Perks and challenges for Bosnia´s future. In a recent speech delivered at the European Parliament, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced to the parliamentary members the Commission’s decision to open talks for the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union (EU). According to the latter, “Bosnia and Herzegovina…
An overview of all participants in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Some people schedule their Sundays around Formula 1 races, others live for the Champions League, and some wait all year to see people from all over Europe (and beyond) perform on a stage. Yes, at Shaping Europe we are part of the last group!…
Belgium’s willingness to compromise is under pressure in a year full of elections. Ask the average person about their first association with the country of Belgium, and there is a good chance the answer will be chocolate, beer, fries or waffles. Or perhaps the national football team ‘The Red Devils’, the many cycling classics, or…
Cyprus: a divided country. Cyprus is an island geographically located in Asia but considered part of Europe due to its political and cultural affiliations and history. According to Greek mythology, it is the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, and Nicosia is its capital. The island is home to just under one and a half million…
The locations of the European Parliament, and the discussions regarding them. Although members of the European Parliament meet in Brussels most of the time, they also have to travel to Strasbourg for four days each month for plenary sessions. This is, in fact, the official location for these meetings; or the ‘seat’ of the European…
What is the Spitzenkandidaten procedure and who are the Spitzenkandidaten? Ursula von der Leyen, Nicolas Schmit, Valérie Hayer, Sandro Gozi, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Bas Eickhout, Terry Reintke, Raül Romeva, Maylis Roßberg and Walter Baier. Not all of these names will sound familiar to European citizens, but they are the Spitzenkandidaten of the European groups in the…
The manuscript for fixing the European youth vote. Better reach and motivate young people to vote in European elections? If it is up to European Commission vice-president Margaritis Schinas, this should be done by harnessing the reach and popularity of US pop icon Taylor Swift. Clever? Yes, because at a time in which social media…
What are Malta’s biggest concerns ahead of the 2024 EP elections. Malta: the smallest European Union (EU) member state and one of the sunniest. This Mediterranean country, which used to be a British colony, has also been a film set for Game of Thrones and the 1980 Popeye movie. Malta joined the EU in 2004…
An interview with MEP and Volt Belgium party leader Sophie in ‘t Veld about the upcoming elections for the European Parliament and the ambitions of her party. Sophie in ‘t Veld has been a Member of the European Parliament (EP) since 2004. For a long time, she was a Member of the European Parliament in…
Continued disinterest despite controversial changes within the country? Welcome to the next country in Shaping Europe’s country profiles ahead of the European Parliament (EP) elections: Slovakia! This landlocked European Union (EU) member state is home to over 6000 caves and has the highest number of castles and châteaux per capita. Its capital, Bratislava, is located…
Recent articles
An overview of all participants in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Some people schedule their Sundays around Formula 1 races, others live for the Champions League, and some wait all year to see people from all over Europe (and beyond) perform on a stage. Yes, at Shaping Europe we are part of the last group!…
Belgium’s willingness to compromise is under pressure in a year full of elections. Ask the average person about their first association with the country of Belgium, and there is a good chance the answer will be chocolate, beer, fries or waffles. Or perhaps the national football team ‘The Red Devils’, the many cycling classics, or…
Cyprus: a divided country. Cyprus is an island geographically located in Asia but considered part of Europe due to its political and cultural affiliations and history. According to Greek mythology, it is the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, and Nicosia is its capital. The island is home to just under one and a half million…
2024 European Parliament elections
Belgium’s willingness to compromise is under pressure in a year full of elections. Ask the average person about their first association with the country of Belgium, and there is a good chance the answer will be chocolate, beer, fries or waffles. Or perhaps the national football team ‘The Red Devils’, the many cycling classics, or…
Cyprus: a divided country. Cyprus is an island geographically located in Asia but considered part of Europe due to its political and cultural affiliations and history. According to Greek mythology, it is the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, and Nicosia is its capital. The island is home to just under one and a half million…
The locations of the European Parliament, and the discussions regarding them. Although members of the European Parliament meet in Brussels most of the time, they also have to travel to Strasbourg for four days each month for plenary sessions. This is, in fact, the official location for these meetings; or the ‘seat’ of the European…
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…