Research Area

During his last visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mateusz Morawiecki, the Polish Prime Minister, gave a speech in which he addressed the critics made against the Polish state regarding its... Be More Curious...

NATO Summit: The Atlantic Drift

Bartolome T. Carvajal

19/07/2018

Since he took office, President Trump has called on European NATO members to increase their military spending, in order to fulfil the pledge of 2% of national GDP assigned to defence, made during th... Be More Curious...

Spain: everything must change, so everything stays the same

Arnau Perello

18/07/2018

One of the greatest novels of all times is 'The Leopard' by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. It is set in Sicily during the Italian unification, as the old regime comes to an end. The main character, the S... Be More Curious...

Catalonia — the growing role of the EU

Bartolome T. Carvajal

17/07/2018

Last Thursday, the State court of the northern Schleswig-Holstein formally accepted the petition made by Spain, through a European Arrest Warrant (EAW), to extradite Carles Puigdemont. The former presid... Be More Curious...

UAE in the Balkans: Meeting point between ‘sultanism’ and authoritarianism?

Vocal Europe

16/07/2018

Western Balkans

This piece was written by Tena Prelec, Research Associate at the London School of Economics’ European Policy Institute, who was a speaker at the event the event “Beyond Berlin: What Does the Next Decade Hold fo... Be More Curious...

Palestinian rights are never lost

Paul Monaghan

12/07/2018

Israel

Opinions represented at Vocal Europe belong solely to the contributor of the piece and do not represent any other people, institutions or organizations that the contributor may or may not be associated with in ... Be More Curious...

Theresa May’s “turmoil”

Giles Marshall

12/07/2018

Donald Trump performed his usual pre-international meeting diplomacy this week, when he had a go at his allies and commended an authoritarian former enemy. If you’re a NATO ally, you got the full Trump ... Be More Curious...

A New Era: Turkey’s 98-year parliamentary system ended

Zeynep Mentesoglu

11/07/2018

Beyond Europe

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took the oath of office on July 9, which officially closed a page in Turkey’s history and started the new government system. Erdogan had won out the 24 June elections ... Be More Curious...

Sanchez and Torra: two sides of the same coin

11/07/2018

Last Monday the new Spanish President Pedro Sánchez and the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia Quim Torra met in Madrid for the first time after the establishment of the new government in June 2018. ... Be More Curious...

US divorces Europe

Vocal Europe

10/07/2018

Viktors Domburs is an expert on the Baltic Countries and a political commentator. Europe is in the anticipation of NATO summit which will take place on June, 11-12 in Brussels. Before this meeting the Pentag... Be More Curious...

Could the Chequers Summit be the Brexit Breakthrough that Theresa May Needs?

10/07/2018

The new “Facilitated Customs Arrangement” that has been conceived by Theresa May may be seen as a success for the embattled Prime Minster. The result of the make-or-break Chequers cabinet meeting on 6 June ... Be More Curious...

Poland’s dilemma: Euro-scepticism and US cooperation

Clara Berthelot

06/07/2018

As Poland is more and more on the conservative side and becoming a tenacious partner in European discussions, it seems, however, that it is open to a deeper cooperation with the United States. Since 2015... Be More Curious...

Why the UK needs to Commit to Cannabis

Richard Mason

04/07/2018

As one of the most widely-used drugs around, the criminalisation of cannabis is blocking an untapped goldmine of potential for Britain. Swathes of money are diverted to the traders of the black market, user... Be More Curious...

Where are Europe’s Christian democrats?

Vocal Europe

03/07/2018

The politics of migration have triggered a resurgence of identity based appeals to the European populous. The political right, in particular, uses Christian values and heritage as a rallying cry against soc... Be More Curious...

When will migration determine the EU’s fate?

02/07/2018

On 28 June 2018, EU heads of state or government met in Brussels following the necessities to start a discussion on the current hot themes regarding the Union such as migration, security and defence, Russia... Be More Curious...

Can Intelligence Agencies Really Protect Us?

Yvonnemarie Antonoglou

29/06/2018

Inside Europe, The Opinion

Generally speaking, the intelligence management cycle refers to the continuous process of tasking, collecting, processing, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence information. It constitutes the overa... Be More Curious...

Council distrusts parents with junk food proposals

Bill Wirtz

27/06/2018

The European Council has adopted draft conclusions regarding the marketing of so-called “junk food” products, in which it calls for restrictions on advertisement, in an effort to protect children. The targe... Be More Curious...

Understanding Turkey’s election

Julius M. Rogenhofer

26/06/2018

It is an eerily familiar sight: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims victory in a televised address. Across Turkey and several European capitals victory celebrations erupt in chants of the president’s name... Be More Curious...

Julie Ward on the role of Youth and Civil Society in the Western Balkans

22/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe's research series on the Western Balkans, Julie Ward, Member of the European Parliament Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo shares her take on the role that can be played b... Be More Curious...

Why Iran can’t take a decision similar to North Korea

Heshmat Alavi

22/06/2018

Iran

The historic meeting between the leaders of the United States and North Korea, and the resulting Korean Peninsula denuclearizing deal, has the potential of resolving a decades-old international crisis. This... Be More Curious...

Turkey’s Snap Dual Elections Under a New Political Paradigm

Mehmet Onur Cevik

22/06/2018

Previously, Turkey had covered a significant distance on the path of democratization by starting accession talks with the EU on October 3, 2005; however today, the global perception towards Turkish democrac... Be More Curious...

The Putin club is growing but who will benefit more?

21/06/2018

Russia

In recent days, Angela Merkel’s visit in Sochi to meet President Vladimir Putin, followed by Emmanuel Macron’s flight to St. Pietersburg to meet the former KGB lieutenant recently elected President for the ... Be More Curious...

Report Shows Jews Face Rising Anti-Semitism in Europe

Joseph Hammond

21/06/2018

Beyond Europe, Israel

More than one out of every five Jews "feels unsafe" living in Western Europe, the birthplace of religious toleration and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, according to a new survey. Anti-Semitism which... Be More Curious...

Iran, Oil and the Destabilisation of the Middle East

Paul Monaghan

21/06/2018

Iran

Oil prices have increased sharply following President Trump’s unilateral decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and to reimpose the "highest level" of economic sanctions on... Be More Curious...

Which factors may determine the outcomes of critical June 24 elections?

Zeynep Mentesoglu

21/06/2018

Only a few days left for Turkey’s June 24 snap elections. Turkey will hold to two elections: parliamentary and presidential on Sunday. It is of capital importance. In April 2017 referendum people of Turkey ... Be More Curious...

Eduard KUKAN on Serbia and the EU Accession Process

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Eduard Kukan, Chair of European Parliament Delegation to Serbia, shares his take on the recent state of the relations between Serbia and the EU ... Be More Curious...

Alojz PETERLE on the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Alojz Peterle, Chair of European Parliament Delegation to Macedonia (FYROM), shares his take on the recent state of the relations between Macedo... Be More Curious...

Andre De MUNTER on the countries in the Western Balkans

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Andre De Munter, Policy Analyst at the European Parliament, shares his take on the recent state of the relations between he countries in the Wes... Be More Curious...

Corina STRATULAT on the countries in the Western Balkans

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Corina STRATULAT, Senior Policy Analyst at European Policy Centre, shares her take on the recent state of the relations between he countries in ... Be More Curious...

Isabella DE MONTE on Montenegro and the EU Accession Process

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Isabella DE MONTE, Substitute of European Parliament Delegation to Montenegro, shares her take on the recent state of the relations between Mont... Be More Curious...

Milena HARITO on the Republic of Albania and the EU

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Milena Harito, Former Minister of State for Innovation and Public Administration of Albania, shares her take on the recent state of the relation... Be More Curious...

H.E. Mrs. Suela JANINA on the Republic of Albania and the EU

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans,H.E. Mrs. Suela JANINA, Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the EU, shares her take on the recent state of the relations between Albania and... Be More Curious...

Thomas WAITZ on Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Thomas WAITZ, Vice Chair of European Parliament Delegation to Kosovo, and BiH, shares his take on the recent state of the relations between the ... Be More Curious...

Toby VOGEL on the Western Balkans and the EU Accession Process

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Toby VOGEL, Policy Analyst at Center for European Policy Studies, shares his take on the recent state of the relations between the countries in ... Be More Curious...

Clive Rumbold (EEAS) on the Western Balkans and the EU

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Clive Rumbold, Deputy Head of Western Balkans Division at European External Action Service, shares his take on the recent state of the relations... Be More Curious...

The Iranian Pariah and the Zero-Sum Game

Rahim Hamid

20/06/2018

Iran

Over the last four decades, especially in recent years, Iran’s regime has limited the scope of its policies and activities to brutal, regressive belligerence, which has ultimately led it to become an ostrac... Be More Curious...

Balkans, don’t let them say — it’s difficult

Milena Harito

20/06/2018

Western Balkans is a great place to travel. Eating great various food in Tirana, taking a bath in Buljarica, Montenegro, following a show in Belgrade or having a good coffee in Sarajevo and a lot of other l... Be More Curious...

The two faces of the regime in Iran

Rahim Hamid

19/06/2018

Beyond Europe, Iran

All opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe. The Iranian regime has two faces that it presents to the world. The first is presented with the usual hardline sectarian mi... Be More Curious...

The Dublin system is crumbling, what will come next?

Valeria Mingardi

18/06/2018

The Aquarius shines bright in the middle of the sea, its orange hull stands out vividly from the deep blue sea that surrounds it. Six hundred and twenty nine people rescued from precarious dinghies by vario... Be More Curious...

The statistic, protection of personal data, and the single digital market

Ana-Maria Caminski

17/06/2018

25 May 2018. This day will enter with certainty in history. After two years, the proposal for reforming the old Directive 95/46/EC (‛Data Protection Directive’) and the Police Directive was finally adopted... Be More Curious...

Can Austria’s anti-mosque decision turn to Erdogan as vote?

Zeynep Mentesoglu

15/06/2018

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s move to close mosques frustrates Turkey’s President Erdogan. Kurz’s statement on closing seven mosques and expel around 60 imams and their families seems to trigger a ne... Be More Curious...

Erdogan the merchant of Gaza

Tionenji Lishomwa

13/06/2018

There is a complex web of vested interests and moral battles surrounding the notorious Gaza conflict. The deaths of Palestinians being used as ‘human shields’ have been used as a political bargaining chip b... Be More Curious...

Increased role and sovereignty for urban areas — a key to handle migration crisis

Vladan Lausevic

09/06/2018

Away forward for Europe to handle the challenges and opportunities around immigration would be the increased role and sovereignty for urban areas, in both smaller and larger cities. The local level of g... Be More Curious...

Building castles in Spain

Arnau Perello

08/06/2018

Nine years after the disclosure of a huge corruption scandal, Mariano Rajoy and his Popular Party have finally been ousted from government. The new PM, Pedro Sánchez, holds a very weak majority in the Spani... Be More Curious...

Catalan Issue and European Affairs Swivel in Sanchez Government

05/06/2018

On 1st June 2018, for the first time in the history of Spain, the government was dismissed by the opposition. The prime minister Mariano Rajoy was forced to leave his position in favour of Pedro Sanchez, as... Be More Curious...

Why scandalising the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is hypocritical

Julius M. Rogenhofer

05/06/2018

Scandalising improprieties in how asylum requests were processed at individual branches of the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees is hypocritical because it overlooks the political context in ... Be More Curious...

Europe is facing ‘Erdoğan crisis’ in the Western Balkans too

Valeria Mingardi

05/06/2018

Western Balkans

Hasan Hüseyin Demir moved from Hassa, a small city in the Turkish province of Hatay to Kosovo in 2012 to work first as an educator and then as a school principal. His life was following the normal path of a... Be More Curious...

A country in jeopardy

Michele Di Salvo

31/05/2018

Has been defined the longest "government crisis" of republican history, but what we have witnessed in these last three months is nothing but a litmus test of how far it is nothing but a game for amateurs to... Be More Curious...

A week to forget for Italian politics

Valeria Mingardi

29/05/2018