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The new mechanisms may include specific monitoring programmes in specific states, and ‘enhanced cooperation’ aimed at protecting journalists from abuses of state power, safeguarding the independence of judiciaries against political interference, and bringing legislation into line with Council of Europe standards. Such actions would probably be undertaken in combination between the Secretariat and the parliamentary assembly (or PACE), which is made up of national parliamentarians from the member states, who already conduct a range of in-country monitoring programmes.

Joint press freedom report says Europe’s democracy is in danger!

By: EBR | Monday, February 18, 2019

There will be a new focus on close-up monitoring and other ‘determined’ responses to what are recognised as real threats to democratic institutions, as highlighted in the newly-published report

In 2018, the average level of income in Poland exceeded two-thirds of the average level of the Eurozone. That is an impressive achievement for a country that only entered the EU in 2004 and had to shed the painful legacy of decades of Communist rule

Poland Is Europe’s Growth Champion. Can This Continue?

By: EBR | Monday, February 18, 2019

Key elements of the Polish success story resemble that of the German post-war economic story, especially relying on social and economic inclusiveness as a driver of economic success

We recognise that our moral, political and economic systems need to be radically reprogrammed in order to make poverty unthinkable and impossible on our continent. This reprogramming would also be the engine of economic and social development in Europe, providing wellbeing to European citizenship, including poorer and social excluded people. That is not only fair, it is smart and beneficial for all.

The next European Parliament must commit to making Europe Poverty Free

By: EBR | Monday, February 18, 2019

Almost 70 years later, the next European Parliament will inherit huge challenges of its own – including the fact that Europe’s moral, political and economic systems have led to 113 million people, 22.5% of our population, living at risk of poverty and social exclusion

During the postwar era (1945-1989) collective memories of total war—as well as the economic success of liberal democracy—ensured that neo-fascist movements remained politically marginal. However, the Great Recession (2007-13) has reinvigorated the far right as a viable political alternative. Reflecting on the present moment, China Mieville notes: ‘There has not in living memory been a better time to be a fascist. We live in a utopia: it just isn’t ours.’

The loss of European memory

By: EBR | Friday, February 15, 2019

A commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law was Europe’s answer to fascism. The loss of this European memory presents real dangers amid a resurgent populism

In short, the EU needs a new banner to rally its supporters behind, and an idea from a former Belgian social affairs minister might be just the job. “How about an EU-wide unemployment benefits scheme?” asks Frank Vandenbroucke, who in addition to teaching and research work at the University of Amsterdam, is also a member of Friends of Europe's Board of Trustees.

The EU-wide unemployment benefit idea could be a political winner

By: EBR | Wednesday, February 13, 2019

These are tough times for the EU, and getting tougher. The European Parliament elections in late May probably won't be catastrophic, but surging support for populist candidates could severely weaken the European project at a time when unity and strength are vital

Di Maio’s trip to Paris, to meet protesters against the French government, seems indeed quite undiplomatic, but it was also the last straw that broke the camel’s back. In recent months, the relationship between the two countries has grown tenser. Matteo Salvini, leader of the other Italian government party, Lega, has several times publicly criticised the French President. He called Macron ‘new Napoleon’, a ‘windbag’ and a ‘polite young man who exaggerates in champagne’.

France and Italy on a collision course

By: N. Peter Kramer | Friday, February 8, 2019

A rift between two founding countries of the EU was never that wide as the one now between France and Italy.

As such, most Eurosceptic and Far Right parties have abandoned talk of leaving the EU. Seeing the Brexit drama developing, their focus has switched to capturing power to try and change Europe from within. This will be Europe’s true challenge in the years ahead. But Brexit is doing more than just reshaping the European narrative ahead of European Parliament elections and the selection of new European Commissioners. It is also a closely-observed global cautionary tale.

Groundhog Brexit is driving us crazy- but it's also a global cautionary tale

By: EBR | Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Groundhog Brexit is driving everyone slightly mad. But it’s also an unparalleled masterclass on the “do’s and don’ts” of leadership and democracy

On the economic front, Western sanctions in answer to Russian actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine are aggravating the country's difficulties. Already over-reliant on its oil and gas exports, the neglected and outdated manufacturing sector is suffering from a marked absence of foreign investment. Each of the last five years has seen people's real disposable incomes fall, leaving the average Russian 10% poorer than in 2014.

Why the Berlaymont will want to cosy up to the Kremlin

By: EBR | Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Russia and the European Union are at loggerheads - or to put it more diplomatically, “their efforts over more than 20 years to build a strategic partnership have clearly failed.”

The northern Europeans opposed his ideas, letting them do the running for Merkel. Not only that. European leaders didn’t offer their own views about Europe’s future. It’s as if they were afraid of challenging euroskeptics and populists, who were quick to capitalize on their silence. The Franco-German engine lacked the steam to move forward.

What Franco-German Engine?

By: EBR | Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Berlin and Paris are no longer providing the leadership Europe urgently needs to adapt to global, geostrategic shifts

On the issue of a customs union, the spokesman said, the prime-minister is absolutely clear on the importance of having an independent trade policy in order to honour the result of the referendum. On the question to mention areas where compromise might be possible, the spokesman suggested there could be stronger guarantees on workers’ rights and environmental protections.

PM May will stick to her Brexit principles

By: N. Peter Kramer | Friday, January 18, 2019

Yesterday Theresa May’s spokesman said that the Prime Minister is determined to stick to her Brexit principles in the cross-party talks, including rejecting a customs union and a second referendum

Remarkable is, that so far there is no real sign of an economic slowdown in the US; and China’s statistics show imports from Europe are slowing but still growing. However, across the Eurozone we see a weakening in the rate of increase of consumer spending. This surely cannot be blamed upon the slowdown in China

Eurozone in economic bad weather

By: N. Peter Kramer | Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Last week figures on the German industrial production in November 2018 were released

Generations of inadequate school history teachers, the BBC’s drama department, the royal family and the silly songs that British children are forced to sing, have all come together in creating Mrs. May’s Brexit mess. The Brexit disaster is only explicable by diving into that British culture that promotes the uniqueness and superiority of my fellow British citizens

Brexit: A Cultural Morphology

By: EBR | Thursday, January 10, 2019

How the deep forces of British history, from royalism and classism to nationalism and imperialism, combined to trigger the Brexit moment

With the chaos of Brexit ever-rising, disillusionment sets in in the UK. It dawns on enough people that maybe it was not so wise to go it alone. The May government unveils its secretly developed plan of founding an “alternative EU” (AEU). The British Prime Minister is in talks with Northern European countries and with Ireland on closer cooperation

Europe: Five Big Surprises for 2019

By: EBR | Thursday, January 3, 2019

Dealing in alternate realities is a tricky business. As is often noted, predictions are hard, especially about the future

The outcome of an election will affect the older population more directly because they are retired, or soon to do so, and are more reliant on public provisions like healthcare. Questions like ”Who gets to decide what age I get to retire at?” and ”Will I have a decent pension?” are very relevant and urgent questions for this cohort

Europe matters, but how do we tell young people that?

By: EBR | Thursday, December 27, 2018

The American mid-terms are just behind us. The elections were closely-watched as the results were supposed to indicate how US citizens feel about this tumultuous presidency and if Republicans would lose their majority in both of the House and the Senate

Encounters of European politicians that used to be rather technocratic and diplomatic in nature are being politicised. When the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz visited the German Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer, this was not diplomacy between Austria and Germany but two European politicians building a political alliance

The fight for liberal democracy can only be won on the offensive

By: EBR | Thursday, December 27, 2018

It has become common to take the growing power of populists in European countries as a sign of the European Union’s declining political viability

The EU’s political integration was previously driven by a strong Franco-German coalition. France and Germany together were the primary architects for the closer integration of monetary, foreign, security, justice and home affairs policies. However, as France grappled with its growing domestic economic and political problems during the last decade or so, the EU was forced to fly increasingly on its German ‘engine’ alone

The Growing Danger of EU Disintegration

By: EBR | Thursday, December 27, 2018

The European Union has been rocked by almost ten years of potentially crippling crises involving sovereign debt in the eurozone, the mass migration of refugees, Russian military intervention in Ukraine and Brexit

No wonder the commission wanted to complete negotiations for the EU’s next budget for 2021-2027 before the European Parliament elections in May. It knew full well how Brexit and the new composition of the parliament would complicate these discussions. But it failed to make progress and has postponed the issue until next year

Europe After a No-Deal Brexit

By: EBR | Thursday, December 20, 2018

The disruption caused by Britain failing to agree an orderly exit from the European Union is immense—and dangerous for the bloc’s future stability

Ireland’s border could remain completely open; British jobs, investment, and prosperity would suffer far less than any other form of Brexit. The disadvantages are equally clear: like Norway, the UK would have to make continuing payments to the EU; the UK would be subject to EU rules and regulations without having any say in them; the UK would have to maintain freedom of movement for EU citizens—anathema to those pro-Brexit MPs and voters who want the UK to have the right to control immigration

Brexit: What Brexit?

By: EBR | Friday, December 14, 2018

Few want the UK to crash out of the EU without a deal. After a tumultuous week for Theresa May, the chances have risen that Brexit won’t happen at all

The political chaos in Britain may seem isolated from the EU. It isn’t. The fallout has diminished London’s once-important standing in Europe. Its geostrategic outlook and diplomatic skills once so highly regarded in Brussels and the other member states are no more. So much for taking back control

Britain, France, and the State of the EU

By: EBR | Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Social cohesion in many European countries is fraying as the impact of globalization and all its attributes undermine governing

As for Merkel, she is needed in Germany and Europe. She may be no strategist. But despite the pressures of realpolitik, she has consistently held a moral compass—be it on Russia, immigration, finding compromises among the EU’s bickering leaders, or holding the center

Don’t Write Off Angela Merkel or AKK

By: EBR | Monday, December 10, 2018

Just because she quit as party leader doesn’t mean that the German Chancellor has to be a lame duck

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