Movers and shakers of EU politics – June 2018

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While the summer break is just behind the corner, the hectic political debate in Brussels shows no sign of abating. In fact, the upcoming year will bring about a series of brand new changes: a new balance of power in the EP following the elections in May 2019, a new leadership of the EU institutions, and the (tentative) finalization of the Brexit negotiations. At the same time, EU decision-makers are expected to make progress on the proposed reforms of the Eurozone governance, the EU asylum system and the ambitious proposals for the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework, among many other hot issues. Continue Reading

What future for the ALDE group: the internal divisions and the potential transformations of the kingmaker of the EP

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Because of its central position within the political spectrum, ALDE/ADLE is currently the main kingmaker in the EP. The positions adopted by this political group are often decisive in swinging the outcome of votes, when the two largest groups (EPP and S&D) are in disagreement. For example, this is often the case with regards to environmental policy, where the two largest EU political families are backing different regulatory approaches. Continue Reading

How Does the Spanish Political Turmoil Impact EU Politics?

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Things are moving in Spain. With the election of Pedro Sanchez as the new leader of the Spanish Socialist party (PSOE), a potential referendum on the independence of Catalonia in September and Spanish Government’s tight majority in the national Parliament, there are plenty of reasons to take a closer look at this country’s politics. Pedro Sanchez’ victory took place in an already unstable political setting and is likely to enhance polarisation in Spanish politics. Continue Reading

France: the decline of traditional parties and the rise of internet-based movements

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The results of the French elections are yet another historical event in a very short time interval: for the first time since the founding of the Fifth Republic in 1958, the two major political parties have been voted out of the race in the first round, something inconceivable until recently in a “politically conservative” country like France.

More broadly, the  French elections seem to be confirming a trend that we’re seeing elsewhere, ie. Continue Reading

What is there in your dish? Regulation of nutrition choice divides EU policymakers

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Alongside the more salient issues often mentioned by the media, such as trade, migration and economic policy, there are also other ways through which policy makers influence our quality of life. In this report, we tracked the positions of EU’s political forces on whether EU institutions should do more to regulate nutrition and food choice.

Additional labelling, limitations applied to certain products, as well as aid schemes for the supply of healthy food are different means of regulating the nutritional choices of consumers, with the purpose of helping them in prioritising healthier products over junk food. Continue Reading