We kindly inform you that, as long as the subject affiliation of our 300.000+ articles is in progress, you might get unsufficient or no results on your third level or second level search. In this case, please broaden your search criteria.

0.00 €

Member States Seek to Unmask Russian Espionage in the EU

Author(s): Elżbieta Kaca / Language(s): English

Russian intelligence services are actively developing their networks of spies in the EU. While Member States are trying to counteract this and are undertaking coordinated action, many of them have limited operational capacities. Their cooperation at the EU level is hampered by differences in threat perceptions and a lack of mutual trust. With the aim of developing common competences, EU diplomacy can inform Member State societies about the growing scale of espionage threats by publishing regular reports on this subject.

More...

0.00 €

EU Seeks Greater Transparency in Wake of EP Corruption Scandal

Author(s): Tomasz Zając / Language(s): English

The European Parliament(EP) corruption scandal, which began with the arrests of then current or former MEPs last December, showed that the mechanisms in place to ensure institutional transparency do not sufficiently protect against the influence of non-EU countries. In addition, the parliament’s internal standards are of limited effectiveness as penalties for non-compliance are not very severe and rarely applied. The effect of the scandal will most likely be to further increase the transparency of EP conduct. The probability of a new body to monitor ethical issues in EU institutions has also increased.

More...

0.00 €

Arab Gulf States and the Situation in Afghanistan

Author(s): Sara Nowacka / Language(s): English

Arab state authorities are refraining from making unequivocal declarations about the future of relations with Afghanistan after the Taliban took power. The priority of the Arab leadership in the Persian Gulf will be to prevent the destabilisation of Afghanistan and to influence the Afghan government policy towards terrorist organisations. Given the convergence of EU and Arab state goals related to countering the threat of terrorism in the country, the Union could include them in the announced regional platform for cooperation on Afghanistan.

More...

0.00 €

The EU’s Plans to Reduce Methane Emissions in the Energy Sector

Author(s): Zuzanna Nowak / Language(s): English

Later this year, the European Commission (EC) will present draft legislation aimed at increasing the standards of monitoring, reporting, and leak detection of methane emissions. Although there is a consensus in the EU regarding the need to reduce emissions of this second-most harmful greenhouse gas after CO2, the implementation of the EC’s methane strategy and its expected costs are of concern to energy companies, including Polish ones. The EC will have to consider implementing a system of compensation and incentives to mitigate the effects of the proposed reforms.

More...

0.00 €

Ukraine’s Foreign Policy Strategy

Author(s): Maria Piechowska / Language(s): English

The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, approved in August this year the first Foreign Policy Strategy in the country’s history. According to the document, Ukraine’s main goal is membership in the EU and NATO and an end to the conflict with Russia. Like in the National Security Strategy, Ukraine included Poland in the second group of strategic partners. Cooperation with Poland is to be deepened and developed, not only bilaterally but also as part of multilateral formats in the region.

More...

0.00 €

The New German Government’s European Policy

Author(s): Melchior Szczepanik / Language(s): English

In the coalition agreement unveiled on 24 November, the Social Democrats, Liberals, and Greens express resolute support for closer European integration. The new government will likely be more active than outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet in initiating and shaping community decisions. The coalition announced ambitious climate policy and support for boosting the EU’s strategic sovereignty and establishing new sources of revenue. The prospect for a deal between the Union’s northern and southern members on reform of fiscal rules has improved.

More...

0.00 €

Prospects for the Development of EU Health Policy after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s): Jolanta Szymańska / Language(s): English

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed both the weaknesses of Member States’ health systems and the limitations of the EU’s mechanism to respond to cross-border health threats. Strengthening the EU’s resistance to health crises will become an important point in budget negotiations and the deliberations of the planned Conference on the Future of Europe. Although there are some supporters of granting the EU greater powers in this area, the changes will most likely be limited to increasing the resources of European health institutions and improving the mechanisms of cooperation between states in order to better respond to future crises.

More...

0.00 €

The Importance of Legal Issues in the Negotiations of the Next Generation EU Recovery Fund

Author(s): Melchior Szczepanik / Language(s): English

The unprecedented size of the recovery fund that the European Commission (EC) wants to set up through the issuance of bonds and the planned allocation of most of the money as non-repayable assistance to Member States have given rise to doubts regarding the compliance of these actions with EU treaties. The legal concerns do not seem substantial enough to block the creation of the fund. They could, however, be used in negotiations regarding its final shape and the criteria for the allocation of resources in particular.

More...

0.00 €

The European Peace Facility: a New EU Security Initiative

Author(s): Aleksandra KOZIOŁ / Language(s): English

Consent to finance the European Peace Facility (EPF) in the new budget perspective is an expression of the EU’s growing ambitions as a global player actively involved in ensuring international security. However, the effectiveness of the EPF will depend on the agreement of all Member States on how to respond to conflicts, as well as on consistency with other EU and NATO activities. It will also be necessary to develop guarantees of adequate control over the funds spent.

More...

0.00 €

Towards a New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum

Author(s): Jolanta Szymańska / Language(s): English

Conflicts between Member States over the relocation mechanism as well as the changing conditions of migration policy are delaying the adoption of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. The strategy, apart from answering the question about the shape of the European asylum system, must weigh the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the situation of migrants and border management, instability in the EU’s neighbourhood and the long-term challenges related to economic migration. The document may define the shape of EU migration policy for many years or renew divisions over this topic.

More...

0.00 €

Prospects for New Sources of Revenue for the European Union

Author(s): Melchior Szczepanik / Language(s): English

The European Commission’s proposal to pay off the debt taken on to create the recovery fund through new taxes strengthens the arguments for reform of the revenue side of the EU budget. Establishing additional sources of revenue is in the interest of net beneficiaries of the EU budget, who would be particularly hit by the cuts provoked by the necessity to pay the Union’s creditors. Proceeds from taxes could also enable greater spending on new priorities such as research, healthcare, and border protection. The sceptics, however, including the Northern European states, are still unconvinced.

More...

0.00 €

Civic Attitudes Towards European Integration in the COVID-19 Era

Author(s): Melchior Szczepanik / Language(s): English

EU citizens are divided in their assessment of community institutions’ record in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, no significant dip in trust in the Union has occurred. What is more, European cooperation is perceived as an important instrument in the fight against the pandemic and protection against similar crises in the future. Public support for establishing a new common policy in the realm of health could be used as an argument for reform of the treaties at the forthcoming Conference on the Future of Europe.

More...

0.00 €

Joint Crisis-Response: Towards a European Health Union

Author(s): Jolanta Szymańska / Language(s): English

The European Commission (EC) presented a package of legislative proposals initiating the creation of a European Health Union. The proposals seek to strengthen crisis management in the face of cross-border health threats, including institutional reforms in the area of health. They do not prejudice the competences of the Member States as defined in the Treaties but are an incentive for closer cooperation in the field of health at the EU level. In the long run, this may pave the way for a revision of the competences of the EU and states in health policy.

More...

0.00 €

№122: Between Crisis and Cooperation: UK-France Relations after Brexit

Author(s): Przemysław Biskup,Łukasz Maślanka / Language(s): English

Relations between the UK and France have remained tense since the announcement of the decision to hold the British referendum on EU membership in 2015. The conclusion of the EUUK Trade and Cooperation Agreement of December 2020 did not improve them, but the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine have highlighted the need for cooperation between the two countries. Despite conciliatory gestures from both sides, relations have remained largely held hostage by internal policies. This is particularly evident in three areas: the regulation of the UK border on the island of Ireland, the issue of mass crossings of migrants across the English Channel to Britain, and the rules of participation of the UK in selected EU programmes. The first summit of the two countries since 2018, scheduled in Paris on 10 March, is intended to improve bilateral relations.

More...

0.00 €

№92: More Autonomous and Greener: A Strategy for EU Industry in the COVID-19 Era

Author(s): Melchior Szczepanik / Language(s): English

Faced with the pandemic-provoked economic crisis and spurred on by initiatives from several EU Member States and the European Parliament, the European Commission wants to strengthen and modernise European industry while making it more sustainable and greener. However, individual states remain divided about the optimal balance between self-sufficiency and economic openness, as well as the pace of the green transition. Moreover, the quest for industrial autonomy and the promotion of more sustainable and fairer world trade are likely to complicate the already tense relations with the Union’s major economic partners.

More...

0.00 €

№106: The Impact of EU Development Assistance on Egypt’s Migration Policy

Author(s): Maciej Pawłowski / Language(s): English

The EU treats Egypt as an important partner in countering irregular migration. Development aid is one instrument used. However, funds allocated to addressing the root causes of migration are not sufficient to effect changes in Egyptian migration policy. The observed decline of migration to the EU is, however, not a result of the aid given to Egypt but of tightened control over its borders for its own purposes. Measures to strengthen the Egyptian economy and protect the rights of migrants are necessary, but more important are the political stabilisation of the region and increasing development assistance for Horn of Africa countries.

More...

0.00 €

№209: Strategic Compass: Towards EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence

Author(s): Aleksandra KOZIOŁ / Language(s): English

Although the EU’s flagship space systems are civilian in nature, they are increasingly being used for crisis management or foreign missions and operations. The pursuit of strategic autonomy of the Union, that is the ability to react independently to certain threats, will therefore depend on the development of space technologies. However, further enhancing the EU’s capabilities requires a precise definition of the links between the space sector and security. It also will be crucial for Polish enterprises operating in the space industry that the EU designates priority investment areas where they can benefit.

More...

0.00 €

№183: Austria’s Modus Operandi: Variable Neutrality in Action

Author(s): Łukasz Ogrodnik / Language(s): English

Austria’s 65-year-old neutrality has been preserved through political consensus and growing public support. Over the years it has been a source of prestige for the country but also intense internal debate, especially before entering the EU or the establishment of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). Nowadays, it serves not only as a catchphrase for politicians but also as a political tool used internally and externally to secure Austria’s interest. In the internal dimension, it is used to legitimise various policies while in the latter case, its aim is to influence global affairs or to force better relations with other states, even at the expense of the country’s reputation as “permanently neutral.”

More...

0.00 €

№184: Ahead of the 2021 EU-Africa Summit, Africa Looks East Once Again

Author(s): Jędrzej Czerep / Language(s): English

The upcoming EU-Africa Summit is expected to roll out a remodelled version of the intercontinental partnership. However, since “market for partnerships” on the continent continues to expand, particularly with non-Western states, the success of any major joint EU-Africa undertaking (in green transition, digital transformation, etc.) will depend on its attractiveness in comparison to the UAE, Turkish, Indian, Chinese, Russian or Japanese alternatives. In this regard, the EU policy proposals must be assessed from the perspective of an African leader who navigates between various partnerships, initiatives and projects, and calculates their weight, relevancy, seriousness of commitments, money allocated, and strings attached.

More...

0.00 €

№185: The Need to See the Wood Despite the Trees: The High Stakes of the EU-UK Talks on Their Future Relations

Author(s): Przemysław Biskup / Language(s): English

With just six weeks before the Brexit transition period expires on 31 December 2020, a framework for a trade deal between the UK and EU is far from certain. The United Kingdom is the world’s sixth largest economy, and the prospect of it leaving the EU single market and customs union without any agreement increases the economic and security risks for Europe. But there is still an option for at least a basic “barebones” free trade agreement, which should be explored to enable an orderly transition to a new EU-UK relationship and its future upgrading.

More...