In the plutocratic age of ‘broligarchy’, democracy is in deep trouble – but there’s still hope
The democratic rule of law is badly deteriorating in many parts of the world and those responsible are hiding in plain sight. In fact, they’re not hiding at all, but they do pretend that their conduct supposedly benefits the public good instead of seriously harming it. A play on ‘oligarchy’, ‘broligarchy’ is being increasingly used […]
With the US leaving the WHO, Europe must urgently increase its global leadership in health preparedness – not weaken it
Five years on, Covid-19 taught us the hard way, that health crises can turn our lives upside down overnight – forcing lockdowns, halting even the world’s strongest economies but, most importantly, killing millions. The pandemic exposed the weaknesses of the most advanced healthcare systems – including the EU’s – and demonstrated that unilateral actions are […]
Minding the gender gap – a critical omission in the EU’s AMR response
Gender is largely absent from the EU’s antimicrobial resistance (AMR) policies and strategies. Yet AMR is a major global health threat. It happens when microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) stop responding to medication, making infections harder to treat, and increasing the risk of severe illness and death. Misuse and the overuse of antibiotics accelerate […]
The fight for Georgia is still a fight for Europe
Georgia is no stranger to political turmoil but the country now finds itself at a perilous tipping point. Georgians are known for taking to the streets, waving EU flags with unmatched passion and fighting for their European future. But this time, with mounting geopolitical tensions and a ruling party desperate to cling to power while […]
Skills aren’t your plug-and-play solution for inclusive competitiveness
Skills have become a central pillar in policy discussions on the future of work. Since the 2000 Lisbon Strategy, the EU has gradually shifted from focusing on formal education and qualifications – as indicators of skill bundles – to a greater emphasis on skills as individual units that can be independently acquired and traded. The […]
Hung(a)ry for gender equality deliberation in a conservative EU
Hungarian women have it tough. Recently, the two highest-positioned female members of the Hungarian government, President Katalin Novák and former Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, Judit Varga, resigned over a scandal where they pardoned a man implicated in paedophilic sexual abuse. Hungary also has one of the lowest EU Gender Equality Index scores […]
The EU has an accountability problem. Doubling down on ethics can help change that
Anyone know a good dentist? ‘It’s toothless’. The European Commission’s proposal for an inter-institutional ethics body needs a dentist. This late-stage delivery from the 2019 Political Guidelines garnered criticism for seeking to deliver ‘transparency and integrity’ through a merely advisory function, without the powers to investigate and sanction members of the EU institutions. Amid ‘Qatargate’, […]