The European relationship with an organisation on the rise.  On 1 January 2024, the BRICS, an informal international organisation, expanded with the accession of five new members. Although it will probably not ring a bell for most readers, this event may well have a big impact on the world’s geopolitical situation, so let me explain…

The proposal for a Positive List and the downgrading of the wolf’s protection status. If you grew up in 21st-century Europe, chances are that your very first encounter with wildlife was The Lion King. A fantastic film, of course, but experiencing wildlife is much less of a remote experience than you might think. You can…

How a more democratic media provision gives power back to European citizens. With some 370 million voters, the past European Parliament (EP) elections are one of the world’s largest democratic processes. Informing all these voters about the elections, relevant issues and the results is an important but difficult task. European media face problems such as…

Current affairs on the restitution of looted art from World War II. During World War II, art in Europe was unlawfully appropriated on a large scale. Many Jewish victims were forced to sell their art at extremely low prices, or it was outright stolen. Numerous art objects also disappeared from museums in occupied countries. This…

A look back at the 2024 European Parliament elections. The new European Parliament was officially installed on 16 July 2024, after the tenth European Parliament elections took place in June. A political landslide was predicted, in which parties on the (extreme) right in particular would gain ground. The official election results have now been determined…

The relationship between the European microstates and the European Union. Europe is home to some of the smallest sovereign countries in the world, also known as microstates. Nestled between the borders of the European Union (EU), we find Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and the smallest country in the world: Vatican City. Together, the European…

From an occupied territory to one of the EU’s greatest success stories. Famous for its beautiful coasts and mountainous landscapes, being one of the strongest rugby nations in the world, St. Patrick’s Day, and disliking their British neighbours, Ireland remains one of Europe’s most progressive and fast-growing nations. It is a country that boasts a…

Political Assassination as Opportunity for Propaganda. Assassinations of politicians are shocking moments for societies and often turning points in the political course of countries. In polarised political cultures, assassinations become even more impactful. Through three historical examples – the assassination of Pim Fortuyn in 2002, the Smolensk air disaster in 2010, and the attempts on…

Will Slovenia break the right-populist trend in Europe? Slovenia: the land of spas, mountains and rich history. Where Roman, Italian, Habsburg and Yugoslav cultural features come together in a relatively small but hugely diverse country. In short: Slovenia is definitely the place to be. Since 2004, Slovenia can call itself an EU Member State, so…

How the European Commission navigates policy, governance, and global challenges to unify and lead the EU. As the European Union (EU) gears up for the upcoming European Parliament (EP) elections, the role of the European Commission becomes ever more pivotal. With voters across the continent poised to decide on their representatives, the Commission’s influence on…

Recent articles

The proposal for a Positive List and the downgrading of the wolf’s protection status. If you grew up in 21st-century Europe, chances are that your very first encounter with wildlife was The Lion King. A fantastic film, of course, but experiencing wildlife is much less of a remote experience than you might think. You can…

How a more democratic media provision gives power back to European citizens. With some 370 million voters, the past European Parliament (EP) elections are one of the world’s largest democratic processes. Informing all these voters about the elections, relevant issues and the results is an important but difficult task. European media face problems such as…

Current affairs on the restitution of looted art from World War II. During World War II, art in Europe was unlawfully appropriated on a large scale. Many Jewish victims were forced to sell their art at extremely low prices, or it was outright stolen. Numerous art objects also disappeared from museums in occupied countries. This…

2024 European Parliament elections

How a more democratic media provision gives power back to European citizens. With some 370 million voters, the past European Parliament (EP) elections are one of the world’s largest democratic processes. Informing all these voters about the elections, relevant issues and the results is an important but difficult task. European media face problems such as…

A look back at the 2024 European Parliament elections. The new European Parliament was officially installed on 16 July 2024, after the tenth European Parliament elections took place in June. A political landslide was predicted, in which parties on the (extreme) right in particular would gain ground. The official election results have now been determined…

From an occupied territory to one of the EU’s greatest success stories. Famous for its beautiful coasts and mountainous landscapes, being one of the strongest rugby nations in the world, St. Patrick’s Day, and disliking their British neighbours, Ireland remains one of Europe’s most progressive and fast-growing nations. It is a country that boasts a…

Conflict and Defense

Shedding light on the EU’s future path towards a self-sustaining defense capacity.  Defense integration could be imperative for ensuring the internal stability of the European Union (EU) in the long term. The EU has been steadily advancing its ambitions in this area over the last decade. Right now, it has the opportunity to accelerate the…

The potential impact of the Slovak elections on support for Ukraine. Following the September 2023 Slovak parliamentary elections, the European Union (EU) and Ukraine may have something to worry about. The recent Slovak parliamentary elections saw the return of Robert Fico to national office. The success of Fico and his populist left party, Smer-SSD (in…

The contextualisation of the conflict between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh. On 19 September 2023, Azerbaijan launched an attack on the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan claims it did this after four Azerbaijani soldiers and two civilians were killed in the enclave that same month. A ceasefire was declared rather quickly after the attack, so…

Climate and Sustainability

The dual threat of climate change to Europe’s last indigenous people. Climate change affects us all. Both the effects of climate change itself, and the measures that need to be taken to deal with it affect our lives. However, some groups are hit harder by this than others. Especially people who depend on their natural…

The history and current role of botanical gardens, and the mutual cooperation between them.  Exotic plants that you normally never see, the sweet smell in the tropical greenhouses or the special style of a Japanese garden. These are the views that surround you in botanical gardens. But there is more going on in the green…

Why the Union List on invasive alien species is so important. Intensive luggage searches at customs looking for… fruit? You may have seen it on the TV programme Border Security. The Australian version of this programme follows the country’s customs. They have to deal with all kinds of matters, including drug smuggling or the import…