When the European Parliament finally confirmed the ban on the sale of cars with internal combustion engines in the EU in 2035, it sparked a new round of a well-known debate in the Czech Republic. Is climate and environmental protection worth the threat to prosperity in countries with strong car industries like the Czech Republic? Klára Votavová discussed this topic.
Show moreRozálie Wünschová writes in her blog that the Czech Republic is one of only two EU countries where corporal punishment of children is still legally permitted. Together with Slovakia, this puts the Czech Republic behind not only the Nordic countries, where corporal punishment was banned in the last century but also countries such as Turkmenistan, which adopted protective legislation in 2007.
Show more PDFIn September 2022, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a new media regulator - the European Media Freedom Act. Slovenia is one of the most struggling EU countries in terms of media freedom and independence. In the summer of 2020, the Janša government proposed a media-focused law that would increase the state's influence over Slovenia's national press agency and limit its funding of the public broadcaster RTV. Has Slovenia's new law put the European Commission ahead of the game? That is what our intern Klára Landová discusses in her blog.
Show moreIn 2013, the Chinese president introduced the New Silk Road project, also known as the Belt and Road Initiative. It was to connect China with countries in Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and maritime regions with the purpose to coordinate policies and link infrastructure. However, the initiative, and especially China's role in it, raises many questions and doubts. What is its future? This is what our intern Šárka Váchalová discusses in her blog.
Show moreZsanett Gréta Papp, our research assistant, writes in her blog "The US is investing more in Arctic deterrence", Given the rapid climate changes that are inherently altering the Arctic landscape and its prospects, the political tensions that existed in the region before the collapse of the USSR are not far off. This blog is the second in a series of blogs on the Arctic.
Show more PDFZsanett Gréta Papp, our research assistant, writes in her blog "Canada as the emerging leader in the Arctic" that the Arctic is critical to Canada's national identity, prosperity, security, values, and interests. This blog is the first in a series of blogs on the Arctic.
Show more PDFTatiana Mindeková, our project manager and junior researcher, wrote a blog on the topic: Climate, Energy and the Green Deal in the Czech Chain Mails. What narratives are spread about the green politics of the EU in the Czech chain mails?
Show moreAs part of the internships provided by our Brussels office to Czech researchers, Tereza Stašáková wrote a policy paper on rising electricity prices and developments in the EU. It analyses the reasons for rising prices and how EU Member States have reacted to the situation. And whether the solution is to restructure the electricity market.
Show more PDFThe war in Ukraine and the subsequent economic crisis caused by Europe's dependence on Russian fossil fuels showed Europeans the danger of keeping too tight economic ties to autocratic regimes. However, while Europe is shedding its dependence on Russia, another economic reliance is gaining strenght, namely that of Germany on China. In her blog, our intern Kristina Kropáčková explores the broader context of this phenomenon and its implications for EU cohesion.
Show moreThe recent US midterm elections made headlines around the world. The main issues that voters were interested in were the state of democracy and the rule of law, abortion, the economy and education. Our intern Tomáš Moudrý addressed these topics in his blog. "The most expensive midterms in the US history are over. Republicans gained the House majority with 221 seats and the Democrats retained the Senate with 51 seats. Is this a surprising result? Partly yes, partly no. Firstly, polls and even Republicans were sure about a “Red wave“ that would sweep across the US. Instead, there was a tossup in both Chambers of the Congress. Secondly, the President’s party usually lose the midterms. One can argue that midterms from the incumbent President’s party perspective traditionally have just one major goal – to mitigate losses by the closest possible margin. The Democrats seem to have found a way to deal with this fate, despite Biden's low approval rating."
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