by fnfeurope

Brexit: The Ship has Sailed 

Failure of the negotiations becoming more likely

brexit-1491370_1920 (1)

 

The ship has sailed. This sentence probably best describes the general interest in Brexit and the state of the British opposition. Yet the important decisions are being made only now.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson won the landmark House of Commons elections last December and led his country out of the European Union on 31st January. Since then, the Brexit is no longer a spectre of political debate, but a fact.

The general interest in the UK’s withdrawal from the EU has waned noticeably on both sides of the English Channel. This is all the more true since the coronavirus pandemic has swept across Europe and its catastrophic consequences have overshadowed other events. Continue reading →

by fnfeurope

Disinformation Against Ukraine and the EU in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic 

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation Europe, 
in cooperation with the Ukrainian Think Tanks Liaison Office in Brussels,
is pleased to invite you to their online-webinar.

 

 

REGISTER NOW

 

Kindly register for this event by 18. May at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vBXU4LlETvevynW6nztd0A *

Continue reading →

by fnfeurope

Europe Today – Remaining Confident, Becoming More Sovereign 

New EU states

New EU states

 

Europe in May 1945: a destroyed continent, over 50 million war victims, tens of millions of refugees, uprooted and injured. Hunger, devastated lands and torn societies. Continuing civil wars and partisan fights in Italy, the Balkans, Greece and Eastern Europe. A political geography of failed states with dysfunctional judicial and financial systems, mistrust and a desire for revenge between neighbouring states.

Europe in May 2020: A continent in corona lockdown, Brexit on the doorstep, a difficult transatlantic partner, China as a rival gaining influence, deep mistrust of neighbour Russia, which is waging a hot war in Europe. Climate change and migration as megatopics challenging Europe’s material and political resources.

Is Europe finished? No, because Europe today is also the following: one of the three largest economic areas in the world, winner of the Cold War in the 20th century, a community of continuously developing and expanding work of peace and prosperity by former enemies of war. Europe, that is the reality of a deeply integrated area of economy and law, of learning and research, of free encounters and free speech. A place of longing for millions who want to escape misery and make the dream of a better life come true.

Continue reading →

by fnfeurope

Animate Europe Presents: Animating COVID-19 

 

Europe in times of coronavirus – captured in fourteen graphic stories

Since 2013, our Animate Europe comic competition has been a vivid platform for cultural and artistic approaches to and exchange on European realities. Amidst the current situation, we are launching a special Animate Europe project: Animating COVID-19.

In-between competitions (the next round of Animate Europe is scheduled for 2021), we asked seven of our previous finalists to capture their creative interpretations of fundamental European questions during the coronavirus pandemic in on-page comics. Continue reading →

by fnfeurope

Democracy – a Covid Collateral? 

EU

Opinion Piece by Irina von Wiese

EU

 

Now, rather than after the end of the Covid-19 crisis, is the time for pro-democratic parties to act. Paralysed by the scale of the current threat, we are tempted to stick our heads in the sand and focus on survival. This is exactly what others are hoping for. They are seizing the moment, building on today’s fear to instil tomorrow’s obedience. If we don’t take care, much of the damage done to basic rights, democracy and the rule of law will be irreversible. Continue reading →

by fnfeurope

Europe’s Corona Governance 

New EU states

During the Corona crisis, the EU member states mainly take individual measures, while the EU does not currently seem to play a major role in their coordination.

 

“Schengen dead – borders closed in Europe”, “Monster traffic jam at the Polish border”, “Ministries all over Europe on a mask hunt”, “The South is dying, the North is hoarding”. Such or similar headlines and stories can be found in current times of the Corona crisis across classic and social media. The verdict: Member states do what they want and the EU, “Brussels”, does nothing; once again failing across the board. But, what is true about EU bashing on corona accounts? Continue reading →