In the Media

The European Union seems to have turned the wheel in the area of migration in a direction that no one would have expected a few years ago. The issue has also dominated the European Council. Several Member State representatives agreed that we need to toughen up and come up with new solutions. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the main evening news broadcast on TV Nova.

At the summit in Brussels, the European Union heads of state and government agreed to speed up the return of failed asylum seekers back to their countries. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Radio Prostor.

Moldova is rushing to the EU, but how fast? Can it stumble? Sunday sees a referendum on enshrining EU membership in the constitution and the first round of presidential elections, in which the pro-EU Maia Sandu will again stake her mandate. There is a long way to go behind these elections. EUROPEUM analyst Jana Faktor Juzová commented for Courrier des Balkans.

The EU Summit started in Brussels this morning and one of its key points is to be further assistance for Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky is in attendance and has presented a "victory plan" which includes strengthening Ukraine's military capabilities. A particularly heated discussion is expected around adjustments to EU migration and asylum policy. Shortly before the start of the summit, representatives of several countries, including the Czech Republic, were due to hold an emergency meeting to reconcile their positions in this area. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the current events on Czech Radio broadcast.

KLDR has closed all roads connecting the country with South Korea. It accuses it of escalating tensions and has officially designated it as an enemy state. South Korea, on the other hand, warns the KLDR against reckless steps that could lead to the end of its authoritarian regime. Tereza Novotná, associate fellow of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Slovakian Radio STVR.

North Korea is cutting off all contact with the South and dictator Kim Jong-un's sister is threatening a "terrible catastrophe". Pyongyang's policy is more aggressive than ever. One of the keys to understanding this historic shift lies in Russia. Researcher Tereza Novotná commented for die Welt.

The European Union is struggling with economic problems and is increasingly looking at the back of the US and in some respects China. According to a report recently commissioned by the European Commission from the former central banker and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, the solution lies, among other things, in greater European investment. And to ensure that there is enough money for this and that European investors do not go elsewhere, the European capital market should be strengthened. Filip Křenek, project coordinator and analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Český rozhlas Plus.

Radical reforms or slow agony. This is the choice facing Europe if it is not to continue to fall behind its American and Chinese competitors, according to a recently published analysis by renowned economist and politician Mario Draghi. Viktor Daněk, deputy director, and Filip Křenek, project coordinator and analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Neovlivní.cz.

The story of the assignment of the international partnership agenda to Czech EU Commissioner Jozef Síkela, which ended in disappointment for many, teaches one lesson that will be hard to digest in government circles: the Czech Republic still does not know how to play high Brussels politics and it will not get better. Deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute Viktor Daněk commented for deník Právo.

The post of European Defense Commissioner had been discussed for at least a year before Ursula von der Leyen presented the shape of her second European Commission. It was only with the publication last month of the letter of credentials, which acts as a sort of job description for the future commissioner, that the position to be held by former two-time Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius got clearer contours. Zuzana Krulichová, a research fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Euractiv.cz.

The European Commission opens a debate on aviation support in the coming years. The new rules should start to apply after 2027. In particular, the guidelines are intended to minimize negative effects on competition and aim to preserve connectivity. Project coordinator and analyst at EUROPEUM Institute Filip Křenek commented for Ekonomický deník.

How strong a portfolio has Jozef Síkela acquired as Commissioner for International Partnerships? What exactly does he expect and what will be part of his portfolio? Project Coordinator and Analyst at EUROPEUM Institute Filip Křenek commented for TV Noe.