EU

The Pfizergate case has caused an uproar in the European Union. Many Members of the European Parliament are calling for the removal of the President of the European Commission. An analyst does not see it that way yet. What will be decisive is what the communication between Ursula von der Leyen and the CEO of Pfizer will show. If they make it public. Martin Vokálek, executive director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for STVR.

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.

In terms of purchasing power parity, the Czechs have the most expensive electricity in Europe and we are not doing the best with gas either. Eurostat data for the second half of last year show this. However, the Czech Republic has slightly improved in the year-on-year comparison. Filip Křenek, analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Televizní noviny.

Czech involvement in the European Union has long been ambivalent. The country has had a number of concrete successes, but these have gone largely unnoticed by the domestic public, which has traditionally been sceptical of European integration. The ANO movement entered politics with a pro-European stance, and Andrej Babiš managed to negotiate a number of advantages in the EU, but today his party ranks more among the critics. This ambivalent attitude is likely to persist after the upcoming autumn elections. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, writes for Reporter.

The European Commission is tightening the rules for shipping - all vessels in European waters will now have to be insured and share information. Filip Křenek, an analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, comments on the measures for Ekonomický deník.

While the US decision to drastically cut funding to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is seen as a serious blow to transatlantic relations, it also represents an unprecedented opportunity for Europe. If the continent wants to protect access to objective and accessible information, it must take responsibility for building its own independent news institutions. At a time of growing disinformation and hybrid threats, the right to reliable news is becoming a matter of strategic importance. EUROPEUM Institute analyst Oszkár Roginer-Hofmeister writes for New Eastern Europe.

Uncertainty over US tariffs is increasing pressure on the European Union to speed up the conclusion of long-negotiated trade agreements. The closest to completion is the agreement with the South American Mercosur grouping, which could save Czech companies up to CZK 2.2 billion a year, according to estimates. Although the agreement is de facto ready, its approval is blocked by some member states, led by France. Filip Křenek, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for iRozhlas.

Come join our Scout Community on the last Thursday of the month for an open discussion following Monika Ladman's presentation on “The current crisis is an opportunity to strengthen Europe”. Monika Ladmanová is the Head of the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic and has also worked for the Czech Helsinki Committee and the Open Society Fund. She worked with European Commissioner Věra Jourová on the Directive on reconciliation of private and professional life of people caring for a close person.

Ursula von der Leyen maintains a strong position in her second term as head of the European Commission. A politician shaped by political crises and known for her emphasis on executive decision-making, she continues to dominate on key defence issues. Although the newly created position of Defence Commissioner has quickly lost its importance, von der Leyen herself continues to set the direction - for example with her plan to mobilise hundreds of billions of euros to support European defence and Ukraine. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Seznam Zprávy.