Europeum

TN.cz | New Commissioner Síkela. Big budget, less influence

September 17, 2024

Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela has been appointed Commissioner for International Partnerships at the European Commission. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on TN Live whether this is a win or a loss.

Aktuálně.cz | A surprising portfolio "swap". The French could have played a role, says expert on Síkela

September 17, 2024

Despite previous speculation, the Czech candidate for the new European Commission and current Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela will be put in charge of the International Partnership portfolio by Ursula von der Leyen. The government sees this as a "mission accomplished", but the opposition as a failure. Experts are not sure whether this is a success for the Czech Republic. Why the Trade portfolio eventually went to Slovakia? Filip Křenek, project coordinator and analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Aktuálně.cz.

Czech Radio | Jozef Síkela is to be EU Commissioner for International Partnerships. The opposition considers the portfolio weak and invisible

September 17, 2024

Czech Industry Minister Jozef Síkela is to be the Commissioner for International Partnerships in the new European Commission. EU chief executive Ursula von der Leyen announced this at a press conference in Strasbourg. Political analysts are divided on Síkela's portfolio, they say the government expected more. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Czech Radio.

STVR | Last day to announce EU Commissioner candidates

August 30, 2024

25 of the 27 EU Member States have already nominated candidates for the new European Commission. So far, 17 are men and 7 are women. According to the President of the European Commission Ursula von den Leyen, only Bulgaria has nominated both a man and a woman. The President also confirmed that there will be a new position of European Commissioner for Defense. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Slovakian STVR.

e15 | Síkela has a chance at a key position in the new European Commission, von der Leyen faces tough negotiations

August 23, 2024

Intense behind-the-scenes negotiations are currently underway in Brussels over the allocation of 27 positions in the new European Commission, which will once again be led by Ursula von der Leyen. The German politician faces two major challenges: the limited number of strong economic portfolios, which many member states, including the Czech Republic, are vying for, and the effort to create the first-ever gender-balanced Commission, complicated by the predominance of male candidates. The situation was commented on for e15 by Žiga Faktor, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute.

Seznam Zprávy | Jozef Síkela is set for the European Commission, aiming for a strong economic portfolio

August 21, 2024

It has now been confirmed by the government that minister Jozef Síkela is headed to the European Commission as the Czech candidate. Although President Ursula von der Leyen called on member states to nominate a pair of candidates, both men and women, the Czech Republic did not comply with this request. The outcome is expected to be decided in September when the portfolios for all new EU commissioners will be announced. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Seznam Zprávy.

Hospodářské noviny | EU boycott of Orbán. Europe ignores Hungary for a trip to see Putin

July 17, 2024

Hungary may hold the EU presidency until the end of the year, but member state politicians plan to ignore meetings the country holds. This is in response to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's secret visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as an unscheduled call for a ceasefire issued to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Vít Havelka, a research fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the boycott for Hospodářské noviny.

ČRo Plus | Czech Republic will send only one candidate to the European Commission

July 25, 2024

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has asked Member States to submit two names instead of one in their nominations for European Commissioners. Her aim is to have a balanced proportion of men and women in the new Commission. But as the request for two candidates is not supported by the treaties, if the Czech Republic offers only Jozef Sikel, there will be no direct consequences, though it may affect the distribution of the portfolios that lays in von der Leyen's hands. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for ČRo Plus.

ČT24 | European Parliament Elected Committee Leadership, Including a Czech Chair

July 23, 2024

Veronika Vrecionová was elected as the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Luděk Niedermayer as the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Does this signify a strengthening or weakening of the Czech position? In which committees will the Czech MEPs be active? How significant is the "cordon sanitaire" of the Patriots for Europe political group? And isn't this isolation of the Patriots for Europe a limitation of democracy? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, discusses this topic in an interview for ČT24.

Senior Researcher / Leader of a Research Programme

July 23, 2024

EUROPEUM Institute is currently looking for a Senior Researcher/Leader of a Research Programme for one of our work streams with a research focus on topics such as EU’s climate policy and decarbonization of industry, role of the EU as a global player, social dimension of EU regulatory framework, cohesion policy and/or MFF.