By Paula Nörr, 8 minutes. We all know Ursula von der Leyen. In 2019 she succeeded Jean-Claude Juncker and became the President of the European Commission until 2024. But did you already know that she lived under the pseudonym Rose Ladson for a few years? Or that she was a gynaecologist before she started her political career? You might wonder how exactly Ursula von der Leyen became one of the most powerful women in the world and maybe also what she is doing in her current position that is known as the “EU’s top job”. The following article portrays the multifaceted political figure of Ursula von der Leyen and provides some background information and insights into her political career that will help you understand who the woman at the top of the Union is.

By Eliza Wójcik, 7 minutes. Istanbul Convention is a Treaty on human rights by the Council of Europe. It aims to combat violence against women and domestic violence. It was opened for signing in 2011 and signed by Turkey in that same year. Since 2014 the Convention has been in force in Turkey, but now, in 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Turkey’s withdrawal from it, entering into force on the 1st July 2021. Possible reasons for the withdrawal may be Erdoğan’s will to consolidate his power within the party and satisfy the pressure coming from his Conservative Party and the opposition party.

By Wiktoria Nadolna, 7 minutes. Covid-19 pandemic turned economies around the world upside-down, and it has been no different in the European Union. National labor markets, as well as the integrated EU internal market, are suffering and facing challenges they have never faced before. This article dives into the 5 most essential aspects of the EU labor market that have been challenged by the virus.

By Marina Veljkovic, 6 minutes. The unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic has challenged human rights and the rule of law. Digital certificates and Covid passports are a promising step for Europe’s return to the life we knew before. But is such proof of being Covid negative affecting our right to privacy?

By Paula Nörr, 5 minutes. After Belarus’s president, Lukashenko stole the elections last summer, an opposition movement formed against Europe’s last dictator. Protests were harshly suppressed by the Belarusian authorities, thereby violating the human rights of the people in Belarus. The situation has not improved in any terms and Lukashenko continues to oppress all kinds of resistance. But how does the EU respond to these events? And what is the role of the Council of Europe, when talking about the human rights dilemma in Belarus?