Democratic Deficit as an Obstacle to EU-Level Parliamentary Legitimacy in External Relations
The EU’s internal democratic deficit’s extent is debatable. Yet, it seems clear that democratic standards are lacking more in the EU’s external action. How so?
Win-Win or Trojan Horse? Assessing Chinese FDI in Central and Eastern Europe
In a world marred by geopolitics, what do Chinese investments in Europe mean for the EU? Do these financial manoeuvres mark a collaborative milestone or a strategic ploy?
German Zeitenwende Proves That Not Everything Looks Better in Slow-Motion
Almost two years after “Zeitenwende”, Germany’s leading role within the European Union is being challenged by internal instability and promises it cannot keep.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office: Democratic Legitimacy and Judicial Oversight
Though the agency represents a historic step in EU criminal justice integration, EPPO’s legal framework has incited concern over its democratic legitimacy and respect for the EU’s own fundamental rights. How legitimate are these criticisms?
After Russia’s War: Applying Systems Theory To Understand Europe’s Geopolitical Future
Europe is passing through a kind of deep winter as the Postwar Order crumbles; the question now is whether the EU can achieve strategic autonomy in the spring to come.
Derussification in Ukraine: Communist Holidays and the International Women’s Day Controversy
Ukraine has been actively pursuing a process of derussification for several years, which involves promoting the Ukrainian language and culture and distancing itself from its Soviet legacy. A crucial aspect of this process has been the elimination of communist symbols, including holidays observed during the Soviet era. Consequently, International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8, has become a topic of significant debate.
The EU’s Democratic Deficit: Extent, Perception, and (Possible) Solutions
Often criticised as democratically deficient, to what extent does the EU truly suffer from such a democratic deficit, and how can it be overcome?
Prospects of an EU Army: Hopes and Challenges
Most of us who believe in European federalism, have argued, even before the Ukraine War, for a European army, independent of national governments and thus petty national politics. The rhetoric of “Strategic Autonomy” in the face of the conflict has brought sharper focus on the defensive capabilities of the EU and the continent as a whole.
The Regulatory Effects of the Ongoing Struggle to Curtail Tax Evasion in the EU
Over the past decade, tax evasion and tax avoidance have taken the public eye by storm as attention has been shed on repeated tax leaks such as the Panama Papers. Politicians and entrepreneurs are placed under ever-increasing scrutiny, providing ammunition to an often divisive us-versus-them dialectic in political debate. Yet, as financial regulations attempt to address these issues, tens of billions have passed through tax havens in the past decades and continue to do so.
A Walk On Thin Ice: Serbia’s Balancing Act Between Russia and the EU
As the war in Ukraine enters its second year with most European countries having taken sides in the conflict, Serbia has been ever so reluctant to align itself to either camp. Torn between both its desire for prosperity with the EU along with all its benefits and a more traditional friendship with Russia, the country is struggling to pass unscathed in the current climate since not taking sides is perceived as undesirable by either bloc.
