EPV2024 Archives - Shaping Europe

Country profile of EU member Ireland: Europe’s least Eurosceptic nation?

Posted on 20 June 2024
by Dalia Michaud

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…

Landenprofiel EU-lid Slovenië: Ook een afslag linksaf in Europa? - Shaping Europe

Elections

Country profile of EU member Slovenia: A left turn in Europe too?

Posted on 7 June 2024
by Shaping Europe editorial team

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…

Profiel EU-lid Duitsland: Een verdeelde coalitie tegen extreemrechts - Shaping Europe

Elections

Profile of EU member Germany: A divided coalition against extreme right

Posted on 28 May 2024
by Hanna Krijgsman van Spangenberg

A country that struggles with the influence of extreme right and where the coalition is regularly divided. Germany is the European Union (EU) Member State with the highest population and the most seats in the European Parliament (EP). The country is known for large Christmas…

Stemopkomst bij Europese Verkiezingen - Shaping Europe

Elections

Turnout in European elections

Posted on 22 May 2024
by Anoek Zijderveld

Improving or decreasing? Without citizen participation, the democratic foundation of a government institution is weak, and this especially applies to parliaments. The importance of having a democratic foundation was also one of the main motivations behind the European Parliament elections that have been held since…

Landenprofiel België: Drie verkiezingen op één dag - Shaping Europe

Elections

Country Profile Belgium: Three Elections in One Day

Posted on 2 May 2024
by Yannick Schimmel

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…

Elections

Profile of EU member Cyprus: A Political Puzzle

Posted on 30 April 2024
by Julia van de Boel

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…

Drie steden, één parlement: een unieke zetelverdeling - Shaping Europe

Elections

Three cities, one parliament: a unique distribution of seats

Posted on 25 April 2024
by Julia van de Boel

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…

Elections

Spitzenkandidaten 2024: who and what to expect?

Posted on 23 April 2024
by Hanna Krijgsman van Spangenberg

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…

Kan Europa’s Taylor Swift opstaan alsjeblieft? - Shaping Europe

Elections

Can Europe’s Taylor Swift please stand up?

Posted on 19 April 2024
by Bram Breimer and Linda den Bol

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.…

In gesprek met Sophie in ‘t Veld (Volt België): “Dat extreemrechts gaat winnen is geen onontkoombare waarheid” - Shaping Europe

Elections

In conversation with Sophie in ‘t Veld (Volt Belgium): “The far right does not have to win”

Posted on 11 April 2024
by Loes ter Horst and Hanna Krijgsman van Spangenberg

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…