PANEL | Taking stock on Kosovo’s rule of law: good governance in a newborn state Vocal Europe 28/10/2019 Events More than 10 years after Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence (UDI) from Serbia, the country still faces numerous obstacles in its quest for stability. Although various urgent matters keep shaping dom... Be More Curious...
POLICY PAPER | Europe’s defence: between EI2 and PESCO Dimitra Koutouzi 27/10/2019 Inside Europe, Publications The European Union has been trying for many years to establish a single Defence Union. The first attempt of a closer defence cooperation between the member states was in 1998 with the Saint-Malo Joint Dec... Be More Curious...
Vocal Cast With Matthias Peschke on Artificial Intelligence Matthias Peschke 16/10/2019 Vocal Cast As part of our Vocal Cast Series, we have talked to Matthias Peschke, policy researcher at Vocal Europe. His recent policy paper on the race for artificial intelligence was an important contribution as it illustrates how crucial it is for the EU to devel... Be More Curious...
EU Project Management Training Vocal Europe 05/10/2019 Trainings Vocal Europe has been training young researchers via structured trainings to empower them with competences that would facilitate their access to the job market. In that respect, a professional training on EU ... Be More Curious...
POLICY PAPER | The EU, Foreign Policy and the Race for Artificial Intelligence Matthias Peschke 30/09/2019 Business, Publications The potential effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on international relations cannot be understated as the global race for AI has considerably picked up the pace in recent years. Exponential growth of ... Be More Curious...
COMMENTARY | New Game-Rules for Nord Stream II Ana-Maria Caminski 06/08/2019 Business, Publications, Russia The idea of a European Union united under common energy policies and energy security strategies, seems to be even more far-fetched, after the amendment of the old Gas Directive (Directive 2009/73/EC), concerning common rules for the internal market i... Be More Curious...
The EU Hybrid Diplomacy Between Deep Concern for Ukraine and no ‘Red-Line’ for Russia Vocal Europe 29/07/2019 Publications, Russia She is graduated with a degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from the University of Trieste, Italy. Currently, she is running her master’s degree at the University of Konstanz with a specialisation in ... Be More Curious...
COMMENTARY | Reflection on the Results of the European Elections and a Forecast for Europe’s Future Carey Bennington 25/06/2019 Inside Europe, Publications The recent European elections have shed an informative light on the state of politics both within individual member states and in the wider European sphere. There has been a rise in voter turnout in most ... Be More Curious...
POLICY BRIEF | The US – Iran Information Warfare: the backstage of the Nuclear Deal and the role of the European Union Mariaeugenia Benato 25/06/2019 Iran The concept of Information Warfare (IW) is not recent. It could be define as “a targeted effort to undermine and neutralize hostile command and control systems for the purpose of protecting and coordinating the activities of command and control systems o... Be More Curious...
The Balkans Ahead of the New European Parliament: A Change of Paradigm? Zoran Cicak 24/05/2019 Publications, Western Balkans However, there remains a paradox which is indeed endemic in Western Balkans. It is more or less overt support extended by the European Union to policies and leaders which are both inherently anti-European... Be More Curious...
Monday Talk with H.E. Jacek Czaputowicz, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland Ebubekir ISIK 20/05/2019 Monday Talks As part of our Monday Talks series supported by Science 14, we have talked with H.E Jacek Czaputowicz, the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, about many pressing issues, including the upcoming Euro... Be More Curious...
COMMENTARY | How North Macedonia’s rebranded name affects its international position? Aleksandra Toska 16/05/2019 Publications, Western Balkans The collapse of Yugoslavia in 1991 led to the birth of several nation states, with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (henceforth FYROM) being one of the initial offspring. Compared to the rest of the ex-Yugoslav countries, the self-proclaimed R... Be More Curious...
Will the New Israeli Government Break the Diplomatic Disharmony Between Tel Aviv and Brussels? Pavel Vanev 07/05/2019 Israel, Publications Amid a neck in neck Israeli election, the incumbent Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, will likely garner enough support “to extend his decade-long stretch in power to become the country’s longest-se... Be More Curious...
Should we expect a Russian disinformation campaign during the 2019 European elections? Natalia Liagka 07/05/2019 Publications, Russia Disinformation is understood as a verifiably false or misleading information that is created, presented and disseminated for economic gain or to intentionally deceive the public, and maybe cause public ... Be More Curious...
North Macedonia’s Unusual Waltz with Turkey – Will it frustrate the EU and NATO? Pavel Vanev 30/04/2019 Publications, Western Balkans The saga, surrounding the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), finally came to an end this February (2019) with a brand new North Macedonia label stamped over the old contested FYROM insignia. The decade-long sensitive issue has kep... Be More Curious...
Vocal Cast with Péter Balázs, Hungary’s Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ebubekir ISIK 24/04/2019 Vocal Cast As part of our Vocal Cast series, we have talked to Péter Balázs, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary and a professor at Central European University in Budapest. Among many relevant issues, we h... Be More Curious...
The Looming Spectre of the 2.0 Nuclearization and the European Union Pavel Vanev 13/04/2019 Inside Europe, Publications The row between the US and Russia over the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty began in July 2014, when the US State Department published a Compliance Report, alleging “that the Russian Federati... Be More Curious...
The Warsaw Summit on Iran – A Breaking Point for the “United Europe” Soudabeh Nour 15/03/2019 Iran, Publications After the US unilateral withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal in May 2018, Europe's positions have always been in support of it. In the margins of the 2019 Munich Security Conference, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini insisted once again tha... Be More Curious...
PANEL — Can the European Union Remain Connected to Turkey? Pavel Vanev 12/03/2019 Events, Turkey On the 6th March 2019, Vocal Europe organised an expert panel discussion on the future of EU-Turkey relations under the question “Can the European Union remain connected to Turkey?”. The central pa... Be More Curious...
The EU’s crackdown on online hate speech: too little, too late? Bob Groome 21/02/2019 Publications Hateful, racist or sexist comments on the internet: you've probably seen them. Many people try to ignore these messages. But actually, it's better to take action and flag illegal hate speech. The Europe... Be More Curious...
EVENT — Can the EU Remain Connected to Iran? Bob Groome 18/02/2019 Events On 22 January 2019, Vocal Europe and Science 14 hosted an expert panel to discuss the European Union’s and Iran’s strategic interests in preserving the nuclear deal, the most relevant issues that should be sought by the EU in its relation with Iran... Be More Curious...
The American “New Energy Realism” and the prospects of US LNG in the EU Madalina Sisu Vicari 18/02/2019 Business, Publications The “energy dominance” term is both a major vow and focus of “America First” vision and a hallmark of the energy policies pursued by Trump administration. It reflects the return of the United States a... Be More Curious...
Monday Talk with H.E. Carmelo Abela, Malta’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Ebubekir ISIK 18/02/2019 Monday Talks As part of our Monday Talks series supported by Science 14, we have talked with H.E Carmelo Abela in Valetta, the capital city of Malta, about many pressing issues including migration, populism, and... Be More Curious...
Vocal Cast With Meritxell Serret on the Issue of Catalonia Bob Groome 14/02/2019 Vocal Cast As part of our Vocal Cast series, we have talked to Meritxell Serret, Representative of the Government of Catalonia to the EU. Among many relevant issues, we have talked about the current state of Catalan issue, the trial of Catalan separatists, the cu... Be More Curious...
Commentary — A European Perspective on Israel’s Nationality Law Alejandra Finotto 13/02/2019 Israel, Publications On July 19th, 2018 the Israeli Knesset, which is the House of Representatives of the State of Israel and thus works as the legislative branch of the government, passed a bill known as “Israel as the Nat... Be More Curious...
POLICY PAPER – European Populism Feels at Home in Moscow: the Italian Case Vera Ventura 05/02/2019 Publications, Russia With the recent rise of tensions in the Azov Sea, Russia-EU relations seem to have reached a new low after the Salisbury attack. However, some European political parties, and notably the so-called populis... Be More Curious...
Rice tariffs: who are we kidding on the EU’s “free trade”? Bill Wirtz 01/02/2019 Business The European Union introduces tariffs on rice from Cambodia and Myanmar in an effort to protect Italien farmers. Another example of "free trade" à la European Union. It was announced last Wednesday that tariffs on rice from Cambodia and Myanmar were... Be More Curious...
OPINION — Pakistan Under Imran Khan Keeps Disappointing the European Union Henri Malosse 21/01/2019 The Opinion All opinions in this column reflect view of the autor(s), not of Vocal Europe Whilst Pakistan is at the centre of international concern due to its human rights record, Europe has remained... Be More Curious...
Public say for far-right, the Trojan horse Vicky Pathiakaki 18/01/2019 Inside Europe The rise of far-right has brought to the forefront the debate about whether such ideas should or not have a public say and as to whether they should occupy public space and time. Many even argue that if... Be More Curious...
The Battle for Europe: Europe in 2019 Julien Hoez 12/01/2019 Inside Europe 2019 is shaping up to be an exciting, if worrisome, year for Europe. While everything seems to be slowing down in preparation for the eventual hand-over of institutional positions, time never stands still on the continent, and there are many things hap... Be More Curious...
OPINION — VOX: the ultra-right enters the political game in Spain Alejandra Finotto 20/12/2018 Inside Europe Given the ascent of ultra-right political parties such as the “Rassemblement National” led by Le Pen in France, or the “Lega Nord” headed by Salvini in Italy, many were wondering why this kind of moveme... Be More Curious...
COMMENTARY — As Soros University leaves Hungary, so does academic freedom Elisa Telesca 15/12/2018 Inside Europe, Publications On 3 December 2018, Hungary’s Central European University (CEU) declared that it has been forced out from its campus in Budapest by the far-right government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The decisi... Be More Curious...
Vocal Cast with Janez Jansa Vera Ventura 13/12/2018 Vocal Cast As part of our Vocal Cast series, we have talked to Janez Janša, former Prime Minister of Slovenia and leader of the opposition party SDS. Among many relevant issues, we have talked about the current debates on EU army, the migration issue, the cur... Be More Curious...
COMMENTARY — European army: a problematic dream? Elisa Telesca 27/11/2018 Inside Europe, Publications The concept of a European army has been widely discussed in the past years and particularly weeks, raising many questions about the possibility of such an idea becoming a reality. Where did the noti... Be More Curious...
EU duties on goods from Southeast Asia as a post-Brexit trade opportunity Maria Chaplia 20/11/2018 Business Where the EU is walking the plank, the UK should be able to recognise and seize post-Brexit opportunities. On 6 November, the Italian government asked the European Commission to apply the “safeguard cla... Be More Curious...
Monday Talk with H.E. Georgios Katrougalos, Alternate FM of Greece Sergio Caliva 19/11/2018 Monday Talks As part of our Monday Talks series, we have conducted an interview with Mr. Georgios Katrougalos, Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece to discuss the recent matters of relevance. Sergio Caliva: Let me start with the former Yugoslav Repu... Be More Curious...
The Internet of Things needs freedom, not government guidance Bill Wirtz 07/11/2018 Business The Digital Single Market debate within the European Union is set to continue for years to come. Instead of planned policies, tech companies need freedom. The Internet of Things describes the usefuln... Be More Curious...
POLICY PAPER — The EU and the Western Balkans 6: a difficult wedding Sergio Caliva 07/11/2018 Publications, Western Balkans The Balkan Region, and particularly the Western part closer to the EU, consisting of the so-called WB6 – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia – has always had a fund... Be More Curious...
With basic income Europe can reduce poverty Vladan Lausevic 28/10/2018 Business The idea of European citizenship still dominates, being the world’s only “real” post-national and non-state citizenship that provides an individual with freedoms, obligations, rights and a sense of community. At the same time, the EU citizenship st... Be More Curious...
What’s wrong with Ukraine banning two propaganda channels? Marta Barandiy 27/10/2018 Beyond Europe The Parliament of Ukraine has recently voted for a Resolution that proposes to shut down two national TV channels – NewsOne and 112 Ukraine. The MPs accuse them of spreading Russian chauvinist propagand... Be More Curious...
POLICY PAPER — Conflict in Cyprus: religion, ethnicity and natural gas pipelines Xavier Palacios 24/10/2018 Publications Religious and ethnic factors present in the Cypriot conflict have paved the wat for external actors to take part in this conflict, exposing the resolution of this conflict to the political interests of ... Be More Curious...
Are Counter Terrorism Measures Really Effective? Yvonnemarie Antonoglou 21/10/2018 The Opinion Looking back on the past 15 years, there is little doubt that the 9/11 attacks profoundly altered the landscape of international security. Over the last decade and a half, there has been a tremendous multiplication of counter terrorism measures, laws, ... Be More Curious...
Monday Talk with Henri Malosse on Citizen Engagement with EU Institutions Clara Berthelot 01/10/2018 Monday Talks As part of our Monday Talks series, Vocal Europe interviewed Mr Henri Malosse, former President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Honorary Chairman of Vocal Europe, on how to furt... Be More Curious...
As Europeans, we are living in a unique experiment that we should be proud of Vladan Lausevic 30/09/2018 Inside Europe Five years ago Croatia became EU's 28th member-state. The accession process was seen as in important step for the Balkan region and the “Ex-Yugoslav area” to become Europeanized. One interesting thin... Be More Curious...
Land-swap deal: ideal solution or Pandora’s box? Sergio Caliva 18/09/2018 Western Balkans Despite the declared intentions of both the Kosovar and Serbian governments to achieve the land-swap deal, which would allegedly contribute to the detente of their bilateral relations and more generally to the regional stability, the announcement of it... Be More Curious...
Juncker’s State of the Union Speech: Time for European Sovereignty Clara Berthelot 12/09/2018 Inside Europe This morning was marked by the annual State of the Union speech to the European Parliament by the President of the European Commission in Strasbourg. Jean-Claude Juncker spoke for the fourth and last ti... Be More Curious...
EESC — Youth, digital and cooperation as pills to foster the European spirit Sergio Caliva 12/09/2018 Inside Europe After the Commission’s adoption of the “Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on specific provisions for the European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg)”, on the 7... Be More Curious...
Can Macron still create a political cataclysm for the European election? Clara Berthelot 10/09/2018 Inside Europe With the European elections coming up in 2019, Emmanuel Macron’s possibilities to change the political landscape at the European level seem to not be as easy as expected. The last week of August was marked by the resignation of Nicolas Hulot, the quite... Be More Curious...
Can a Bavarian Make Europe Great Again? Christina Cigir 07/09/2018 Inside Europe As the 2019 elections for the European Union’s commission president approach, the ongoing talks about an ideal candidate has granted its attention to leader of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber... Be More Curious...
Here’s a question consumers should ask the European Commission Bill Wirtz 28/08/2018 Business Consumer have a lot of demands towards the European Commission, but one key question really needs to be asked. It's a question of trust. There is this truism that says that you only notice what you are ... Be More Curious...
