Europeum

Hospodářské noviny | Europe prepares big changes to 'kick-start' business, according to Draghi

October 02, 2024

In a comprehensive analysis, renowned economist and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi warned EU countries that if their economies continue to grow as they have been, they are in for "slow agony". Well, stagnation. According to the former chief of the European Central Bank, the EU economies will be as large in 2050 as they are today, mainly because the number of people of working age will fall. The only way to reverse this trend is for EU countries to significantly increase their productivity. However, productivity in Europe has grown much more slowly in recent years than in the United States, for example. Filip Křenek, project coordinator and analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Hospodářské noviny.

ČTK | Austria-led FPÖ may be a problem for Ukrainian support

September 30, 2024

Austria, led by the right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria, could pose a problem for support for Ukraine, said Žiga Faktor, head of the Brussels office of EUROPEUM Institute, in an interview with ČTK. At the same time, he said, it would change the distribution of power within the European Council, specifically, the EU summits, where a strong group of prime ministers from the Patriots for Europe faction would be formed.

ČT24 | Austrian Freedom Party has a historic success. The question is now coalition potential

September 30, 2024

The historic success of the Freedom Party of Austria and the dramatic defeat of the ruling People's Party are the results of Sunday's Austrian National Council elections, according to the local media. The Social Democrats are likely to face another reboot and there is no room for small parties in parliament. On Monday night, the Austrian authorities officially published the results of the vote, which are being reported across Europe. Žiga Faktor, Deputy Director and head of Brussels office of EUROPEUM Institute commented for Czech TV.

Hospodářské noviny | Fiala asked for the strongest portfolio for Síkela, but the Socialists are in the way

September 12, 2024

Petr, business or defense? This was the question posed to Prime Minister Petr Fiala by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Fiala replied that he wanted trade. Filip Křenek, an analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Hospodářské noviny.

Deník N | Europe is lagging behind the US and China, it would have to invest to prosper. What does the Czech budget has to say to that?

September 19, 2024

In a report to the European Commission, Mario Draghi, former Italian Prime Minister and head of the European Central Bank, warns that without massive investment in green technology, digitalization and defense, Europe will lose its competitiveness. The report was commented by Associate Research Fellow at EUROPEUM Institute Klára Votavová.

Seznam Zprávy | Síkela's portfolio is a loss for the Czech Republic, says analyst

September 17, 2024

Instead of trade or energy, the current Minister of Industry and Trade, Jozef Síkela, will eventually be put in charge of International Partnerships in the European Commission. According to the opposition, this is a failure of the domestic government, but the Prime Minister and other leaders of the five-coalition praise Síkela's portfolio. So how did the distribution of the seats of the European Commissioners work out for the Czech Republic? Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for podcast 5:59 of Seznam Zprávy.

Hospodářské noviny | Síkela will help defy China in Brussels. How important portfolio has he been given?

September 17, 2024

The Czech government wanted EU Commissioner nominee Jozef Síkela to be put in charge of the economic portfolio in the new European Commission. Síkela himself preferred energy, but instead he will end up in charge of the "international partnership and Global Gateway strategy" in Brussels, a less influential post than trade, which Prime Minister Fiala was pushing through. Filip Křenek, an analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Hospodářské noviny on the post Síkela has been given by Ursula von der Leyen.

ČT24 | Síkela to be EU Commissioner for Energy, says Die Welt

September 03, 2024

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already decided on key positions in her new team. The energy portfolio should go to Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela, the Die Welt website reported citing its sources. Prime Minister Petr Fiala will not comment on the information, a government spokeswoman said. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for ČT24.

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.

TN.cz | Rift between Hungary and Poland. Reason being Orbán's relationship with Putin

July 30, 2024

A diplomatic rift has erupted between Budapest and Warsaw over the different attitudes of the two countries towards Russia. First, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán branded Poland as the country with the most hypocritical policy in Europe, while the Poles hit back by pointing out the close relations Orbán maintains with Russian President Putin. The media are also talking about the possible end of the V4 group. EUROPEUM Institute researcher Vít Havelka spoke more about the dispute in an interview with TN.cz.