MEP

In the shadow of the US elections, candidates for European Commissioners, including former Czech minister Jozef Síkela, addressed MEPs in Brussels last week. He is to be in charge of the Commission's international cooperation agenda, so during the three-hour grilling he had to answer questions about investment in Asia or Africa, or the controversial EU-Rwanda mineral deal. How did he impress with his performance? Žiga Faktor, deputy director and head of the EUROPEUM Institute's Brussels office, commented for the 5:59 Seznam Zprávy podcast.

The European Parliament is taking its time - even after a quarter of a year, it still has not decided on the possible lifting of Jana Nagyová's parliamentary immunity. This is also blocking the Czech judiciary - the High Court cannot yet decide on the appeal in the Čapí hnízdo case. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Seznam Zprávy.

After the European Parliament elections, the strongest faction remains the European People's Party, a grouping that includes TOP09, KDU-ČSL and the Mayors and Independents. The Socialists and Democrats are second and Renew Europe, which includes the winning ANO party, is third. How significantly did the elections affect the European Parliament? Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for ČT24.

How do the results of the European Parliament elections reflect the mood in society? Have predictions about the new composition of MEPs being predominantly right-wing been fulfilled? And what skills are essential for the success as a Member of the European Parliament? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, comments in an interview for TN.cz.

For the fifth time Czech voters choose their representatives to the European Parliament. Almost 700 candidates competed for 21 seats. What did they offer and what was the campaign like? Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, comments for Czech Television's investigative programme 168 hodin.

Vít Havelka and Zuzana Stuchlíková from EUROPEUM Institute for European policy conducted an analysis of the activity of the Czech MEPs during the 2014–2019 term. The analysis combines quantitative and qualitative methods of research (including the interviews). The text contains, for example, the factors influencing MEPs' success, the impact of the national interests on their work, evaluations and recommendations.

Representatives of the European Parliament are elected directly by the citizens of the EU Member States. Does the European Parliament also serve to defend the national interest of the individual represented countries? How does the cooperation of Czech MEPs and the Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU work?