VoteWatch Analytical Tool: EU Foreign policy, mapping MEPs’ views and influence

Leave a comment Published in: Foreign policy, Insights, News, Politics & Institutions, Varia
Copyright: European Union

This report is part of the new VoteWatch series showing you how to build your strategy using our new analytical tool (which is explained in-depth here) and which allows you to quickly identify kingmakers and swing-voters among MEPs. This tool is already been used by key stakeholders active in EU policy-making.

By combining (objective) data science with expert insight, we filter out the noise and show the actual positions of each MEP on key parts of the EU foreign policy agenda. Continue Reading

VoteWatch Analytical Tool: uncover which MEPs can help you advance your agenda. Part 3.1: Foreign Affairs

Leave a comment Published in: Varia
Copyright: European Union

This report is part of the new VoteWatch series showing you how to build your strategy using our new analytical tool (which is explained in-depth here) and which allows you to quickly identify kingmakers and swing-voters among MEPs. This tool is already been used by key stakeholders active in EU policy-making.

We show the positions of each MEP on key parts of the EU foreign policy agenda and highlight which MEPs are convinced (on either side), and which remain to be brought on board to secure majorities. Continue Reading

Executive webinar: EU Foreign policy, mapping MEPs’ views and influence

Leave a comment Published in: Foreign policy, News, Policy, Varia
Copyright: European Union

Thursday 27 May at 10.00-10.30 (Zoom)

This free executive webinar is for senior EU affairs professionals and campaigners of public and private stakeholders who are involved in shaping EU policies aimed at strategic autonomy and relations with international partners.

We will show the actual position and level of influence of key MEPs and how majorities are being built. Continue Reading

Special highlights from EU decision making: EU-Serbia relations, Data protection & Ambient air quality

Leave a comment Published in: EP Plenary, Insights, News, Politics & Institutions, Varia

This briefing includes our latest observations regarding the politics behind EU policies on the following subjects:

– EU-Serbia relations

– Data Protection

– Ambient air quality (for premium subscribers only)

EU-Serbia relations

The accession of Serbia to the EU is having a hard time, as demonstrated by a wave of criticism injected in its yearly progress report. Continue Reading

Impact of EPP-Fidesz divorce to be bigger than expected

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TUBS, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

It is hard to overestimate the impact of Fidesz’s choice to leave the EPP group in the European Parliament. In addition to the obvious changes in the balance of power in the EU institutions and the related policy implications, the broader geopolitical dynamics should not be neglected. Concretely, while the departure of Orban’s MEPs facilitates closer cooperation between EPP, Macron’s group and the Social-Democrats, it also deepens the geographical divides between the North-Western EU and (part of) “new Europe”, providing fertile ground for the increasing influence of non-EU players in the EU’s backyard. Continue Reading

Influence Index 2020: Most influential MEPs by policy area

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In the last few weeks, we have published the first part of our Influence Index 2020: a new data-driven ranking of MEPs by VoteWatch Europe and BCW Brussels.

More precisely, we ranked the influence of individual MEPs on different policy areas. The topics covered refer to the political priorities of von der Leyen’s geopolitical Commission, including highly salient topics such as the EU Green Deal, the EU’s digital transition and the EU economic recovery. Continue Reading

Influence Index 2020: Top influential MEPs on EU external policies

Leave a comment Published in: Insights, News, Varia

This analysis is part of the Influence Index: a new data-driven ranking of MEPs by VoteWatch Europe and BCW Brussels. It is the first MEP ranking to measure influence through two crucial dimensions, namely:

– Political influence: the ability to change legislation, win votes, and shape debates;

– Social influence: the ability to reach people, shift the public conversation, and build a community of support. Continue Reading

The European Parliament at 40: A More Mature Institution? Evolution of the EP committees’ size

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AFET meeting © European Union (2015) – European Parliament

By Piotr Maciej Kaczyński*

For many years, the size of parliamentary committees has reflected the political choices of the Parliament. The bigger the committee – the more relevant the committee, this is the common understanding. The size of the committees stems from two sources. First is their popularity with elected Members (MEPs). Continue Reading

This is why the EU lacks a position on the Middle East crises

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Qatar responded to the ultimatum imposed by other Gulf countries, as the tensions in the region keep escalating. While the US is very active, the EU seems to lack the ability to have a coherent position on these developments. Why? This report shows how key European political actors have different preferences for their coalition partners in the Middle East, which leads to the EU as a whole having an ambiguous response when these regional crises occur. Continue Reading