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blue&yellow is a platform by students for students. Here you will be able to find information on EU initiatives and legislation, as well as current European ‘hot topics’ and career insights. With its two knowledge pillars, career development and the EU, this project raises awareness while benefitting the student community as a whole.
Know Your Union
By: Lavinia Tacke
Reading time: 4.5 minutes
It seems that as soon as a news story involves whales, its popularity goes through the roof. Whales have always captured the attention of humans and continue to do so today. Earlier this year, when a humpback whale got lost in the Baltic Sea and ended up stranded on the German coast, it became a national media phenomenon. The story about soon-to-be-called humpback whale “Timmy” (or sometimes “hope”) caught immense attention in Germany. A similar story was that of the beluga whales who were moved from a Canadian aquarium to marine parks in Spain and the United States to be rescued from euthanasia. Both stories show how the marine mammals catch immense attention and continue to fascinate us.
Partially due to this human fascination with whales, whales enjoy a largely protected status. Other than fish, it is forbidden to hunt them in nearly every country in the world. There are only three exceptions to this prohibition of whaling: Norway, Iceland, and Japan. In these three countries, whales are still hunted for commercial purposes.
The European Parliament has taken a historic stand for survivors of sexual violence by adopting a resolution that calls for a standardised, consent-based definition of rape across the entire European Union. With a decisive vote of 447 members in favour, 160 against, and 43 abstaining, the resolution demands that the principle of “only yes means yes” become the legal benchmark for all member states. This legislative push is a crucial attempt to address the current "patchwork" of laws that leaves many victims without protection depending on which national border they cross.
In the Western Balkans, EU enlargement is often discussed as a distant political process. But this spring, it became much more tangible: millions of euros for schools, innovation, transport, and energy projects started arriving in the region. And one country was missing from the list…
Beyond the Flags
By: Julia Żakowska
Reading time: 3,3 minutes
World Children’s Day gets celebrated each year on the 20th of November. In 2025, the Coordinator on children’s rights Ewa Kopacz representing the European Parliament, invited the children from the Eurochild Children’s Council on that occasion to talk about how to involve children’s voices in decisions of the future. The message of the ECC to the European Parliament is simple and clear: Children should be included and consulted in issues that concern them. In an awareness-raising video, children with a microphone in hand were given a voice and thus, called upon Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which establishes the ‘best interests of the child’ as a primary consideration in all actions concerning children. During the meeting, VP Ewa Kopacz highlighted the need for education of children on their rights and their meaningful participation.
"Children who know their rights have the power to change the world for the better. Let’s listen to their voices", emphasized VP Ewa Kopacz.
By: Nikola Kirkov | ‘Beyond the Flags’
Eurovision – a cultural phenomenon that came into existence for the first time in 1956 as a means through which to unite Europe after the unimaginable pain that the last century inflicted on the continent. The contest has grown exponentially ever since, becoming the world’s biggest non-sport event, seeking to unify nations and people, despite borders and differences, through the universal language of music. Nonetheless, a key feature of the contest is the apolitical label it has given itself, despite the very premise and history of the competition being political in nature.
By Gabriel Panza
Data protection remains essential in a world where most organizations and institutions rely on digital platforms as a means to facilitate their operations. While it might just feel like an abstract technical issue, the protection of our personal data is what allows us to trust digital systems that we use every day, including university websites, social media platforms, and online learning tools. For students, this trust is fundamental because most of university life is facilitated through online spaces.
By Aurora Dagnino, reading time: 5 minutes
Migration has been for almost a decade, after the refugee crisis in 2015-2016, a very hot topic, and now it is even hotter than ever. In fact, in less than a month, after a transition period of two years, the New Pact on Migration and Asylum will be applicable.
By: Anneke Pelzer, Reading time: 3 mins
It’s 10 am at the Great Hall of People in Beijing, where Donald Trump gets welcomed by a large military spectacle and flag-waving children. Xi Jinping greets the American President warmly, and it almost seems like their countries’ relationship has not been defined by rivalry and hostility for nearly a decade.
When the Cold War ended, and the United States’ (US) dominance was nearly uncontested, the US tried to integrate China into its creation of a liberal international order. Most notably, China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001. However, when Trump served his first presidential term, US policy towards China transformed drastically. A first trade war broke out in 2018, when Trump significantly increased tariffs and other trade barriers on Chinese products. This line of action continued through the Biden administration and well into Trump’s second term. After another escalation in the Sino-US trade war in 2025, the Supreme Court declared those tariffs as unlawful, forcing the Trump administration to reconsider its strategy.
by Margaux Baudry, reading time 3min
Imagine waking up to a silent world: no 5G signal on your phone, a “no connection” error on your laptop, and a darkened TV screen. You check the lights, but the switch does nothing. At the local supermarket, the doors are locked because the digital payment systems have crashed. This isn't the plot of a dystopian movie; it is a “silent” threat facin the EU.
By Saul Gunning
On the 26th of March, the merger of Groenlinks (Green-Left) and the PvdA (The Labour Party), which had provisionally been known as Groenlinks-PvdA unveiled its long-awaited new name at a party congress in Halfweg: the union of the Netherlands’ largest two parties of the left will now be known as ‘Progressief Nederland’.
Juliane Trabandt
Reading time: 4min
When we talk about wars, memes used to be one of the last things we thought about. Yet, the war in Iran has opened up the floodgates to a new era of war-time propaganda. But how did we get here?
By: Olaia Mujika Anduiza
Reading time: 4 minutes
As ordinary and essential as water may seem, it has been at the centre of major debates across Europe. It is one of those basic necessities most people rarely think about because it is simply expected to be there until questions of access, quality, or affordability turn it into a political issue.
From everyday concerns about safe drinking water at home to ongoing discussions on future EU water legislation, water shows how even the most fundamental resources can become highly controversial. With this in mind, today I would like to highlight three important developments surrounding water in Europe: one that belongs to the recent past (although perhaps somewhat forgotten today), and two that are unfolding right now.
33km That Could Strangle Europe
Implications of the Closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Europe
By Anneke Pelzer
What is 33km wide, 167km long, and has kept the global economy in a chokehold in the past two months?
The Strait of Hormuz dominated headlines around the globe since the US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28th. As a response, the Mullah regime closed the waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
By: Lavinia Tacke
Reading time: 5 minutes
Usually, elections in a country with a population of around 9.5 million do not attract much international attention. However, this was totally different regarding the Hungarian elections on April 12th, which, for many, might have felt like the Super Bowl of European politics. Pictures from the parties in Hungary’s capital, Budapest, on the election night illustrate that this was not a “normal” election.
By: Nikola Kirkov
Reading time: 12 minutes
While Peter Magyar’s decisive victory in Hungary earlier this month sparked relief and a sense of triumphalism across the European Union, that optimism has now been called into question following Radev’s crushing win in Bulgaria. The political situation unfolding in Sofia might prove to be a litmus test for the Union’s future alignment, as Bulgaria stands on the brink of transforming itself from a reliable partner into a new and potentially dangerous Achilles’ heel of the EU.
By Tricia Pelser, reading time: 6 minutes
Reading time: 4 minutes
On April 24th, it is the 110th anniversary of the Easter Rising, and Ireland returns to the forefront of European history once again. The events of 1916 are widely commemorated in Ireland as a moment of national awakening and an assertion of political will against the rule of the United Kingdom. However, beyond commemoration, it raises a much more difficult question regarding not how Europe remembers injustice, but rather how it takes responsibility for it.
By: Lavinia Tacke
Reading time: 4 minutes
The European Schools are an intergovernmental education system that provides their students, who are mostly children of EU staff members, with “multilingual, multicultural, and inclusive education” grounded in European values. This is how the official website describes the vision of the 13 European schools, which are located in six EU countries.
By: Gabriel Panza, reading time: 3 minutes
The Digital Field
In the past few decades, digital platforms have emerged, giving businesses access to platform-based business models. These platforms have transformed the digital economy by bringing users from all over the world together to interact and enabling them to offer services at lower transaction costs. This has led to major firms dominating, with Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft often referred to as “the Big 5” for their time. Since then, other major firms have expanded their influence over their industries.
One would think that the evolution of digital platforms would introduce new business models; however, this is not the case. In fact, digital platforms have optimized traditional forms by expanding business models to facilitate global interactions more easily. However, the EU has been cautious not to allow these major companies, such as the Big 5, to use these business models to dominate their industries. Naturally, this led to the adoption of the Digital Market Act.
By Tricia Pelser, reading time: 5 minutes
In 2018, Jackie Fox lost her daughter, Nicole, at the age of 21 when she died by suicide after years of abuse, both in person and especially online. Jackie then began to campaign for justice for Nicole, also known as Coco. However, due to Ireland’s outdated laws, this proved to be increasingly difficult. At the time, the existing harassment laws were written before social media became widespread, and therefore, it was difficult to apply traditional laws to digital behaviour. However, after years of sustained campaigning, public advocacy, and pressure on lawmakers, Ireland adopted the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, widely known as Coco’s law. What began as a fight for justice in Ireland has since raised a wider question: could Ireland’s approach influence how Europe responds to online abuse?
Over the past decade, Viktor Orbán’s brand of illiberal politics has evolved from a domestic hegemony in Hungary into a transnational phenomenon shaping political discourse, particularly in Eastern Europe. Often framed as a model of ‘sovereign democracy’, Orbanism has come to represent a blend of democratic backsliding, strategic EU obstruction, and an increasingly unsettling closeness to Moscow. As Orbán’s ideology spreads across neighbouring states, from Slovakia and Czechia to Bulgaria, the region faces a critical question: whether Orbanism remains a temporary political trend or a deeper structural challenge to the EU project.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, chances are you have seen pictures of Macron decked out in Maverick-style sunglasses in Davos. Indeed, his take on the Top Gun look did not go unnoticed at the World Economic Forum, leaving the press (and social media users) wanting more. Whether the craze surrounding this fashion statement was intended or not, it signaled one thing clearly: Macron is leaning into a stronger, more assertive image on the world stage. As he navigates a second Trump term and positions himself as a critical mediator in the Ukraine conflict, a provocative question arises: Is Macron not only the President of France but also of Europe?
The rising tide of right-wing populist parties across the continent and the apparent ineffectiveness of the strategies deployed to combat them have led to a pervasive conventional wisdom that it is only a matter of time before the firewalls are dismantled or broken through by insurgent political movements such as Alternative für Deutschland or Rassemblement national in France.
Military mobility via railways - Interview with Terk Felix Kraft Part II
By: Olaia Mujika Anduiza and Lavinia Tacke
Reading time: 7 minutes
In July 2025, the Commission proposed a Military Mobility Package that came as no surprise. For some time now, both the Commission and EU Member States have highlighted the lack of military mobility coordination among Member States as a serious issue that needs to be addressed. The package thus appears intended to provide a concrete framework for addressing these long-standing coordination challenges.
Epstein Friends in Europe : How the Files’ Revelations Overshadow Europe’s Elite
By: Anneke Pelzer, reading time: 3 Minutes
What do Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Mona Juul, the ambassador of Norway to Jordan, and Peter Mandelson, the British ambassador to the U.S., have in common? They all lost their jobs due to revelations about their connections to the sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein. The information being revealed with each publication of the so-called Epstein files has a sphere of influence that extends far beyond the borders of the U.S. When the former prince Andrew was arrested last week for suspicion of misconduct, it became clear that the revelations’ impact reached Europe.
Security starts at the Rail Station - Interview on military mobility with Terk Felix Kraft Part I
By: Olaia Mujika Anduiza and Lavinia Tacke, reading time: 8 Minutes
While Europe is discussing military issues mostly in terms of conscription and the reconfiguration of alliances, one topic that remains largely overlooked by the broader media is arguably more important than ever: the EU’s military mobility infrastructure. In recent years, the EU has faced a serious backdrop of capability gaps in its military mobility infrastructure. Some shortcomings have become so severe that countries are now considering reactivating long-unused and, in part, dysfunctional infrastructure. The scale and urgency of current demands, driven by support for Ukraine and the extension of NATO's border with Russia due to Finland's accession to the alliance, have exposed the limits of Europe’s existing capacity.
By Tricia Pelser, Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The United States is widely regarded as one of the most influential nations in the world. Its dominant economic strength, military power, and cultural reach extend far beyond its borders and actively work to shape global trends. However, few movements have generated as much international political resonance as the rise of the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement. Emerging from American conservatism, MAGA has not only transformed American politics, but some view it as leading certain European movements to seemingly mirror its political rhetoric, strategy, and ideology. As right-wing movements have begun and continue to gain traction, the parallels between their messaging and MAGA’s core themes have become increasingly apparent
By Aurora Dagnino, Reading Time: 4 minutes
A recent survey shows that the majority of the population in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain consider their pension system to be unaffordable.
By: Nikola Kirkov
Reading time: 6 minutes
Latvia’s political landscape has been thrown into turmoil after a controversial parliamentary vote to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention sparked widespread protests and fears of democratic backsliding. As public demonstrations intensify and European partners express mounting concern, the furore has become a defining litmus test for Latvia’s commitment to human rights and EU values.
By: Lavinia Tacke
After nine years of negotiations, in September 2025, the EU officially finalized its trade deal with Indonesia, as part of its efforts to diversify its trade alliances following the Trump tariffs. However, this deal has sparked a debate concerning the human rights situation in Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia. Has the EU traded its commitment to human rights and its environmental values for an economic deal?
Written by: Anneke Pelzer, Reading time: 4 min
Countries abolished their mandatory military conscriptions, like Sweden in 2010 and Germany in 2011, when peace and security in Europe were still largely taken for granted. Over the past decade, starting with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 leading up to today’s ongoing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, armies have become more important again. War feels closer to Europe’s capitals now, urging leaders to think about ways to step up their defense.
Written by: Margaux Baudry, Reading time: 4 min
More than 65,000 “alien” immigrants are currently detained in immigration jails across the United States. A historic record, which we can thank Trump’s administration for. Since the beginning of Trump’s second term, in February 2025, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency has been synonymous with fear for many people of color in the US.
Some now sleep with their passports beside them, carry their birth certificates wherever they go, avoid public gatherings, and, in extreme cases, choose not to leave their homes at all. The question looms large: What exactly is ICE, and how did it become such a force of intimidation?
By: Nikola Kirkov, Reading time: 7 min
This week, the European Union awoke to yet another episode of civil unrest in one of its Member States. Just 31 days before its planned entry into the eurozone, Bulgaria has plunged into an unprecedented political situation. On Wednesday, thousands of citizens gathered on the emblematic Independence Square in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, rallying around a giant pink piggy bank. The majority of the slogans on the protestors’ banner also featured the animal, a symbol of the ruling elite within the Eastern European country, which has long been accused of robbing Bulgaria of its money, features, and transparency. Following the large-scale protests, the government withdrew the 2026 budget, which had been scheduled to replace the lev with the euro officially. Now consultations are starting from scratch.
Written by: S.J.C Gunning, Reading time: 5 min
Mattresses in bathrooms, prisoners “having to eat their meals standing up or sitting on the floor, sometimes with no access to basic amenities like pillows or clothes-washing facilities,” and even the rape and murder of prisoners by their own bunkmates in overcrowded prison cells are not the anecdotes of a survivor of the gulags but rather features of everyday life for prisoners in more than half of the European Union’s member states. According to the most recent Eurostat survey, taken in 2023, 14 countries had some extra capacity while 13 countries had none at all and had to overcrowd existing cells. However, more recent data from the World Prison Brief adds Portugal and Hungary to the growing number of EU member states with prison occupancy rates above 100%.
What may be surprising is that there is a total absence of a positive correlation between the incarceration rate and prison occupancy rate in the surveyed countries. Cyprus, with by far the worst prison overcrowding crisis in Europe, had an incarceration rate of just 101 (per 100,000 citizens) in 2023. This was well below the EU average of 110 and positioned it on the lower side of the distribution relative to the mode, as seen below
Career Insight
By Aurora Dagnino, reading time: 3 minutes
We are in 2026 and nowadays it is basically impossible to count how many people use AI in their daily tasks or to study. Indeed, not only students use AI, but also employers, leading to a change in the job market.
This raises many doubts for us students, who are currently looking for a job or planning to do it in the future. For example: will generative AI replace my job, or improve it? What has been the impact on the labor market so far?
Artificial intelligence is modifying the labour market in a deep but often misunderstood way. It is not simply “taking jobs”; instead, it is changing what people do at work, which skills matter, and who is beneficial for the economy.
For instance, after the release of ChatGPT in 2022, job postings for roles involving repetitive tasks fell by 13%. At the same time, demand for jobs requiring analytical, technical, or creative skills, which can be strengthened by AI, increased by 20%.
Written by Anneke Pelzer
Reading Time: 7 minutes
Europe’s public sectors face many challenges: democratic backsliding and declining trust in governments, aging societies entail a crisis in social security systems, and economical pressure intensifies. In Germany, Florian Stupp and Yannic Plumpe founded the NGO Public Makers with the vision to tackle these problems. By engaging young people in public change they want to foster innovations to strengthen the German public sector. Whether through hosting so-called Hackathons, Bootcamps, or Micro Masterclasses: Public Makers aims to inspire students to transfer their knowledge into valuable solutions. I had the chance to speak with Florian about Public Makers and the vision they have for future-proof public sectors. Florian is currently studying Information Engineering at the Technical University of Munich. He recently received the Young Leaders in GovTech Award by Handelsblatt for his dedication to engage young people in the public sector.
By: Aurora Dagnino
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Working for the EU is one of the most desired and prestigious jobs in the world, especially among law students. But how can you become an EU employee? What do you have to do after your traineeship?
Author: Dori Felber
Read time: 6 minutes
Michele Coniglio is a junior indirect tax accountant at KPMG Luxembourg. He has been passionate about numbers since high school and has studied accounting since he was 15.
By Beatriz Santos Mayo, 5 min. One of our blog members had the opportunity to interview the Member of the European Parliament, Iban García del Blanco. He is part of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament. He is a member of the Committee on Legal Affairs and of the delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly. Moreover, he also takes part in the Committee on Culture and Education. If you are interested in AI, the legal process in the EP, or you have a simple curiosity about the daily tasks of an MEP, read this fantastic article.
By Beatriz Santos Mayo, 10 minutes. Have you ever heard about the traineeship in the Committee of Regions (CoR)? Check out Beatriz´s interview with José Grande Santalla, a current trainee in communication in the CoR for the region of Galicia. In the interview, José gave us an overview of his work life and experience applying for this type of internship.
By Petra Simpalean, 7 minutes. Are you considering applying for a job at one of the EU institutions? If so, you will be required to take a European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) test. EPSO tests are the most important part of the selection process, as without them, you cannot work in any EU institution. By reading this article, you will find out exactly what these tests entail, tips and tricks that will help you pass them, and much more. Start reading and be a step closer towards accomplishing your goals and working for the EU!
By Aari Helmelaid, 16 minutes. ECA holds a wide network of alumni studying or working in different cities and in a variety of public and private sector companies and institutions. Many reside in Brussels, one of whom is former ECA President Max Griera. Blue&yellow writer Aari recently had the opportunity to interview him for our career Insights section. In this article, Max shares his memories of ECA, his journey on becoming a journalist, insights into working in the Brussels bubble, and valuable tips to help you land a job after your studies.
By Eleonora Pizzini, 8 minutes. The European Solidarity Corps is one of the several opportunities that the European Union offers to young people. It is an international volunteering programme thanks to which young Europeans can work and volunteer in non-profit causes. Taking part in one of the projects gives you additional skills and assets rarely acquirable in normal traineeships. In this article we interviewed a peer who participated in a project in Ukraine before the start of the war. He will talk about his experience and provide first hand insight on the programme and some few reasons why you should consider doing this experience.
By Sofia Bertolaja, 8 minutes. Have you ever thought about doing a traineeship at the EU Council? Check out Sofia’s article to read her interview with Jakub Rurarz, one of the founders of ECA and a current trainee at the Council.
By Federico Durante, 8 minutes. Most universities in Europe give bachelor's and master’s students the possibility, either for a semester or an entire year, to choose how to acquire more experience and deeper knowledge about the topic they have been studying. Generally, this possibility comes under three forms: an exchange programme, an internship, or a minor programme. If you want to know more about them and learn directly from ADS Insight, a consultancy operating in Brussels, Germany, Poland, France and Sweden and a partner of ECA, check the article!
By Leonie Klüver, 7 minutes. Ever wanted to go abroad for an internship? Are you interested in experiencing the EU firsthand without having to move to Brussels? Do foreign policy and diplomacy excite you? Then you should consider applying for a traineeship at the European External Action Service (EEAS).
by Eliza Wójcik, 3 minutes. Politico’s EU studies & Career Fair is an annual meeting of the world’s top universities and organisations aiming to connect with the best international students and young people interested in pursuing a future in the EU. Read the article to learn how to register and what are the benefits of attending the Fair!
by Erik Schmidt-Bergemann, 6,5 minutes. Have you ever wondered if you can conduct a traineeship at one of the European Agencies? If yes, did you feel a bit lost comparing all the complex requirements? Check out this article to read a clear, concise and very helpful comparison of EU Agencies’ traineeships with all the requirements.
By Leonie Klüver, 5,5 minutes. Do you want to experience how legislation is debated, how EU laws are passed, how the most democratic EU body works daily, and how internal committees operate? Then a traineeship at the European Parliament is very likely an interesting option to kick start your career in the EU. There are two different types of traineeships at the European Parliament. The first one is at the Secretariat which is called the Schuman Traineeship. The other possibility is to conduct a Traineeship with a Member of the European Parliament. As application processes and the task differ fundamentally both traineeships are compared in more detail below.
By Erik Schmidt-Bergemann, 6 minutes. Twice a year the EU Commission welcomes about 650 new trainees. But how do you become a trainee and what are the requirements? There are several requirements that one needs to fulfill such as speaking two official languages of the EU. If you are eligible and if you can stand out among the thousands of other applicants you will become one of the next trainees at the Commission. If you would like to know more about the application process, the requirements and how the traineeship looks like, continue reading this article!
By Eliza Wójcik, 10 minutes. Brussels and Luxembourg are the first places that come to mind while talking about work in the EU. Have you ever wondered what living there actually looks like? Are you curious about the comparison of those two? I have all the answers to your questions! Read the article to find out more about daily life, multiculturalism and other characteristics of Brussels and Luxembourg.
By Paula Nörr, 8 minutes. Have you ever talked to an employee of the Council of Europe? No? Well, we did for you! For our Career Insight section, we interviewed a former trainee and employee of the Council of Europe. If you want to know how our interviewee made her way from an audit firm to the Council of Europe and what her job experience there looked like in Covid times, you should continue reading. The interviewee did not only give us informative insights in her career but also helpful tips and recommendations on how to approach job search to finally get hold of a job in a European institution.
By Max Griera, 3 minutes. Sooner or later, everyone has to write a CV. Whether you are familiar or not with this task, here we present you 14 points to help you level up your CV.
Legislation Up Close
Written by: Antonio Manuel Torres García
Reading time: 5 minutes
Imagine every message you send being read by someone else. Would you accept that if it meant combating the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM)? This question, at the centre of a crossroads between child protection and your own privacy, has become increasingly relevant during July 2026. While this is not necessarily breaking news (given its long trajectory), the debate has been fiercely reignited for those who care about either cause and closely follow EU legislative developments. And not in vain.
On 9 July 2026, the European Parliament failed to reject, at second reading, a Council text commonly known as Chat Control 1.0. The Council has since given its final approval, confirming the text on 23 July 2026. In a nutshell, this means that until 3 April 2028, certain providers of number-independent interpersonal communication services (think webmail, messaging platforms, some apps) will be able to voluntarily scan content and traffic data in search of CSAM with the purpose of reporting it. This article will help you understand the context behind the law and the conundrum this question poses.
Written by Anneke Pelzer
Reading time: 5 minutes
Space surrounds us constantly. It is what we look up to when wishing on a shooting star, what has guided generations of sailors, and what is likely to become a battleground for global powers in the upcoming century. Contrary to expectations, few regulations and agreements exist to guide states’ actions in space.
The disagreements begin with the very definition of space. To decide where space starts, one must first point out where the world ends. Generally, two different points are considered to define the end of our atmosphere, as different actors refer to the thermosphere or the exosphere. NASA and the US Army define space to begin 80 kilometres above Earth, where the thermosphere ends. However, other actors and scientists, such as the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) or the United Nations, consider the exosphere at 100 kilometres above Earth to be the starting point of space.
By: Antonio Manuel Torres García
Everybody remembers the Draghi Report. After all, it sparked a serious debate over the EU’s competitive capacity vis-à-vis the wider world, and the ripple waves it generated are still very much omnipresent in the EU institutions, notably through the European Commission’s subsequent simplification agenda. While one could flag the Commission’s action as “incomplete”, that alone does not render the expansive effects of the renewed simplification efforts insufficient. And, in fact, it is anything but simple. In particular, areas where the EU is considered a trailblazer, such as in environmental (and the many collateral) legislation, these Omnibus packages, which breathe life into Draghi’s ideas, may hide what has been labelled as “deregulation”.
With the growing threat of global warming, sustainability and the protection of Earth’s environment remain central not only to the EU but also to the whole world. The law adopts an interesting position in this conflict. Specifically, the law must balance economic efficiency with sustainable practices. For instance, in the field of private law, sustainability has been increasingly gaining attention. To offer perspective on this topic, Bram Akkermans, a professor at Maastricht University and an expert in Sustainable Property law, shared his expertise with us.
By: Dori Febler, Read Time: 4 Min
Luxembourg has firmly established itself as the leading investment fund domicile in Europe and one of the largest in the world, attracting global asset managers and investors. Its continued expansion highlights the interaction between commercial strategy, EU law, and regulatory implementation, making this sector legally and commercially significant for lawyers practising in corporate, finance, and regulatory fields.
By: Dori Febler, Read Time: 3 Min
The European Union faces growing pressure to ensure that consumers can resolve disputes fairly and efficiently in an increasingly digital and borderless marketplace. The proliferation of digital services, online transactions, and cross-border purchases has made it difficult for traditional redress methods to keep up with economic and technological advancements. Once hailed as a practical link between consumers and justice, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is currently at a turning point. The EU's upcoming ADR framework reform is an ambitious attempt to adjust to a data-driven, global economy while also acknowledging past errors. In light of this, the European Commission's legislative push is part of a larger attempt to restore consumer confidence and regulatory relevance in the digital era, rather than merely updating existing policies.
By: Antonio Manuel Torres García
The European Union (EU) is oftentimes viewed as an entity that works for the betterment of its members, and while this is largely true, taking into consideration its objectives, values, competences, and means of action, it is nonetheless a narrow view of the wider action the EU undertakes in a more general scene. The position the EU takes when engaging with foreign agents varies according to mutual interests, feasibility, likelihood, and overall net benefit on both sides. But while trade agreements and economic partnership agreements (EPAs) fall within the external action competences the EU enjoys and tend to take the spotlight, they are not the only scenarios in which the EU engages with other states. Separate from the nascent state of a common European defence policy, which represents another facet of the EU action with external effects, European strategies like the Global Gateway mount up to projects comprising initiatives with the aim of tackling the world’s most pressing global challenges; a project that unavoidably carries an explicit “global” approach.
By: Antonio Manuel Torres García
The European Union (EU) is oftentimes viewed as an entity that works for the betterment of its members, and while this is largely true, taking into consideration its objectives, values, competences, and means of action, it is nonetheless a narrow view of the wider action the EU undertakes in a more general scene. The position the EU takes when engaging with foreign agents varies according to mutual interests, feasibility, likelihood, and overall net benefit on both sides. But while trade agreements and economic partnership agreements (EPAs) fall within the external action competences the EU enjoys and tend to take the spotlight, they are not the only scenarios in which the EU engages with other states. Separate from the nascent state of a common European defence policy, which represents another facet of the EU action with external effects, European strategies like the Global Gateway mount up to projects comprising initiatives with the aim of tackling the world’s most pressing global challenges; a project that unavoidably carries an explicit “global” approach.
By: Anneke Pelzer, Reading time: 4 min
When Greta Thunberg stood up at the podium at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2018 and spoke her famous words „How dare you?“ over and over again, she was trying to get the world’s political elite to take action against mankind’s greatest threat, climate change. Today, in 2025, frustratingly little progress has been made. Instead, it seems like other problems and crises have always been more important. The covid pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have both challenged European economies unexpectedly, which has led to the postponing of efficient measures to lower the European Union’s (EU) greenhouse gas emissions. Existing goals like the EU becoming climate-neutral by 2050 or the 2015 Paris Treaty limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius get increasingly unreachable as more time without action passes. In the present day, European member states’ worries mostly revolve around protection of Europes’ borders, which has caused military spending to have reached a new high in the EU. With rearmament’s new importance, the question arises as to how the EU wants to include its new focus on military advances in its climate goals.
By: Dori Felber, reading time: 4 minutes, 58 seconds
Ensuring balanced representation on corporate boards has moved from a mere social objective to a legal and governance priority across the EU. On 17 October 2022, the Council adopted its final text on gender balance in the corporate boards of listed companies (Directive 2022/238). How did this Directive impact corporate governance? In order to answer such a question, it is first necessary to outline what the Directive entails: its objectives, policy background and scope. Only then can we meaningfully assess its legal and practical implications for corporate governance across Member States.
By Aurora Dagnino, reading time: 5 minutes and 45 seconds
Greece's parliament approved a few weeks ago a contested labour bill that would allow 13-hour workdays, despite strong opposition from labour unions, opposition lawmakers, and civil society groups, all of whom argued that the measure undermines worker protections. Two nationwide strikes were held in the space of two weeks from early October, paralyzing the country. In both Athens and Thessaloniki, transportation networks were shut down, while hospital staff, teachers and other civil servants stopped working.
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 5 minutes.
In July 2019, an 18-year-old British woman went to the Cypriot police, and told them, that she had been raped by a group of 12 Israeli men in Ayia Nap. The Cypriot authorities questioned her for hours without legal assistance, which subsequently led her to withdraw these allegations. The woman later stated that she was pressured to comply and had to sign a waiver, which was drafted by Cypriot detectives. In the following proceedings, the Cypriot authorities found her guilty of lying about the gang rape attack, convicted her of causing public mischief, and issued a suspended sentence of four months. With the help of the human rights group Justice Abroad, the woman appealed to the Court of final instance, the Supreme Court of Cyprus, which overturned the verdict. It found that the woman did not receive a fair trial. The authorities, however, never admitted to any wrongdoings. This case caused outrage among women’s rights activists, who argued that the woman was treated as the offender rather than the victim.
By Anni Rissanen. Read: 1 min 54 s
The European Commission has decided to withdraw a key proposal that would have made it easier to hold companies accountable for AI-related harm. Some say it is a win for innovation, while others warn it creates a legal mess. What happens next for AI regulation in Europe?
Gisele Pélicot is a survivor of a series of rape, orchestrated by her husband Dominique Pélicot. Over a period of 9 years (July 2011 to October 2020) Gisele Pélicot was repeatedly raped by her husband and individuals who he would invite, whilst she was drugged and unconscious. In total, Gisele Pélicot was raped 92 times by 72 men, as her husband filmed the abuse. These horrific acts came to light when Dominique Pélicot was arrested by the police for taking upskirt photographs of women in supermarkets. The police discovered thousands of images and videos that Pélicot had taken of the rapes and stored on his computing equipment. Pélicot is further accused of training Jean-Pierre Maréchal on how to drug and rape his own wife.
By Dori Felber. Read: 3 minutes 42 seconds
Time to redefine the outdated definition of rape in France? As the horrific testimony of Gisele Pélicot unfolds, many have argued for a redefinition of rape in France. This specifically followed after lawyer Guillaume de Palma, who is defending 6 of the accused, argued that “In France proof of intent is required” in order for it to qualify as rape.
Gisele Pélicot is a survivor of a series of rape, orchestrated by her husband Dominique Pélicot. Over a period of 9 years (July 2011 to October 2020) Gisele Pélicot was repeatedly raped by her husband and individuals who he would invite, whilst she was drugged and unconscious. In total, Gisele Pélicot was raped 92 times by 72 men, as her husband filmed the abuse. These horrific acts came to light when Dominique Pélicot was arrested by the police for taking upskirt photographs of women in supermarkets. The police discovered thousands of images and videos that Pélicot had taken of the rapes and stored on his computing equipment. Pélicot is further accused of training Jean-Pierre Maréchal on how to drug and rape his own wife.
By Yana Chakarova, 7 minutes.
On the 27th of February 2024 the European Parliament adopted a number of revolutionary environmental measures enshrined in the Environmental Crimes Directive that penalized environmental crimes much more stringently compared to the past. The Greens/EFA Group from the European Parliament called for the establishment of a serious criminal liability in the case of destruction or widespread and substantial damage which is long-lasting or irreversible to an ecosystem, a habitat or the quality of air, soil or water. More specifically, the MEP of the Greens/EFA Group stated that:
By Felix Kraft, 5 minutes. Global warming forces Europe to rethink its industrial production and sets national decision-makers before a legislative paradox. Meanwhile, Brussels has come up with a controversial solution that has the potential to either harmonise or rip apart the world’s entire supply chain network.
By Ilaria Settembrini, 9 minutes. I bet you did not know it. Fair enough. Still, the warming of the Mediterranean Sea is one of the fastest in the world and requires fruitful engagement by the EU. As an essential and historically contentious resource, water can offer Brussels new pathways for intergovernmental cooperation with the southern shores.
Beatriz Santos Mayo, 6 minutes. Did you know that eating fast food products inside the EU is healthier than eating them elsewhere? Did you know some food additives have been restricted in the EU due to potential health risks? The European Food Safety Authority seeks to protect the food chain from the farm to the table and banned everything that may imply a risk to European Citizens.
By Eleonora Pizzini, 8,5 minutes. Maastricht is a city full of international students from all over Europe and the whole world. You may have friends coming from the most unusual places and have discovered new countries thanks to them, but have you ever heard about Golden Passports or Golden Visas? These two procedures are common in many states, among which some are Member States of the European Union, and have recently been highly criticised.
By Beatriz Santos Mayo, 5 minutes. Do you normally use Facebook, Instagram, or Whatsapp? Have you ever read the terms and conditions of these gatekeepers? Do you know what the EU is doing to protect your data? The new two legislative acts, Digital Service Act and the Digital Markets act are the new two legislations that, form part of the “A Europe fit for the digital age” regulatory project that manages the digital regulatory landscape.
By Leonie Kluver, 5 minutes. Do you know that 2022 is the European Year of Youth? Have you ever participated in or benefited from an EU initiative specifically supporting the European youth? For example, the Erasmus+ program? Are you curious about the European Year of Youth and maybe how you can get involved? This article discusses what it is, why it was founded, and how you can participate!
By Aari Helmelaid, 7 minutes. The EU Member States are often praised for their respect for democracy and human rights, but recent trends demonstrate that media freedom in the EU is under threat and the journalistic profession is no longer as simple, stable, or safe. Lack of transparency, threats of violence or murder, draconian laws toward the press, censorship, and cybersecurity risks are only the tip of the iceberg of the tough barriers that journalists and media companies face in their everyday operations. Read the article to find out how the EU is tackling the decline of press operations in the member states, and what to expect from the upcoming Media Freedom Act in 2022.
By Aydın Clara Orberk, 13 minutes. You may have heard about the European Green Deal (EGD), Europe’s roadmap to climate neutrality by 2050. How is this climate neutrality to be achieved? This article entails updates about measures being taken. A set of proposals aims to make the industry of products more sustainable and circular. Some measures concern the textile industry, specifically - why is this so important? Check the article to find out more!
By Jeanne Gallien, 7 minutes. Everyone is aware of their nationality, but how many Europeans are actually aware of their EU citizenship? And the rights that follow it? This article aims to inform young people about their rights given by European citizenship in higher education, which may encourage them to consider a period of study abroad. For this reason, it will solely focus on EU nationals and not on third-country nationals.
By Federico Durante, 7 minutes. The EU has the largest market in the world, which gives it immense regulatory power. Decisions related to products and services taken by the EU have repercussions in other jurisdictions. The AI Act shows how the EU, by simply regulating its internal market, can (in some sectors) affect the distribution of power in international geopolitical conflicts, and defend itself from actors that want to disrupt our European sovereignty. Read the article to know more about the AI Act and its influence on data protection and privacy.
By Lucrezia Nicosia, 7 minutes. This article aims at explaining how the European Union guarantees the protection of human rights of its citizens/residents; this will be done by explaining the scope and content of the EU Charter, its similarities with the ECHR, and the main bodies involved in the framework.
By Erik Schmidt-Bergemann, 5 minutes. Every seven years the EU needs to pass a new budget. The last Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) was passed in 2020 and the new budget will run from 2021 till 2027. This article will explain what the budget entails and how the policy-making process works.
The blue&yellow project is possible thanks to the subsidy provider - SWOL- Universiteitsfonds Limburg