EU

The European Union and the United States have reached an agreement on import tariffs. Instead of the originally announced 30% tariffs, both sides agreed on a compromise rate of 15%, which should keep the market stable while mitigating the impact on businesses. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on CNN Prima News.

“It’s no longer Brussels, but the member states themselves that pose the biggest obstacle to the EU’s prosperity.” Join us on the last Thursday of the month in our Scout neighborhood space and take part in an open discussion following an opening statement by Petr Jonák, who has long been engaged in issues of European policy, competitiveness, and sustainability.

Has Zelensky Shut the Door to the European Union? The situation surrounding the protests in response to President Zelensky’s decision to limit anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine was commented on for TA3 by Viktor Daněk, Deputy Executive Director and Head of the Prague Office of the EUROPEUM Institute.

On 16 July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2028–2034, launching a process that will likely lead to lengthy negotiations between EU institutions and could last until the end of 2027. This policy paper by Filip Křenek (EUROPEUM) and Josef Bič (VŠE) analyses the discussions that preceded the proposal’s publication, highlights key elements expected in the upcoming MFF, and outlines the compromises policymakers will have to navigate during the negotiations. At the same time, the analysis offers specific recommendations for both Czech and European policymakers, taking into account the specific context of the Czech Republic as well as broader European dynamics.

Trade and the situation in the war in Ukraine will be the main topics of discussion between European Union and Chinese leaders at Thursday’s summit in Beijing. Despite expectations, U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to introduce high tariffs has so far failed to bring the economic interests of the two sides closer together. Experts are sceptical about any further progress in this regard — partly due to the diplomatic slaps delivered to the EU by representatives of the Chinese regime even before the talks began. The situation was commented on for ČT24 by Zuzana Krulichová, analyst at the Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM.

EU migration policy was commented on for CNN Prima News by Viktor Daněk, Deputy Executive Director and Head of the Prague Office of the EUROPEUM Institute.

On Wednesday, the European Commission presented a draft of the new budget for the coming years. It is record-breaking in size and will also have to rely on new sources of funding. For Czechia, this represents a major opportunity, says Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of the EUROPEUM Institute. However, he points out that the Czech government will need to be more active in Brussels to actually secure access to these record EU funds.

The European Commission has proposed a new budget to ensure a more efficient use of EU funds. Filip Křenek, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, commented on the situation for STVR.

How is the draft of the next EU budget set up, including from the perspective of Czechia? The situation was commented on for ČRo Radiožurnál by Martin Vokálek, Executive Director and Head of the Brussels Office of the EUROPEUM Institute.

The European Commission prepares a proposal for a multiannual budget for the period 2028-2035. In addition to investments in agriculture, defence and climate goals, Brussels is increasingly talking about the need for greater flexibility - and how to prevent the misuse of funds in countries that violate the EU's fundamental values. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of the EUROPEUM Institute, comments on the situation for ČT24.

It has been exactly one year since the current European Parliament officially took office following last year’s elections. To mark the occasion, the Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM conducted the second edition of its Influence Ranking of Czech Members of the European Parliament, based on a survey of experts, diplomats, and business representatives. The aim is to assess how Czech MEPs have fared during the first year of their new mandate.

At the EUROPEUM Institute and European Parliament Liaison Office organised event titled "Fires, Floods, and Extreme Weather – How Does the EU Help?", MEP Jan Farský assessed how well the EU’s crisis response tools have proven themselves. The European Union released over €114 million from the Solidarity Fund to support the Czech Republic after last year’s floods. According to Farský, this is proof that EU instruments—including the rescEU mechanism—are effective not only on paper but also in practice. In an interview with EUROPEUM, he discusses the importance of prevention, the role of municipalities, and why climate and crisis policies must go hand in hand.