Articles Archive

The European Commission erred in refusing to disclose messages between Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer chief Albert Bourla, according to the EU court's ruling. The communications concerned the purchase of billions of euros of vaccines. The Commission said it respected the verdict and would prepare a new justification for its action. Martin Vokálek, executive director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Czech Television.

Wednesday's verdict of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which upheld the European Commission's misconduct in refusing to publish text messages between Ursula von der Leyen and the Pfizer chief, sets an important precedent for the entire EU, according to Martin Vokálek, executive director of the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy.

An EU court has ruled that the European Commission erred in refusing to publish text messages exchanged between its President Ursula von der Leyen and the CEO of Pfizer during the pandemic. The court said this breached transparency rules and the Commission's decision is annulled. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the situation for Radiožurnál.

The EU court will consider whether European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen violated transparency rules by refusing to disclose text messages she exchanged with the CEO of Pfizer during the pandemic. The court is to decide whether there was a concealment of information. Martin Vokálek, director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the situation for TV Nova.

The European Commission has asked the Czech Republic to postpone the signing of the contract for the construction of the Dukovany nuclear power plant. It is investigating whether the Korean company KHNP has obtained advantages in the tender that could distort the EU's internal market. Filip Křenek, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for TV Nova.

President Petr Pavel opened the Europe as a Task conference, which is being held on the occasion of Europe Day and the 21st anniversary of the Czech Republic's accession to the EU. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the theme of the conference directly from Prague Castle.

The coalition of the willing met on Saturday 10 May in Kiev. What are the parameters of the ceasefire they proposed?

Hungary has repeatedly used its veto power not only to pressure Ukraine on bilateral issues, but also to win concessions from the EU, especially in the budget and rule of law areas, says Martin Vokálek, executive director of the EUROPEUM Institute in Prague.

Germany has a new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who promises a more active and decisive role for his country on the European stage. While his predecessor Olaf Scholz was often criticised for his hesitant approach, Merz wants to end this era and strengthen German influence in key European negotiations, which diplomats say have long been hampered by Berlin's indecision. Martin Vokálek, executive director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Czech Television.

The German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has designated the political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a right-wing extremist entity. The office says it has direct evidence that the activities of the anti-immigration party pose a threat to the democratic order in the country. In addition, the investigation has revealed repeated racist statements by party leaders. EUROPEUM analyst Tereza Novotná commented on the situation for Slovak Radio.

The European automotive industry is facing a major turning point. The new EU regulation on end-of-life vehicles (ELVR) has the potential to set clear rules for circular vehicle design, high-quality car wreck processing, and mandatory targets for the share of recycled materials. The current system, in which most materials end up devalued, is to be replaced by a truly closed recycling loop. ELVR could be a game changer — leveling the playing field, connecting manufacturers with processors, and making recycling a full-fledged part of a modern industrial strategy. An article by EUROPEUM Institute analyst Filip Krenek, dedicated to the issue of end-of-life vehicle management, was published in the May edition of the professional magazine Odpadové fórum. The text was created in cooperation with the Institute for Circular Economy (INCIEN).

The European Union is questioning whether the United States is still a reliable partner. Member states are concerned about possible espionage from Washington. Additional border checks in the U.S. have raised alarm. This could further strain mutual relations, which have worsened since Donald Trump returned to the White House. The situation was commented on for STVR by Danielle Piatkiewicz, a researcher at the EUROPEUM think tank.