May 17, 2019
Socialist Spitzenkandidat for the presidency of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, has many good ideas, but one of them is misguided. It was last reiterated yesterday, in a televised debate between himself and Manfred Weber, the conservative Spitzenkandidat. Timmermans called for an environmental tax on jet fuel, thereby making flights more expensive in order to… » read more
Posted by europainmundo
August 26, 2018
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas recently authored an op-ed calling for a rebalanced transatlantic relationship between Europe and the United States. The op-ed was a remarkable departure from conventional doctrine for a high-level German diplomat, who openly questioned America’s role in the world and sees the EU as an alternative defender of liberal values and… » read more
Posted by europainmundo
January 26, 2018
After much public hesitation, official negotiations between Germany’s conservative CDU/CSU and progressive SPD parties finally begin today. Within the SPD, the issue has polarised the party’s membership, with some supporting another grand coalition and others vehemently opposing it. Internal debates and external analysis typically focus on questions of responsibility – towards the party, the nation,… » read more
Posted by europainmundo
December 16, 2016
The election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States came as a shock to the political establishment on both sides of the Atlantic, just as the Brexit referendum surprised many who underestimated the level of public discontent that lead to the result. 2016 has been a difficult year in many respects,… » read more
Posted by europainmundo
July 4, 2016
Nigel Farage’s decision to end his leadership of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) is the latest aftershock of the political earthquake triggered by the Brexit referendum’s outcome. As the Eurosceptics’ victory threatens to disintegrate not only the European Union, but also the United Kingdom itself, even the Leave campaign’s most prominent figures are unwilling to… » read more
Posted by europainmundo
February 12, 2016
NATO’s quick decision to create a new maritime operation in the Aegean Sea to counter migrant smugglers is Europe’s (particularly Germany’s) latest attempt at reducing refugee flows to its shores. While the initiative is unlikely to be very effective given its limited scope (mainly surveillance and information collection) and size (only three ships, at least… » read more
Posted by europainmundo
September 1, 2015
Faced with the brunt of asylum applications made in Europe this year and increasingly violent far-right reactions to newcomers, Germany has called for front-line migrant registration centres in Italy and Greece and a more even distribution of refugees across the EU. Such demands are understandable, but fail to consider the needs, motivations and tactics of… » read more
Posted by europainmundo
May 19, 2015
EU foreign and defence ministers recently approved an armed maritime mission targeting migrant smugglers operating in Libya, in the hope of stemming the flow of irregular migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. The mission’s ultimate – and rather controversial – goal is to destroy smugglers’ boats before they can be used, in Libya,… » read more
Posted by europainmundo
January 13, 2015
The terrorist attack against the satire magazine “Charlie Hebdo” and subsequent hostage situations in Paris have prompted a tremendous wave of compassion throughout Europe. Surprisingly large demonstrations in European cities have revealed a remarkable level of solidarity with the French. At the same time, the specific nature of this solidarity appears to be rather fragmented… » read more
Posted by europainmundo
September 6, 2014
The recent NATO summit in Wales looked and sounded like a strong affirmation of the West’s willingness to counteract Russian intervention in Ukraine. With military tanks and a full-sized model fighter jet sitting on the lush green grass of the venue’s golf course, NATO’s Secretary-General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, declared at the start of the summit… » read more
Posted by europainmundo
Analysis and commentary on EU current affairs, particularly events that affect Europe’s relations with the wider world.
