further membership applications by interested European countries, writes Gašper Dovžan.
Prime Minister Janez Janša, who is under fire in Western media as Slovenia takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, may be clumsy on Twitter but he is not an autocrat, writes Žiga Turk.
Water is a critical global security matter and Slovenia intends to put it at the core of its EU presidency, which starts on 1 July, writes Dr Stanislav Raščan.
The practice of multinational companies sponsoring the governments which hold the EU's rotating presidency, while lobbying the same ministers, is a rotten practice that must stop, write Vicky Cann, Suzy Sumner, and Manuel Araujo.
After a year scarred by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Portuguese presidency will seek to deliver on a Europe-wide vaccination plan and the National Recovery and Resilience Plans, writes António Costa.
During the crisis-ridden last decade, the EU has stumbled into a new intergovernmentalism presented as an apparently pragmatic problem-solving approach. But side-lining the European Parliament is not just a problem for the EU’s legitimacy, but also results in negotiation deadlocks …
After years of tiptoeing around the issue, EU governments are finally set to check on each other's records on the rule of law. This is a significant step forward, but governments have to take this broad dialogue seriously and talks must lead to action, argues Linda Ravo, an expert adviser at the Civil Liberties Union for Europe.
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.
As Germany takes the helm of the EU, its problematic coal law risks sending out the wrong signals, writes Riccardo Nigro.
Romania's EU presidency was a successful mandate, showcasing the country's commitment to the EU project, writes Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă.
Boasting one of Europe’s most liberal and innovative economies, Finland's EU presidency has the chance to push for a ‘fast lane’ for tech and AI in Europe, and show Europe a way forward in the age of AI, writes Christian Walther Øyrabø.
The goals of the new Finnish EU Presidency include a socially, ecologically and economically sustainable EU, the same priorities as its domestic agenda, writes Kaisa Penny.
Romania hosts the largest remains of natural and old growth forests in the whole of the EU. However, they are not on the safe side yet, writes Luc Bas.
Ahead of a vote in the Council on Friday (29 March), which risks derailing the updating of the Regulations on Coordination of Social Security systems, Marek Benio provides some timely insight and advice.
Romania is continuing to prop up its ailing coal sector, blatantly ignoring EU state aid rules, even as the country claims to be defending EU values while holding the rotating presidency of the bloc, writes Alexandru Mustață.
With no major faux pas or any ground-breaking policy change to speak of, Bulgaria’s first term as EU President is unlikely to go down in the annals of history. Yet Sofia can nevertheless look back on its six months in office with a sense of satisfaction, writes Vladislava Gubalova.
What is in the food that we buy? It’s a question whose answer is less certain than it should be. Shockingly, many food manufacturers find it acceptable to sell their food with standard packaging throughout the EU, but with very different content, and often lower quality, in different countries, writes Lilyana Pavlova.
There could be no stronger incentive to overcome regional disputes and normalise relations than if the region would receive a clear message that all six countries will join the EU at the same time, writes Bekim Çollaku.
As Roma week 2018 comes to a close, Violeta Naydenova calls on the member governments and the Commission to use their influence to persuade the Bulgarian Presidency to increase their efforts against anti-Roma hatred in Bulgaria.
Pirin national park has become an example of the Bulgarian government's unwillingness to establish the rule of law. When all eyes in Europe are on Bulgaria because of its Presidency of the EU Council, we need to see a strong message from the EU, writes Veselina Kavrakova.
