European Union
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News
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The Czech EU Council Presidency: Europe's Role in a Changing World
On July 1, France handed over the EU Presidency to the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is thus signaling a return to follow the footsteps by Václav Havel and aims to strengthen the role of the European Union in a changing world order under the motto "Europe as a Task: Rethink, Rebuild, Repower." Unsurprisingly, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has once again fundamentally changed the priorities of the Czech presidency.
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Taking Stock of the French Council Presidency in Migration Policy
The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first half of 2022 has come to an end. Efforts since 2015 have been constantly thwarted by the reluctant attitude of Hungary and Poland. France seems to have succeeded on at least some dossiers in the Council of the EU. European Affairs Manager Jeanette Süß talks to Member of the German Bundestag Dr Ann-Veruschka Jurisch.
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Historic NATO Summit in Madrid
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described the summit of NATO member states and partners as the biggest transformation of collective defence since the end of the Cold War. The summit was described by all participants as transformative and historic. And rightly so: a new strategic concept, robust investments in equipment and a strong focus on pre-defence and deterrence were agreed.
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Ukraine and Moldova Become EU Candidate States – A Historic Decision in Extraordinary Times
In a show of rare speed and unity, the European Union on Friday 24 June accepted Ukraine and Moldova as candidates for EU membership. A European Council meeting of the 27 heads of state unanimously approved the bids of both countries and offered Georgia the European perspective. What was still a distant prospect before the 24th of February, became a political reality within 4 months - relative light speed for the Union.
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A setback for Macron's electoral alliance? The French party system after the 2022 election cycle
Emmanuel Macron faces a difficult second term in office. Particularly relevant to the future day-to-day running of government, and completely unusual in recent French history, is that the Macron ensemble was unable to win an absolute majority in the parliamentary elections and will now have to rely on permanent or occasional cooperation with other parties.
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is the guarantor of the security
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is the guarantor of the security and therefore the guarantor of the prosperity of the countries that make up the transatlantic community. The current situation in Ukraine, resulting from Russia's invasion of the country, should make incongruous any discussion of the Alliance's current usefulness and any discussion of what threat NATO should focus on in developing its new Strategic Concept.
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From Poland With Love – May
From the Russia’s invasion on Ukraine from the Polish perspective, over a new cooperation of all democratic opposition parties to grant more funding and autonomy to local governments to the lowest ever Polish position in the World Press Freedom Index: In his monthly newsletter, our guest contributor Dr. Milosz Hodun gives us updates about current news, events and all other things you need to know about Poland.
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Ukraine and Moldova become EU candidate states – A historic decision in extraordinary times
In a show of rare speed and unity, the European Union on Friday 24 June accepted Ukraine and Moldova as candidates for EU membership. A European Council meeting of the 27 heads of state unanimously approved the bids of both countries and offered Georgia the European perspective. What was still a distant prospect before the 24th of February, became a political reality within 4 months - relative light speed for the Union.
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Before the Parliamentary Elections: France’s Shifting Political Landscape
While Europe is the unifying theme in France within the current government majority of centrist parties and movements, the attitude to Europe divides the "new ecological and social alliance" - Nupes for short. Even though the new left coalition has managed to eclipse the far-right voices of Marine Le Pen and Éric Zemmour, it is by no means clear that Nupes will win in the French parliamentary elections.
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More bang for our buck by spending together
As the Ukraine war rages on, the need to improve the EU's military capabilities is increasingly coming to the fore. With defence budgets rising and equipment being sent to Ukraine, countries are preparing to invest heavily in their defence. To coordinate these at EU level, the EU Commission and the EU High Representative have presented an analysis of defence spending.
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Before the Parliamentary Elections: France’s Shifting Political Landscape
In the final stages of the election campaign, Emmanuel Macron had already announced a “new method” as the re-elected, and therefore “new”, French President. Looking at the political developments in the last few weeks since his re-election on 24 April, two decisions in particular are crucial to providing information on the continuity and change in the French political landscape and specifically on the centrist movements in France, analyses Jeanette Süß.
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Publication: Vive l’Europe – French European policy-making under Emmanuel Macron
European sovereignty, strategic autonomy and the dynamics of Franco-German relations in view of the French presidential elections. Read more in our new publication "Vive l’Europe – French European policy-making under Emmanuel Macron"
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Quo Vadis LGBTQ+ Representation in Politics?
On the the International Day against Homophobia, Bi-, Inter- and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), people around the world commemorate 17 May 1990, the day on which homosexuality was removed from the ICD-10 diagnosis code of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and was officially no longer considered a disease. We talk with Carline van Breugel about the lived reality of the LGBTQ+ community in Europe today and the lack of representation in politics.
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Finland and Sweden on their way into NATO
Long thought unthinkable, the Finnish and Swedish governments have yesterday and today confirmed their countries' decisions to join NATO. The historic moves comes as a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has had a significant impact on threat perceptions in the region.
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Local and regional elections in the UK: Liberal Democrats make solid comeback
The results of the local and regional elections in Great Britain provide very little information about the political future of the country. The government lost, but at the same time the opposition did not win. The Conservatives, in whose party leader Boris Johnson not even his own voters now have confidence, have suffered a clear defeat.
Social Media
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Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described the #NATOSummit as the biggest transformation of collective defence since the end of the Cold War. The summit was described by all participants as transformative and historic. And rightly so: a new strategic concept, robust investments in equipment and a strong focus on pre-defence and deterrence were agreed. Jeroen Dobber and Theresa Winter have the latest on the summit 👇
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Sanctions against Russia have become the primary topic of disinformation spread in Slovakia. Oversimplification and appeal to strong emotions accompany the whole debate. Even though disinformers often use factual information, they misinterpret them and parrot Kremlin propaganda. They try to undermine the actions of the European Union and call Slovak partners and allies’ intentions into question. Check out the latest bi-weekly report by Array, a project by Array and FNF Prague 👇
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After three years, the German Embassy in Prague opened the doors of the Lobkowicz Palace to the public today. 🇩🇪 🇨🇿 Visitors could enjoy the view from the balcony where Hans-Dietrich Genscher on 30. 9. 1989 held his famous speech, watch a rich cultural programme or learn more about the work of German organisations in the Czech Republic. 👥 One of them was also the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and visitors could practice with us their knowledge of German facts in a short quiz and win one of many prizes. Check out some impressions below 👇
