Marnix Vermeer, Author at Shaping Europe

The EU’s response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine

Posted on 3 March 2022
by Marnix Vermeer and Daniel Niekel
with 0 Comments

On Thursday the 24th of February 2022, a shadow that many thought had been left in the dustbin of history descended once again over the European continent. In a sudden and unprovoked attack, the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine from three sides, swiftly ending any hopes…

European Integration

A year worth fighting for

Posted on 20 January 2022
by Marnix Vermeer
with 0 Comments

A reflection of the challenges of 2021 and the opportunities of 2022 Now the New Year’s Eve celebrations are disappearing from the rear-view mirror, we wanted to briefly reflect on some of the biggest challenges the EU has faced last year and consider what the…

Energy

Nuclear energy: a necessary technology for a green EU or a dangerous distraction?

Posted on 4 November 2021
by Marnix Vermeer and Daniel Niekel
with 0 Comments

Arriving at COP26 This week world leaders meet at the 26th conference of the parties, or COP26 for short, with the aim of charting a path towards a sustainable future for humanity. This currently involves a widely shared pledge for net-zero emissions by 2050 and…

Political Parties and Movements

Pan-European populism: One ideology with flexible interpretations (Part 1)

Posted on 2 September 2021
by Marnix Vermeer
with 0 Comments

What populists in the Netherlands, Sweden and Italy have in common (part 1) An economic and financial crisis shaking the bedrock of the European economy, a significant increase in net migration from outside the EU, ethnic tension fuelled by opportunistic politicians, Brexit and the election…

Elections

Madrilenians reward Ayuso’s conservative People’s party in a monumental election

Posted on 6 May 2021
by Diego Vallejo and Marnix Vermeer
with 0 Comments

The extreme-right Vox party is all but guaranteed to join the coalition. The fascist Caudillo of Spain, Francisco Franco, died in 1975 deciding that his successor would be the next in line to the throne of the Spanish monarchy: Juan Carlos I of Bourbon. The…

Public Health

Recovering from COVID-19: A tale of hidden integration?

Posted on 20 April 2021
by Marnix Vermeer
with 0 Comments

How a global pandemic has fueled European fiscal integration efforts. The year 2020 started with an optimism that now feels strangely distant: a new European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen, teeming with impatience and ambition; Commissioner Timmermans' Green Deal, and a new energetic…

Elections

Dutch vote pro-European, rebuke far-right as left dwindles

Posted on 18 March 2021
by Marnix Vermeer
with 0 Comments

Analysis: The impact of the Dutch 2021 elections on Europe. Please note, at the moment this article went to press the final results of the election had not yet been announced. This article will be updated if the distribution of seats changes. Voters in the…

International Relations

The EU-China trade relationship: A story of continued imbalance? – Part II

Posted on 25 February 2021
by Marnix Vermeer
with 0 Comments

A deep dive into Europe-China trade relations – Part II. "The most ambitious agreement that China has ever concluded with a third country." This is how the European Commission chose to label its recently announced “Comprehensive Agreement on Investment” (CAI) with China. A big and…

International Relations

The EU-China trade relationship: A story of continued imbalance? – Part I

Posted on 9 February 2021
by Marnix Vermeer
with 0 Comments

A deep dive into Europe-China trade relations - Part I. A systemic rival. When the EU labelled China this way in 2019, perhaps not everyone noticed. Yet, it is an event with important political consequences. After all, most people know that the relationship with China…