Poland enters a new era of divided leadership following presidential vote
Poland faces a challenging period of political cohabitation following the country’s presidential election, which has returned a right-wing head of state while the pro-European coalition government led by Donald Tusk retains its fragile hold on parliament.
The Brave New Biology of Xenobots
“We are standing at the frontier. And when you stand at the frontier, you must stay curious — and critical.” — Simon Verghote, ULB researcher in bioethics and synthetic biology
It begins with a frog, and a question as old as philosophy itself. In a laboratory at the Université libre de Bruxelles, Simon Verghote is part of a group exploring xenobots — tiny programmable organisms designed by artificial intelligence, constructed from real living cells.
European Think Tanks Urge Bold EU Reform in Open Letter to von der Leyen
A coalition of prominent European free-market think tanks, including the Warsaw Enterprise Institute, Prosum Foundation, and Foro Regulación Inteligente, has sent a strongly-worded open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They urge a comprehensive overhaul of European Union regulations and governance to foster innovation and boost economic growth amid fierce global competition.
Rebuilding Transatlantic Trust: Consumers, Trade Tensions, and a New Chapter in EU-US Cooperation
In an era marked by intensifying geopolitical shifts, rising protectionism, and digital fragmentation, transatlantic cooperation between the United States and the European Union faces a critical juncture. At the heart of this moment is the consumer: a figure too often overlooked in policy debates, yet profoundly impacted by the rippling consequences of trade wars, regulatory divergence, and economic uncertainty.
“We Were Trump Before Trump”: What the Democratic Party Must Learn from Hungary
“In international politics, we Hungarians are the only ones who have consistently said the same things as Trump since 2010. That’s why, in America, they see us as having been ‘Trump before Trump,’” said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in a December 2024 interview. There are many reasons to criticize Orbán, but he was not wrong in this statement. While Hungarian and American politics are not identical – given their vastly different historical, cultural, religious, and economic contexts – the form of global populism that Orbán himself calls “illiberalism” was pioneered by him in the Western world. And it began in 2010.
FC Taxpayer: How Orbán Is Buying Influence through Football in the Region
In the first part of the series, I outlined how the Hungarian Prime Minister has used public money to influence football teams and use football for his political advantage. But his playground is not only Hungary. Over the last decade, Viktor Orbán has turned football into a powerful international political tool, funneling millions of euros into foreign clubs, particularly in countries with Hungarian minorities. While these investments are often framed as cultural and sports diplomacy, they serve a much broader purpose: expanding Hungary’s influence in Central and Eastern Europe.
FC Taxpayer: How Orbán Turned Football into His Playground
“The Prime Minister is helping to save the club,” ran the headline of Viktor Orbán’s favorite state-run sports daily the other day. I had to glance at it twice to ensure we had not returned to the 1950s when Communist Party leaders and commissars made every sports decision. Well, the only real difference is that during the 50s, Hungarian football was really at its peak.
Munich 2.0 vs Yalta 2.0 or both?
The events of the past few days have once again highlighted the fragility of the relationship between the United States and Europe, particularly concerning the war in Ukraine. US policy increasingly points to a desire to end the war over the heads of those involved, while Europe does not seem to be finding the correct answers to the situation.
Europe needs deregulation to grow – starting with pausing CBAM
Europe is at a crossroads. The continent’s economic engine, long admired for its stability and innovation, is losing momentum. Rising competition from the United States and China, combined with a growing regulatory burden, threatens to make Europe uncompetitive on the global stage. Faced with this reality, the EU must confront a hard truth: overregulation is strangling its economic potential. If Europe wants to remain a global leader, deregulation isn’t just an option – it’s a necessity.
How Can He Make America Great Again?
Even before his election, President Trump made his vision for transforming US foreign policy clear. Since taking office, he has actively engaged in foreign policy battles, primarily driven by his agenda. But let’s take a quick look at the necessary steps he has taken in the two weeks since taking office and the chaos he has caused at the start of Mr Trump’s second term.
What will become of the American car industry?
The Paris Climate Agreement, signed in 2015 and entering into force on 4 November 2016, is a landmark in human history, as was the creation of the United Nations. The treaty is crucial because it is the first international agreement in a long time that, although not legally binding, is based on voluntary commitments and has been accepted by almost all countries worldwide. Perhaps only FIFA has more signatories and members.
Chat Control is a breach of trust
The EU’s proposed Chat Control regulation goes against European values without achieving its aim to protect children.
There used to be a saying in communist Hungary plagued by surveillance, censorship, and lack of free expression: “If you have sensitive thoughts, don’t talk about them. If you talk about them, don’t put them into writing. If you put them into writing, don’t sign it. If you signed it, don’t be surprised.”
Where Is European Car Manufacturing Headed?
This question is being asked with increasing frequency, especially when following the news, which often highlights the challenges facing European car manufacturers or managerial and operational issues within the industry. What we know for sure is that Europe’s largest carmakers, such as the Volkswagen Group (VAG) and Stellantis, are grappling with numerous problems. Even Renault, while appearing to manage market and corporate difficulties better, is not entirely unscathed by the current turbulence.
Romania at a Crossroads: The Election Crisis
Romania has found itself amid a political crisis. The Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the presidential election results is a shocking political event, and a significant reflection of the deepening divides in Romania’s political landscape and its strained democratic institutions. This decision made just two days before the final round of voting, has sparked heated debates about the role of the judiciary, the influence of foreign powers, and the integrity of Romania’s electoral process. The surreal irony of watching voters in the diaspora cast their ballots on live TV, even after learning of the Court’s decision, highlights the chaotic nature of the situation. In just two weeks, Romania has gone from a relatively calm and stable democracy—recently admitted into the Schengen Area—to a nation on the brink of a constitutional crisis.
The Ultimate Dark Horse: How a Little-Known Far-Right Figure Won the First Round of Romania’s Presidential Election
First, it felt like a strange dream. As a political enthusiast who is always up-to-date on the latest news, I could never have imagined the situation in which I wake up in my home and have no idea who the man who has just won the election is. Since 6.30 am, 25 November 2024, I have already known that feeling. Romania, the EU’s sixth most populous member state, has recently made waves in the European press. Amid a “super-election” year, with elections for the European Parliament, local councils, parliament, and the presidency all taking place in 2024, far-right and dark-horse candidate Călin Georgescu won the first round of Romania’s presidential election with 23 percent of the vote.
