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It is clear that the acceleration / deepening are the most coherent and complete rapprochement. However, the implementation of that rapprochement demands wider consent which is not easy to happen. But this does not mean that the Union should be let muddling through. A strategy with two stages could be able to overcome the obstacles.

Europe’s future under high uncertainty

By: EBR | Thursday, September 15, 2016

This very week, might be proved crucial for European Union’s future

A solution for Strasbourg could be to establish an undergraduate European University there, modelled on the EUI. It would fill the Parliament premises with students, professors and researchers from all over Europe and would be financed by the EU budget. The money saved by the centralisation of the European Parliament operations in Brussels would be, for instance, sufficient to cover almost entirely the annual budget of a university such as Paris Sorbonne, which has more than 20,000 students and 1300 professors and researchers.

Now is the time to open Strasbourg’s ‘Bronislaw Geremek’ European University

By: EBR | Friday, September 9, 2016

It is the right time to revive the proposal made 10 years ago by Bronislaw Geremek and Jean-Didier Vincent to create a truly European University in the European Parliament buildings in Strasbourg

The great political parties which built a state of prosperity, peace and law the last 70 years, never showed the willingness to emphasize the universality and the great background of their effort. And the question is, why did they neglect this dimension of the European mainstream, during its most important period? The answer is simple though: for political reasons.

The enemies of Europe

By: Athanase Papandropoulos | Friday, September 9, 2016

The political powers which set up the most impressive prosperity system of the last 70 years, are now paying their huge communication incapability and their political mediocrity

European funds play a big role in the investments Romania needs in agriculture, health, infrastructure and education. However, the Ciolos Government – the first entirely technocrat administration in Romanian history - admitted in a controversial memorandum in July that it will be able to attract close to 0% in European funds in 2016, for the 2014-2020 spending period.

Governing a dysfunctional state: Romania

By: EBR | Thursday, September 8, 2016

Amid growing disenchantment in Romania about the nation’s year-old non-partisan government of “technocrats”, questions are being raised in Brussels about the regime’s ability to meet EU standards. The country’s troubles are highlighted by what is seen as a crisis in Romania’s justice system

While political leaders and decision-makers can inspire through principled discourse and actions, ignoring the active and positive role citizens can play in correcting the situation is plainly wrong. Instead of treating the voters of anti-immigration parties like their leaders, their concerns have to be openly debated in society-wide conversations, not ignored. Indeed outward-looking citizens have to be offered the opportunity to reshape the national narrative.

One key thing the EU can learn from the Canadian refugee policy

By: EBR | Monday, August 22, 2016

At a time of sorrow and despair for the EU, and with the refugee issue a core fault line in the Old Continent's politics, the Canadian policy of privately sponsored refugees could offer a solution to building bridges of understanding among diverse communities

The philosophy behind the scheme is to boost the agri-food sector’s competitiveness within the EU and support the growth of European quality foods worldwide, as approximately 70% of the budget is earmarked for third countries.

New CAP is still struggling to find new export markets

By: EBR | Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan has launched a “diplomatic campaign” to find new markets for EU products. But external trade complexity and an unbalanced internal market pose serious challenges for the executive

At a structural level, the Economic Council of the Prime Minister promotes substantial dialogue with the business environment, being a key mechanism meant to increase consultation with stakeholders.

Moldova on its IMF and reform track after six months of responsive government

By: EBR | Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Today's Moldova bears no resemblance to the one six months ago

It is through this prism that our friends and allies around the world need to see this decision. This is not a march away from free trade (though it is worth to saying that Britain has a massive trade deficit with the EU of about 80 billion a year). It is taking back a degree of control over our country that allies like the US would never have countenanced giving up themselves.

Leaving the EU gives Britain the freedom to thrive

By: EBR | Friday, July 15, 2016

Britain’s decision to leave the EU was received with surprise around the world. It shouldn’t have been. We have the fifth largest economy in the world

Are there any opportunities that come with Brexit? Not really, except for the illusory joy of being able to perhaps host some additional EU agencies or jump a seat in terms of influence in Brussels: + 1 in a EU of 27, instead of 28 States.

Brexit and Eastern Europe: Politics and consequences

By: EBR | Monday, July 11, 2016

Brexit has consequences on Eastern European countries, and the truth is there is more peril than opportunity in this crisis

Plahotnuic is not called a shadow ruler of Moldova for nothing and many people claim that he, not Filat, was the main beneficiary behind the crime.

Moldovan crisis threatens its European Union credentials

By: EBR | Thursday, July 7, 2016

It is Europe’s poorest country and possibly its most corrupt

In any case, the EU is the dominant political, economic, and regulatory power in Europe today, whether you like it or not.

The fundamental flaws of Brexit backers

By: EBR | Monday, June 27, 2016

By now, it has become clear that the heated confrontation in Britain over the issue of Brexit has very little to do with the actual arguments, especially among those who want the UK to leave the European Union when the country votes on the question in a referendum in June.

Any budgetary capacity should be open towards all EU member states. Countries that have a Treaty obligation to join the eurozone and make efforts to do so, should be given complete rights of participation: they should contribute and benefit financially and take part in the governance.

A budget for the Eurozone is taking shape

By: EBR | Thursday, June 9, 2016

Budgetary capacities are an important tool to protect the eurozone from economic shocks, and their extension to non-eurozone countries could help with the economic convergence of the newer member states, writes Siegfried Muresan

Whether the European Union is democratically legitimate has been a matter of debate for decades. Aware that transferring national sovereignty to unelected technocrats in Brussels could alienate voters, national governments decided to enhance the role of the EU Parliament, the only international organization whose members are elected by universal suffrage.

How Referenda threaten the EU

By: EBR | Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Europe seems to be in a referendum frenzy these days

However, the OCA literature never suggested that labour market flexibility, or even market flexibility in general, would be sufficient to deal with all asymmetric shocks. Instead it considered EZ-wide mechanisms to also be crucial, especially for big shocks.

The Eurozone needs less heterogeneity

By: EBR | Monday, May 30, 2016

Misalignments of real exchange rates continue to be the most visible and painful symptom of asymmetric shocks within the Eurozone

Now why is this turn towards authoritarian behavior happening in a country that seemed to be firmly rooted in Western structures? The question applies even more strongly to Poland, a country that had its fill of autocrats in the many years under the Soviet thumb.

Poland—The next EU crisis? The good news: This time it’s not about money

By: EBR | Wednesday, May 25, 2016

There is reason to be cautious when judging current events in Poland. And observers are well advised not to automatically use heavy artillery when criticizing the new right-wing government in Warsaw.Why? Because Poland stands for nothing less than the biggest success story to date in Eastern Europe

What makes this moment different from earlier existential crises is that the direction of integration is more diffuse now than in the past. Some needs point toward more integration, but others perhaps point toward less. I am convinced that in the long term, the net result will be more integration.

Four predictions on the future of Europe

By: EBR | Thursday, May 12, 2016

At the end of all this madness, what is the EU going to look like? This is a question heard a lot these days, in one form or another

The portrait of the ”dangerous and violent” refugee enjoyed some of the headlines, with a particularly media frenzy as regards the fake case of the Russian girl in Germany. Indeed, one of the main sources of propaganda is Russia and Putin is said to be seeking to ”sow the seeds of discord in Europe by weakening Germany and Angela Merkel”, according to German intelligence sources quoted by Sueddeutsche Zeitung as well as the NDR and WDR television networks.

The refugee wave and the issue of Strategic Communications

By: EBR | Wednesday, May 11, 2016

In 2015, Europe experienced its highest number of refugees since the Second World War, with Syria the number one "supplier", due to the conflict there

More remarkably, Bojan Pajtic, leader of the center-left Democratic Party, traditionally supportive of EU accession, urged supporters to vote for his ideological opponents in Dveri-DSS in the repeat elections. Several other left and center-left leaders followed suit.

Anti-EU nationalist parties gain foothold in new Serbian parliament after election recount

By: EBR | Friday, May 6, 2016

A right-wing nationalist grouping staunchly opposed to EU membership and supportive of Russia has edged its way into the Serbian parliament, but in what some observers feel marks a blow to a long-standing pro-EU consensus, it has done so with the backing of some left-wing and liberal parties

However, although the state of insularity creates a large number of problems, various studies suggest that islands can become ‘lands of opportunities’ by investing in their relative strengths.

Islands and the EU

By: EBR | Thursday, May 5, 2016

The European Parliament demands a preferential treatment for islands

Terrorism can be prevented only when the information is found, shared and appropriately used, but extensive information collection restrains people’s liberty. The future will show how much people are willing to give up their freedom for their security.

Europe needs a common approach to defeating ISIS and saving refugees

By: EBR | Wednesday, May 4, 2016

The expansion and brutality of the terrorist organisation known as ISIS has been alarmingly clear for some time, but still not much has been done to put an end to or strongly interfere with its international network

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EU Actually

Far-left and far-right gains throw French mainstream parties into a quandary

By: N. Peter Kramer

In many big towns and cities, Socialists and centre-right Republicans are tempted to make electoral pacts on their outside flanks to beat the opposition in next Sunday’s run off of the French mayoral elections.

Europe

Russia’s Imperial Retreat Is Europe’s Strategic Opportunity

The war in Ukraine is costing Russia its leverage overseas. Across the South Caucasus and Middle East, this presents an opportunity for Europe to pick up the pieces and claim its own sphere of influence.

Business

EU risks losing US soy imports under deforestation rules, Washington warns

The regulation would make the bloc less attractive for American exporters, a senior USDA official said