Presidential election of extremely uncertain outcome in Slovakia Where the outgoing head of State, Andrej Kiska is not standing again
On 10th January Andrej Danko (National Party SNS), leader of the National Council of the Republic (Narodna rada Slovenskej Republiky), the only house of parliament, announced that the Slovaks would be called to ballot on 16th March next for the first round of the presidential election. If none of the candidates running wins over half of the votes cast on that day (which is highly likely given the high number of people standing in this election), a second round will be organised two weeks later, i.e. on 30th March.
On 15th May 2018, outgoing President of the Republic Andrej Kiska announced that he did not want to stand for a second mandate.
The Agricultural Policy and the challenge of subsidiarity
Whilst on 23rd February the international Agricultural Fair is opening, the Foundation has published a study by Bernard Bourget on the new Common Agricultural Policy with questions regarding the reduction of the budget and the application of the subsidiarity principle. Will the choices made for the common agricultural policy for the years 2021-2027 will be part of the continued dismantling of this European policy or will they provide it with in meaning again? In the negotiations that are now approaching the European Parliament will have a crucial role to play.
The fight to counter disinformation and to protect journalists
Russian propaganda media are already working full out to influence the European elections on May 2019. Across the EU journalists need protection against increasing interference in the work and against the attacks that aim to undermine institutions via the denigration of their work.
From a common vision to concrete achievements: towards United Balkans in a United Europe
After its ratification by the Macedonian Parliament on 11th January, the agreement on the change of name of the "Republic of Northern Macedonia" now has to be approved by the Greek Parliament for it to enter into force. This is a major step for Europe and the Western Balkans at a time when foreign influence in the region is increasing. From Chinese investments to Russian and Turkish intervention, the future of the agreement highlights the challenges faced by the European Union and the opportunities available to it, writes the Macedonian Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Dimitrov.
What European response to American extra-territoriality?
Off we go on the quest of the Europe that protects. Have the American economic sanctions against Iran had a so-called extraterritorial effect and are they challenging European sovereignty? Yes. Does Europe have to respond to this? Yes. And does it have the means to do this? Probably, and it has just taken the first step in this direction.
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