Zooming In
Maastricht, the birthplace of Europe
by Aydın Clara Orberk, 10,5 minutes. A giant leap forward in European integration took place in Maastricht thirty years ago: the Treaty of Maastricht, one of the founding treaties of the European Union was adopted, and then signed in Maastricht’s Gouvernement Building on the Maas river.
The massacre of dolphins in the Faroe Islands: what can the European Union do?
By Jeanne Gallien, 6 minutes. The Faroe Islands are a hot topic after the slaughter of 1428 white-sided dolphins and pilot whales. The inhabitants of these islands indulge every year in a bloodthirsty practice: the Grind or Grindadrap. But this year was a record-breaker. Read the article to find out more about this controversial tradition.
Report: The European Youth Event's green track
By Aydın Clara Orberk, 7,5 minutes. The ECA Delegation had the pleasure to participate in the European Youth Event (EYE) 2021 in Strasbourg. You may have heard about the European Green Deal, which was discussed during the EYE’s green track events - This article reports on some of these green track events and outlines concrete green projects 3 Members of Parliament are currently working on, but also remaining challenges. A garbage patch three times the size of France is floating in the Great Pacific and in terms of microplastics, we may be eating the equivalent of a credit card of plastic each week. Moreover, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change notably predicts that we are on a catastrophic path towards 2.7 degrees of global warming. This begs the question, does the European Green Deal live up to its slogan - fair, just and deliverable? And can the EU still lead in climate change? Keep reading this article to find out!
Who Is the Woman at the Top of the Union? Ursula von der Leyen-A Portrait
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.
Turkey’s Withdrawal From the Istanbul Convention-facts and reactions
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.
Montenegro: The New 28th Member State?
By Erik Schmidt-Bergemann, 5 minutes. Since the UK left the EU, the Union went down to 27 member states. Yet, it is quite likely that the EU will go back to 28 member states at some point in the future. This article will introduce one of the most likely candidates to be the next 28th member state: Montenegro.
COVID-19 and the Europen Labor Market-5 Aspects You Should Know About
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.
The EU’s COVID-19 Certificate: Lifting the restrictions in a coordinated manner or breaching the right to privacy?
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?
Belarus is breaching human rights: What are the EU and the Council of Europe doing about it?
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?