By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 3 minutes.

Do you remember the last time you wore a mask to protect yourself and your loved ones from an unknown virus? The rapid test before meeting your grandparents? The wait for access to a vaccine? These issues feel like they are from a different time. Today, current debates and concerns deal among many with Russia’s war against Ukraine, Trump’s unpredictable and ruthless politics, and the volatility of the world economy. Nonetheless, the COVID-19 pandemic made one thing very clear: a worldwide health crisis poses severe challenges and risks to our societies. The previous article on the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath discussed to what extent we are still affected today by the consequences of the pandemic. This blog post takes a closer look at the European Union (EU)’s preparedness for future health crises, finally asking whether the EU could deal with another future pandemic.

From: Jolanka Kocianova Vuong

Reading Time: 3 minutes 16 seconds

As a Commission President, Ursula Von Der Leyen is used to being at the center of attention. Whether during the first Trump administration, Climate Change, COVID, or the war in Ukraine, Von Der Leyen has always been the person to look up to for the EU to deliver solutions. Yet, this spotlight shines even brighter in the light of Trump's 20% Tariffs challenging the consequential implementation of the Green Deal. What are Von Der Leyen’s plans and how will it affect Europe? Read here to find out more.

By: Lavinia Tacke

Reading time: 5 minutes

In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland, the world’s largest island has recently become one of the central topics in global media discourse. But what makes Greenland so unique and how did the island become what it is today?

By Gabriel Panza

Read time: 4 Minutes 15 Seconds

Starting a business in Europe can be a challenging venture, with numerous economic, social and political factors to consider. To find a prime location for business, aspiring entrepreneurs must explore diverse economies, innovative ecosystems, and supportive government frameworks. This article will explore five of the best EU countries for launching your business, noting each country’s unique advantages and business-friendly foundations. Whether you’re an experienced businessman or a first-time entrepreneur, understanding the benefits of these countries can aid in making a well-informed decision about where to start your successful business. Join us as we guide you through Europe’s top destinations for making your business dreams a reality!

By: Lavinia Tacke

Reading time: 4:40 minutes

In January a European spyware scandal flooded the international media. The phones of “around 90 activists and journalists across Europe” were spied on with the use of the software of the Israeli company Paragon Solutions. According to  the European Correspondent, the software can “read messages, record calls, track location and exfiltrate data from mobile devices”. 

by: Jolanka Kocianová Vuong

reading time: 5 minutes, 2 seconds

International aid is under attack! The two most prominent aid organizations in the world, USAID and UK Aid are reducing their spending dramatically, with severe consequences all over the world. It seems as if there is a new policy orientation in the world: down with international aid - let's invest in defence! Here, the recently introduced UK Spending Policy illustrates how funding for the country's armed forces comes at the cost of other important areas, most notably humanitarian support. This development gives rise to a few vital questions: What is the future of international aid? Is the EU going to step into the vacuum to substitute Member State spending, or are China and Russia going to use this opportunity to gain soft power in countries depending on foreign aid? Most importantly, are financial aid and defence spending mutually exclusive?

by Margaux Baudry, read 2 min 20

After a nine-week trial, Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzling a total of 4.5€ million in EU parliamentary funds. From 2004 to 2016, the party she led, Rassemblement National (National Rally), created fake work contracts for individuals with no connection to the European Parliament, using  taxpayers’ money to enrich the party. This judgment is not without impact on Le Pen’s career as it bans her from running for office for the next five years. She claimed her conviction was a “political decision” and went on to call it a “witch hunt”. But is this really an unfair punishment—or simply justice finally being served?

By Ben Rosenbaum, Reading Time: 5 mins

In an unexpected course reversal, Germany’s expected next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, pushed new spending rules through parliament. While these changes have broad support, Merz now faces questions about his credibility and whether these financial changes will be effective.

Author: Miruna-Antonia Aniculăesei

Reading time: 2.20

“Security, Europe!” is the slogan of the new Presidency of the Council of the European Union, taken over by Poland after Hungary's quite a controversial term. In comparison to the Hungarian Presidency, which failed to properly sanction Russia, the Polish representatives shaped their programme around the issue of security in the current tense geopolitical context.

By Margaux Baudry

If you feel like the EU enlargement has been stagnating for the past couple of years, it is because it has. Indeed, the last time the number of EU member states changed was when the UK withdrew in 2020. Before that, it was when Croatia joined the club in 2013. Enlargement is a natural phase of the process of European integration: the EU has been enlarging since its origin, and its expansion, for many, is considered one of the Union’s great successes.. Currently, seven states have been granted candidacy for the EU: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and, last but not least, Ukraine. So, why is the process of enlargement at a standstill?

By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 3 minutes.

Lockdowns, masks, vaccination, distance, online… These are all words  we associate with the COVID-19 pandemic and they feel like echoes of a distant past. When the Coronavirus hit the world and spread fast, it caused a pandemic and led to millions of deaths, numerous shocks to economies and health care systems around the world, and much more. The pandemic started five years ago and at that time, several countries had imposed lockdowns on their population. Nowadays, it seems like the virus has been defeated and everything went “back to normal”. But this can be misleading and in the following, it will be explained why. Additionally, it is worth examining to what extent the European Union (EU) has learnt from the global crisis and whether it would be prepared for a similar shock in the future. This will be discussed in a follow-up article.

by Margaux Baudry, read 3 min

Not so long ago, far-right politicians were easy to spot in the wild. They were mostly older, wealthy white men, much like their supporters. But nowadays, as it turns out, diversity is trendy even for far-right parties. We can wave goodbye to typical far-right leaders, as one-size-fits-all is completely out of style. Today, far-right parties are more inclusive than you would expect them to be… Here is the new look of the far-right!

By Federico Fo

Javier Milei, the Argentinian president elected in November of 2023, is well-known around the world for his controversial positions regarding the treatment of national economies, as well as for his political position, which strongly supports a libertarian political and economic system. Such a position may also be referred to as a type of anarcho-capitalism, that opposes any kind of State intervention in the economy. Argentina’s economy is known worldwide for its economic fragility. In response, Milei pledged at the beginning of his mandate to particularly focus on the structural problems of the Argentinian economy, promising to do so through the application of his political and economic beliefs. Argentina has thus become a prominent laboratory for economic and political experiments, attracting attention in the international political environment. In this article, we will explore what Milei has accomplished so far.

by Jolanka Kocianová Vuong

reading time: 6 mins 24 seconds

Populism is on the rise! It seems this statement has been repeated quite often these days. Politicians such as Trump, Meloni, and Orban all represent extreme positions and controversial policies suited to populist ideals. However, another lesser-known populist politician is Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia. In Slovakia, democracy is under threat on a scale not seen since the 1990s—ranging from assassination attempts to coup allegations, the undermining of the executive branch and attacking the opposition. Fico is evolving into Orban 2.0, drawing scrutiny from the European Union. Yet, this situation has not been widely reported in the news. So what is happening in Slovakia, and how is it threatening the democratic order in Europe?  

Read Time: 2 Minutes

By Gabriel Panza

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains a pressing issue, attracting urgent international security intervention, particularly from the European Union. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that “the ceasefire and hostage release agreement offers hope” but emphasized that the “humanitarian situation remains grim in Gaza.” 

Kristoffer Saetre Reading time: 3:30 min

Norway has recently been shaken by a governmental crisis. Legislation regulating the energy market has caused a break between the social democratic party (AP) and the center party (Senterpartiet). Interestingly, the legislation in question is EU legislation as part of the energy market package revision from 2024. But wait, why does Norway, a non-EU state, implement EU legislation? What is going on here? This crisis allows us to reflect on Norway’s relationship with the EU and can help us explain why EU energy prices have resulted in a minority government, even though the Norwegian people voted twice against EU accession.  

By Lavinia Tacke, 3 minutes.

The gender pay gap –everybody has heard about it, but what is the current situation in the EU? What is being done to reduce the gap and how does it vary across member states?

by: Jolanka Kocianová Vuong

reading time: 3:40 minutes

Extreme weather events have taken news broadcasters by storm! Whether it’s the LA fire, Hurricanes Milton and Helene, or the flooding of Valencia, the trend suggests that these natural disasters will only increase in the coming years. Yet, with all eyes on headlines full of Trump, the extreme right in Europe, or armed conflicts, it seems as if recently the debate about climate change has been relegated to the background. While News agencies should cover a wide array of topics, it is alarming to see that climate change issues only make the news if politicians deny global warming and withdraw from international climate treaties. So why is no one speaking about Climate Change anymore and why does it matter?

By Dori Felber, Read: 2 minutes 46 seconds

Just months after the tragic abuse suffered by Gisèle Pelicot came to light, a former French surgeon, Joel Le Scouarnec, has been accused of raping or sexually abusing 299 victims between 1989 and 2014, making it France’s largest-ever child abuse case. 

By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 2 minutes.

In recent years, the EU has become less attractive in many countries, as proven by phenomena such as Brexit and the rise of right-wing populism, whose leaders often employ anti-Union rhetoric. However, other examples show that joining the EU can still be appealing to third countries. In November 2024, the Icelandic population headed to the polls for a snap election. In the election campaign, the issue of EU membership arose as a crucial topic for the first time in years. Polls showed that becoming an EU member state was voters’ preferred alternative, with 45% of the population being in favour and 35% being opposed to it. But what is the reason behind Iceland's latest spike in Euro-Enthusiasm?