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Europeans are living in a time of great uncertainty filled with both enormous opportunities and profound risks for the future of the common European project. Many feel uneasy about their economic, social and environmental futures and anxiety about how to keep up with rapid technological change and deepened globalization.For the first time since the beginning of the European integration process, there is real urgency for Europe to reaffirm its unique raison d’etre. A changing geopolitical landscape leaves the region with the responsibility to step up its global leadership role and to stand up for democracy, rule of law and multilateral diplomacy

An open letter to Europe’s leaders

By: EBR | Thursday, July 18, 2019

2019 is a critical year for Europe. The rise of populist, nationalistic agendas has called into question the raison d/etre of the European project and core European liberal values

The ambitious agenda she presented has more green, center-left and risk-sharing elements than German chancellor Angela Merkel has ever endorsed.However, as head of the European Commission, von der Leyen will have little control over which elements, if any, will be enacted. But that she, as a modern German conservative, has put forward such an agenda can soften German resistance to some of the ideas she put forward. In that sense, her election may make a modest difference.

EU Politics: A Narrow Vote for Progress

By: EBR | Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Can von der Leyen make a difference? Probably yes — but only modestly so

Many Conservatives are frustrated. The Greens and some key members of the center-left have publicly opposed the deal. Although von der Leyen faces an uphill struggle, I expect her to prevail.

Four reasons why von der Leyen can prevail

By: EBR | Friday, July 5, 2019

Despite some obstacles, it is likely that Ursula von der Leyen will lead the next European Commission

All the new EU leadership team are on the record saying Brexit is bad for the EU and none is willing to make concessions to Boris Johnson who has denigrated and told lies about Europe over his 30 year political-journalist career. There will be no hand extended to help a Johnson-Farage UK from Brussels.

Winners and losers in Europe

By: EBR | Friday, July 5, 2019

Europe and the EU have undergone great changes in recent times. Here are five winners and five losers

Although Europe lags behind in economic growth compared to other major world economies, it does well in the Inclusive Development Index. This is an alternative measurement of economic development that focuses more on median living standards. The index was set up by the World Economic Forum to better represent economic development felt by ordinary people. Where GDP can overlook inequality - the Inclusive Development Index aims to include it.

What is the new economic agenda for Europe?

By: EBR | Friday, June 28, 2019

The Brussels Economic Forum is Europe’s answer to Davos - it is the flagship economic event of the European Commission that happens annually. This year was the 19th time European policymakers, academics and business leaders gathered to debate the current challenges facing the EU

Unfortunately, EU leaders have discarded all three Spitzenkandidaten, possibly to make the EPP’s setback more palatable for the EU’s biggest political group.Perhaps EU leaders need to think twice. There are not so many great candidates to change the narrative. Some of them, by impersonating the loathed establishment, would only help Le Pen win the elections.

EUCO’s choice

By: EBR | Thursday, June 27, 2019

Picking the new batch of EU leaders, and especially the Commission president, is much more difficult this time around. And it’s not really about the Spitzenkandidaten system, it’s not even about the political, gender or geographic balance. It’s about the person itself

The study – ’Demographic Scenarios for the EU: Migration, Population and Education’ – is published under the aegis of the European Commission and authored by a Vienna-based team. Its thrust is that policymakers should abandon ideas that young immigrants will make up for dwindling workforces and help pay for the rising costs of ageing.

This EU-backed report fails to tackle our demographic ills

By: EBR | Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Giles Merritt bemoans the lost opportunity of a high-profile study that plays down the EU’s need for more migrants to swell our shrinking workforces

During the seminar, different ESPON projects provided insights from the latest ESPON evidence on topics related to the territorial cohesion debate including financial instruments, green infrastructure, circular economy, refugee flows, youth unemployment, geographical specificities, cultural heritage, territorial impact assessment, land-sea interactions, big data and urban-rural linkages.

We need to think and design policies beyond administrative borders

By: EBR | Monday, June 24, 2019

Places in decline, are not left behind, they are kept behind, by decades of neglect, under-development, lack of investment and misguided policies said Professor Simin Davoudi, from the University of Newcastle, keynote speaker in the ESPON seminar about “the role of functional areas in territorial cohesion”

A fitting leader for a new-style commission

By: EBR | Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Giles Merritt says the classic EU leadership race now playing out in the media is misleading and outdated. What’s at stake is the mandate to be given to the next European Commission

In short, even though the EU prides itself on being a peace project, it cannot do peace. It cannot conduct peace negotiations because as a bloc it is wedded to soft power and the panoply of tools that underpin that power, including development aid, diplomacy, peacekeeping missions, and police training. And even when the EU imposes sanctions, as in Russia or Iran, the measures lack teeth because they are not targeted on individuals or backed up with hard power.

Europe’s Flawed Peace Policy

By: EBR | Tuesday, June 11, 2019

European leaders must acknowledge that the peace project on which the EU built its reputation is today inadequate for defending its values and interests or acting strategically

At the level of the European Union, even with the United Kingdom’s exit perspective, later postponed, the debate on globalisation started off as comprehensive and multidimensional, based on well-defined trends - such as intangible flows of services and data, greater participation by emerging economies and megacities, growing role of small enterprises, non-state actors and individuals, rise of open-source and shared content, technology transfer not only from developed to emerging economies, but the other way around as well.

New models are needed for restarting the debate on the EU’s future

By: EBR | Monday, June 10, 2019

From Brussels to Bucharest, the end of the European Parliament elections, followed by political negotiations, have led to the temporary suspension of the conversation on the future of the European Union as a global actor

Most of the top clubs cashed in by selling players last year, with Monaco raising the highest amount, at $350 million, followed by Barcelona, which earned $230 million.Tottenham was Europe’s most profitable club last year, turning a 36% profit margin, followed by Italy’s Lazio and the UK’s Liverpool. The biggest loss was at Italian giant AC Milan, which saw profitability plummet by 50% after restructuring amid an ownership reshuffle.

3 charts that show the economics of European football

By: EBR | Friday, June 7, 2019

It reads like an end-of-match report – Real Madrid topple Manchester United to become the king of Europe. But this time it’s financial success, rather than athletic ability, that has put the storied club in first place

German goods producers have been hit by the slowdown and lately also by the contraction of world trade. The lack of trade dynamics has various causes, with the tariff and broader trade policy conflict between the United States and China ranking prominent among them.By itself, Germany can do little to heal the weakness of global trade. Therefore, it should do all it can to create more internal dynamism of the German economy through investment and innovation.

How the German Economy Is Falling Behind

By: EBR | Wednesday, June 5, 2019

With growth deteriorating, the day of reckoning for Germany’s economic policymakers is approaching fast

The EU’s Game of Thrones, which will play out in the coming weeks, will be lacking in blood and sex, but will easily equal the TV series in complexity. Following the European Parliament elections that took place on May 23–26, EU leaders must now choose the next presidents of the European Commission, European Council, European Parliament, and European Central Bank (ECB) as well as a new EU foreign policy chief.

Time for Strong New EU Leaders

By: EBR | Tuesday, June 4, 2019

As the EU prepares to replace its top officeholders, the union needs leaders who can confront bullying international actors, navigate through a turbulent political scene, and rebuild public trust in the European project

Half a year ago, most EU members would probably have preferred that the UK stays in the EU, with only some (France) not sure about it.After half a year of political theater in the UK, it may well be that, by now, many EU countries would be too afraid of a deeply divided UK disrupting the EU to really want it to stay.

After Theresa: The Brexit Mess and the EU

By: EBR | Monday, May 27, 2019

Many on the continent may now see an orderly “velvet” Brexit as the least bad among the realistic outcomes

Fragmented and polarised Europe emerges from EU vote

By: EBR | Monday, May 27, 2019

The conservative European People’s Party again won the most seats in the European elections on Sunday (26 May) but will face difficulties in building a controlling majority as the Greens, liberals and populists posted big gains, reflecting the ongoing divisions in the bloc

In Germany, a plunge in support for the center-left SPD to far below 20% (and a drubbing at the parallel Bremen state election) could cause the disoriented party to walk out of the coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU in Berlin.That would end the reign of Merkel and probably usher in her chosen successor Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer at the helm of a new coalition with the Greens and the liberals. Unlikely, but not fully impossible.

EU: 8 Results to Watch

By: EBR | Friday, May 24, 2019

EU citizens head to the polls to elect a new parliament in the most important EU election in recent times. Here’s what to look out for

Turnout in these elections has been waning since they began in 1979, dropping from an initial 61.99% to 42.61% in 2014. This time, much is at stake, especially with nationalist-populist voices on the rise. But will it be enough to mobilize voters?

Europeanism Vs. Euroskepticism

By: EBR | Friday, May 24, 2019

More than any other, these EU elections are a battleground to determine the future direction of the European project

Polling stations open in the Netherlands and the UK today. 53 million UK voters can cast their ballots for the 591 candidates competing for 73 seats. If the country is still an EU member state on 2 July, the current composition of the Parliament, with 751 MEPs will continue to apply. In the Netherlands, around 13.5 million Dutch voters will select 26 candidates out of 308 running. Tomorrow’s (24 May) voters: Czechia and Ireland. Official results can be announced only after the last European voting booths close at 23:00 on Sunday.

EP Elections 2019: Daily brief May 23

By: EBR | Thursday, May 23, 2019

A daily newsfeed on country-specific electoral facts, events and debates in all member states

Efforts to resist the populists have been underwhelming and sometimes misguided. Some, such as Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, have made the mistake of mimicking their message and approach. Others, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, have peddled largely hollow visions of hope, with mixed results. Then there were the poorly conceived efforts to connect the EU to the people, exemplified by the series of chaotic televised debates that have marked this year’s campaign for the European Commission presidency.

The EU’s Four Challenges

By: EBR | Thursday, May 23, 2019

Whatever the next European Parliament’s composition, the imperative will be the same: EU institutions must trade ambition for humility, focusing their attention not on their own power or status, but rather on upgrading and fortifying the project for which they claim to stand

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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