B&K Newsletter: Von der Leyen 2.0: MEPs choose stability with some change
Ursula von der Leyen has just been reconfirmed as President of the European Commission with 401 votes of the Members of the European Parliament in her favour, well above the 361-vote threshold required for an absolute majority. This vote spared European politics from being thrown into chaos and confusion, which would have required European leaders […]
B&K Newsletter: High Representative – Vice President Kaja Kallas: how the Estonian PM can shape the future of EU foreign policy
The serving Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, looks likely to become the next European Union chief diplomat, succeeding Josep Borrell as the High Representative of the 27-bloc. Six EU leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Olaf Scholz, struck the deal at the end of June for the top three EU jobs. Poland’s prime minister, […]
B&K Newsletter: The End of France’s Exceptionalism
The Long Night of the Fifth Republic Sunday, 7 July, eight o’clock, spelled the end of France’s exceptionalism in the European political landscape. The results of the second round of the legislative elections sanctioned the divorce of the French citizens from the quasi-monarchic presidential system, in which the Parliament (Assemblée Nationale) plays a marginal role […]
B&K Newsletter: Saving Private Sunak
Today, the United Kingdom begins a new chapter in its history as polls open for the 2024 general elections. Only five years ago today, the Conservative Party was distributing the initial ballots to members for the leadership contest that would eventually elect Boris Johnson as Prime Minister. Within a few months, Johnson secured the largest […]
B&K Newsletter: AI in Europe: New Rules? New Game?
It is reasonable to say that the digital markets were the main protagonists of the last legislature when it comes to the European Commission’s efforts to offer regulatory frameworks for innovative products. It is also fair to affirm that those efforts have increased mainly the repercussions of the so-called “Brussels effect”, a term coined by […]
B&K Newsletter: The EU Council Strategic Agenda 2024-2029
Every five years, before the European Commission’s appointment, EU Heads of State convene to discuss and set the EU’s political priorities for the future. The EU strategic agenda for 2024-2029, expected to be adopted by the European Council during their meeting on June 27-28, is a significant milestone shaping the upcoming legislative cycle. It will […]
B&K Newsletter: The day after
The European People’s Party and its Spitzenkandidat Ursula von der Leyen won the European elections. The EPP not only confirms itself as the leading group in the next European Parliament, but with 185 seats, it increases its share of elected representatives. According to the almost final results, the Socialists & Democrats group is expected to […]
B&K Newsletter: What voters want
As Europe dives into four days of European Parliament (EP) elections, the outcome of the vote has never been so critical for shaping and influencing the EU’s policy trajectory over the next five years. With additional seats at stake, there are mounting concerns about which parties will form a majority and whether the centrist grand […]
B&K Newsletter: A green week before the big Elections
Earlier this week, the European Council approved two important legislative acts for Europe’s green future: the Methanol Reduction in the Energy Sector and the Net-Zero Industry Act. These are the final regulatory acts ahead of the European elections and the last big push towards the green deal before everything might turn on a dime in […]
B&K Newsletter: North Macedonia’s Political Crossroads and EU Uncertainty
North Macedonia’s Electoral Shift: In the aftermath of recent elections, North Macedonia finds itself at a pivotal juncture, with political dynamics shifting towards the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party. This seismic change has implications for domestic governance and the country’s relations with neighboring Bulgaria and Greece. The elections, held on May 8, saw VMRO-DPMNE making significant gains, […]