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 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.
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.”
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.
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.
The 2024 US elections have exposed enduring weaknesses and critical oversights in the approaches taken by the left worldwide, traditional media, and political strategists. In an era where populism continues to rise, trust in institutions declines, and social media shapes public discourse, the election results underscore the urgent need for strategic recalibration. Not for democrats, but for the American democracy.
This week, I had the opportunity to get a closer look at the excitement surrounding the American presidential election. As much as possible, I have been following events from this side of the Atlantic from a respectful distance. So far, I’ve mostly considered the prospects for cooperation with potential winners from the EU’s perspective, especially regarding the candidates’ stances on the war in Ukraine and any anticipated changes in their positions.
The first time I went to Moldova it was by accident. Spending my summer vacation with some friends in Romania, we planned to visit the Eastern part of the country – Moldavia. While English, and my native Hungarian, make a clear distinction between Moldova and Moldavia, the Romanian language does not. Both are Moldova – the region, and the country, too. That’s how I ended up in Moldova instead of Moldavia after a two-hour-long wait at the Sculeni border crossing, the main entry point to the Republic of Moldova from Romania.
It is just natural that time to time we tend to think about the quality of our Western democracies, especially in a period when several crisis hit our social structures. As democracy is a system that indeed needs constant work to be maintained, it is not surprising that we are evaluating regularly if it is functioning properly.
Living as an expat in Brussels is one of the most exciting ways to experience life. Part of this excitement comes from the fact that 35% of Brussels’ population, roughly 400,000 people, are not Belgian citizens. Of these, 220,000 are considered expats—highly qualified, well-paid individuals working for international organizations. In this highly livable city, characterized by vast green spaces and a vibrant cultural scene, around 180 nationalities speaking over 100 languages mix.
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