European Council

The conclusions on support for Ukraine were adopted without Hungary, so they are not the conclusions of the entire European Council. The intention to support Ukraine and provide security guarantees was declared by 26 representatives of the Member States. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for ČT24

There are few more influential civil service jobs in Brussels than those in the cabinets of the most important politicians. Czech diplomat Veronika Musilová is now starting to work in just such a position. She is joining Antonio Costa, who will be president of the European Council from 1st December. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Hospodářské noviny.

Ursula von der Leyen is to continue as head of the European Commission and Kaja Kallas, the Estonian prime minister, will lead diplomacy. Both politicians have yet to be confirmed by MEPs. The leadership of the European Council, on the other hand, is already assured by former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa. Žiga Faktor, deputy director and head of EUROPEUM Institute's Brussels office, offers his perspective.

After the European elections, institutions in Brussels are facing personnel changes. Who is likely to assume the most important positions, namely the the head of the European Council, the European Commission, and the European Parliament? Vít Havelka, senior researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, commented on this in the main evening broadcast on TV Nova.

On Monday 17 June, the leaders of the European Union Member States headed to Brussels for their first joint meeting after the European Parliament elections. They discussed the distribution of key posts at the head of the EU institutions - the President of the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament. Filip Křenek, project coordinator and analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the likely distribution of forces for ČRo Plus.

On Monday, June 17, an informal meeting of the 27 member states of the European Union took place. Their leaders discussed the nominations of members for the new European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen will also have to compete for her position as President of the European Commission again. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, discussed her chances on the Slovak television RTVS.

Charles Michel has reversed his decision to stand in this year's European elections. The current head of the European Council faced a wave of criticism for not finishing his term, but was that the only reason for his change of heart? Our deputy director Viktor Daněk explained the circumstances of Michel's EU career to Právo.

The announced departure of Charles Michel from the European Council immediately became the focus of discussions across Brussels and the member states. Our Deputy Director and Head of the Brussels Office Žiga Faktor commented on several key issues related to the future functioning of the EU.

The first media storm around the European Parliament elections was unleashed by the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, when he unexpectedly announced last weekend that he was going to run for the European Parliament himself in June and, if successful, would resign early from his current post. However, this means that unless the EU27 quickly agrees on his successor, the powers of the "European president" will pass to EU troublemaker Viktor Orban, whose Hungary will hold the EU presidency from the summer. Our head of the Brussels office, Žiga Faktor, commented for E15 on the likelihood of this happening and what it would mean for the functioning of the EU.

Senior Research Fellow Vít Havelka commented and evaluated the European Council Summit on ČT24.

What did the European leaders agree on after the European Council summit and what lies ahead for the European Union in the near future? Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM, commented on the outcomes of the important summit for RTVS.

SPOLU - coalition of ODS, TOP 09 and KDÚ-ČSL - will candidate together for European Parliament. Furthermore, the European Council Summit is still underway in Brussels. Our executive director Martin Vokálek has commented on the issue in an interview with CNN Prima News.