How the EU always gets away with it
POLITICO – Alberto Alemanno comments on the Pfizergate and the accountability of EU institutions and leaders.
By-lines
Von der Leyen’s texts with Pfizer boss can be shared, says EU’s highest court
THE GUARDIAN – Alberto Alemanno comments on the recent General Court ruling in the Pfizergate case.
Ursula von der Leyen in pole position as she tries to build majority to keep job
THE GUARDIAN – Alberto Alemanno comments on the designation of the next Commission president after the EU elections.
Quote of the Day: Cracks Emerge in Hard Right Across Europe
THE NEW YORK TIMES – Quote of the Day about nationalist parties.
Los populares europeos aceleran su acercamiento a la ultraderecha en pleno ciclo electoral
EL PAÍS – Alberto Alemanno comments on the European Popular Party’s rapprochement with the far-right in the middle of the election cycle.
Plan for EU ethics body falls short of parliament’s demands, critics warn
FINANCIAL TIMES – Alberto Alemanno comments on a proposed ethics body for EU institutions in the aftermath of the Qatargate.
Criminal complaint adds to Ursula von der Leyen’s Pfizer text woes
POLITICO – Alberto Alemanno comments on the criminal complaint against European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
Brussels Playbook: Qatar scandal hits Commission — Finland’s next PM? — VdL in Washington
POLITICO – Alberto Alemanno comments on how the Qatargate scandal hits the European Commission.
‘Invulnerable’ MEPs set to test EU’s bid to raise ethical standards
FINANCIAL TIMES – Alberto Alemanno comments the EU’s ethical standards in the aftermath of the Qatargate scandal.
European Parliament corruption probe is a gift to the bloc’s critics
THE WASHINGTON POST – Four people have been charged on suspicion of money laundering, corruption and taking part in a criminal organization on behalf of Qatar.
Calls for EU lobbying rules to be reformed grow as corruption scandal rocks Brussels
EURONEWS – Calls to reform lobbying rules for European Union institutions are growing as Brussels reels from a corruption scandal involving the European Parliament.
The Qatar Corruption Scandal Is Rocking the European Parliament
TIME – A high-profile corruption case alleges Qatar bribed European lawmakers to sway policy.
Calls for EU reform after five arrested in Qatar corruption inquiry
THE GUARDIAN – The arrest of a European Parliament vice-president and four others linked to a corruption investigation implicating World Cup hosts Qatar sparked calls for “root and branch reform” in the EU institution.
Watchdogs wanted an EU ethics cop. They might get a scolding
POLITICO – Without enforcement or investigation powers, a new ethics body ‘misses the point,’ experts say.
Brussels to propose rise in cigarette taxes and first EU-wide vaping levy
FINANCIAL TIMES – Bloc’s push to cut smoking rates would increase minimum excise duty from €1.80 to €3.60 per pack of 20.
Fight over migrant rescue ship sours Italy’s relations with France
FINANCIAL TIMES – Spat reinforces concern about Giorgia Meloni’s readiness to work constructively with EU.
Meloni trouxe muitos sorrisos, mas poucas respostas concretas de Bruxelas
PUBLICO – A nova primeira-ministra de Itália encontra com os líderes das instituições da União Europeia
Italy PM Giorgia Meloni hails ‘frank, positive’ exchange with EU leaders in first Brussels trip
EURONEWS – Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed a “very frank, very positive” exchange with European Union leaders in Brussels.
France and Germany’s relationship questioned as Scholz goes alone on policy
CNBC – Fresh tensions between France and Germany are challenging their relationship at a time when their unity is critical for broader European policy in tackling the energy crisis.
Olaf Scholz à l’Elysée : un dialogue amical et constructif, malgré les divergences
EURONEWS – le chancelier allemand Olaf Scholz rencontre le président français à l’Elysée
EU Influence: Broken science debate — Unlocking docs — Revolving full circle
POLITICO – Citizens’ access to documents is “the most concrete manifestation of the principle of openness and its corollary, transparency of the EU”
Migrants in Italy face uncertainty after far-right prime minister’s win
ABC NEWS – Meloni’s election last month will move the country to the far right for the first time since Benito Mussolini’s fall during World War II.
Experts criticise Council’s shady delay of EU Parliament’s Treaty reform request
EURACTIV – Legal experts suggest the Council of the European Union is violating EU law by not initiating the procedure for a Treaty reform.
Here’s what a Meloni government in Italy could mean for the EU
EURONEWS – The far-right victory in Italy’s elections is likely to translate into Rome joining Poland and Hungary by adopting a eurosceptic stance on European Union affairs.
EU Parliament slapped with complaint over ‘backroom deal’ to appoint secretary-general
EURONEWS – An official complaint has been launched against the European Parliament over a controversial deal to appoint its new secretary general, the institution’s top civil servant.
EU Parliament deflects cronyism cries as it appoints top civil servant
POLITICO – Alessandro Chiocchetti will become the Parliament’s new secretary-general, overseeing the institution’s expansive bureaucracy.
Italian right on path to power after PM Mario Draghi resigns
THE SUNDAY TIMES – Italy President Mario Draghi gives televised address amid political and financial turmoil
EU Influence: NGOs do it better — Schröder shame — QueasyJet
POLITICO – Sarah Wheaton speaks from The Good Lobby’s annual summer academy.
EU Influence: NGOs do it better — Schröder shame — QueasyJet
POLITICO – A surprising mix of transparency advocates, NGOers and unabashed corporate lobbyists meet at The Good Lobby’s annual Summer Academy.
EU Influence: UberFiles soul-search — Salaries spike — Your new Insta addiction
POLITICO – Uber Files outlined “a rather extreme, yet quite common (notably in the tech sector) method” of gaining access through lobbying
Former EU digital chief Neelie Kroes secretly helped Uber lobby Dutch PM, leak suggests
THE GUARDIAN – Uber Files appear to show Neelie Kroes trying to assist firm during ‘cooling-off’ period after leaving commission
Uber Files: Massive leak reveals how top politicians secretly helped Uber
BBC News – Thousands of leaked files have exposed how Uber courted top politicians, and how far it went to avoid justice.
Over $50 for a burrito? World’s elite splash the cash on snacks at Davos
CNBC – Hungry attendees at this year’s World Economic Forum may have found some of the food a little hard to stomach, with some eye-popping prices in some locations
EU Influence: Moscow’s man in Brussels — Live from Davos — (dis)trust in the EU
POLITICO – The formidable European Round Table for Industry elected Jean-François van Boxmeer its new chairman, for a two-year term. He’s chairman of the Vodafone Group, and succeeds Volvo Group chair Carl-Henric Svanberg.
Switzerland inspires Europe’s quiet democratic revolution
SWISSINFO.CH – Russia’s war in Ukraine has shifted power relations in Europe. In the European Union the demand is growing for participation from below. The recent Frontex referendum in Switzerland showed the way.
Conférence sur l’avenir de l’Europe: 300 propositions citoyennes pour réformer l’Union
LE FIGARO – La Conférence sur l’avenir de l’Europe, consultation citoyenne poussée par Emmanuel Macron, s’est achevée le 30 avril.
Over 10% of citizen proposals on EU’s future require treaty changes, expert says
EURACTIV – Twelve per cent of European citizens’ proposals as a part of the conference on the Future of Europe require a treaty change if they are to be implemented.
Ursula von der Leyen offers speedy response to Ukraine’s bid to join EU
THE GUARDIAN – European Commission chief visits Bucha before meeting Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv
« L’Union européenne doit accomplir un saut de citoyenneté pour passer à une Union politique »
Le Journal du Dimanche – Guillaume Klossa, co-président de CIVICO Europa, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, ancien président du groupe Les Verts, l’écrivain italien Roberto Saviano et 38 autres signataires plaident pour un nouveau « Pacte fondateur de l’Union qui permette de réaliser enfin l’Union de la défense, de l’énergie, de la santé, de l’économie, du travail, du social, de l’éducation et de la culture. »
With Putin’s war in Europe, the legacy of Germany’s Merkel is now being seen in a very different light
CNBC – The former German leader was known for speaking Russian and keeping diplomatic ties with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. It was also during her term that Germany stepped up its energy links to Moscow and kept its national defense spending to a minimum.
The Long War has started
POLITICO – With the ongoing re-Stalinization of Russia, and the old Stalin tactics unfurled again in Ukraine: Is it time to start labeling Vladimir Putin a dictator? And more news…
When should business take a stand?
Financial Times – Companies are under pressure to speak out on a wide range of issues. Doing so while avoiding pitfalls will require them to rethink their approach to politics.
New Index Tracks How Brands And Companies Respond To Ukraine Crisis
FORBES – To help track businesses’ responses to the escalating crisis, the Ukraine Corporate Index was launched today by The Good Lobby, a nonprofit civic participation organization, and Progressive Shopper, which tracks political contributions.
Companies in the E.U. could be held liable for violations along their supply chain.
THE NEW YORK TIMES – Under the legislation, known as a due diligence law, businesses would need to establish regulations to detect, prevent and mitigate breaches of human rights.
« Nous sommes entrés dans une nouvelle phase de l’intégration européenne », une conversation avec Alberto Alemanno
LE GRAND CONTINENT – la nomination de la nouvelle présidente du Parlement européen marque un tournant, une conversation avec Alberto Alemanno.
Los socialistas se quedan fuera de la cúpula europea pese a sus últimos éxitos electorales
EL PAÍS – Populares, que acaban de hacerse con el Parlamento Europeo, y liberales se reparten los máximos puestos de las instituciones de la UE
European Parliament, Jostling for Relevance, Elects a New Leader
THE NEW YORK TIMES – Roberta Metsola of Malta will succeed David Sassoli, an Italian politician who died last week, at a critical time for the institution.
David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, Dies at 65
THE NEW YORK TIMES – He was a well-known journalist in his native Italy before going into politics, and devoted his tenure to making the Parliament more prominent.
Lobbying, citizen assemblies and political entrepreneurs: the tools for changemakers to shape policies
PIONEERS POST – Changemakers should not shy away from using powerful tools to influence politicians – starting with lobbying, attendees of the Ashoka Changemaker Summit heard this week. And they can start by talking to the new breed of “political entrepreneurs”, often young and focused on social impact, who are looking for solutions.
Media-savvy business professors look beyond the lecture hall
Financial Times – From YouTube and TV to podcasts, academics are building on the shift to online teaching
Interpol must change its practices to protect human rights
STATEWATCH – Civil society organisations, elected representatives and other prominent public figures are calling on Interpol to take steps to prevent the abuse of international policing databases and alert systems by authoritarian and dictatorial regimes. A resolution sent to the policing organisation a week before its 89th General Assembly calls for the protection of human rights by the full implementation of recommendations made by the Council of Europe and European Parliament. Statewatch is one of the signatories of the resolution.
Lo strano incontro di Matteo Renzi con la commissaria europea Vestager
DOMANI – Renzi incontra la vicepresidente della Commissione UE Margrethe Vestager per “discutere le sfide future dell’UE”
Poland’s defiance of EU law raises concern over a possible exit
CNBC – In the latest escalation of their dispute, Polish judges ruled, in a case brought by the country’s prime minister, that national law has primacy over European rules.
L’onda delle assemblee cittadine per cambiare la democrazia in Europa
L’ESPRESSO – Negli ultimi anni ne sono nate oltre 500, da Parigi a Madrid, dall’Islanda all’Irlanda. Convocate su temi diversi per ascoltare l’opinione degli elettori. Ma non sempre poi vengono ascoltate.
Polish media and opposition fight to save press freedom from state control
OPEN DEMOCRACY – Government’s controversial bill ‘would wipe out one of last institutions to hold authorities accountable’ and could lead to US sanctions.
El certificado covid se impone en el día a día de 21 países europeos
EL PAÍS – Con 300 millones expedidos en poco más de un mes, los salvoconductos se convierten en un requisito cotidiano. En Francia y Alemania crecen las protestas entre la población reacia al pinchazo.
El poderoso arsenal de Bruselas para frenar los asaltos de Hungría y Polonia al sistema democrático
EL PAÍS – Los gobiernos de Budapest y Varsovia se arriesgan a multas millonarias y coercitivas si persisten en incumplir las normas comunitarias.
Quelle stratégie dans la Conférence sur l’avenir de l’Europe ? Perspectives croisées de Manon Aubry et Sandro Gozi
LE GRAND CONTINENT – Deux députés européens de deux bords politiques opposés, Sandro Gozi (Renew) et Manon Aubry (LFI) exposent leurs positionnements et leurs stratégies dans un exercice européen d’un nouveau genre.
Coalition led by B Lab Europe calls for mandatory stakeholder governance across the EU
PIONEERS POST – A coalition of 60 companies led by B Lab Europe is calling for an EU-wide change in company law to make stakeholder governance mandatory in the bloc.
I governi indignati con Orbán lo spalleggiano da un decennio
EDITORIALE DOMANI – I governi europei usano parole infiammate per la legge anti Lgbt approvata in Ungheria e si accorgono delle derive illiberali di Orbán. Ma cosa facevano prima? Erano impegnati a perdonargli tutto, o quasi.
Lack of citizens at EU’s citizens’ debate raises eyebrows
THE. GUARDIAN – Analysis: legitimacy of Future of Europe talks called into question as only a quarter of citizens likely to take part
Will the EU’s Covid travel pass save the summer or create chaos?
RFI – Trumpeted as a quick fix to the holiday travel dilemma, and eagerly awaited by Europe’s struggling tourism sector, the certificate is intended to allow rapid movement between EU states without additional quarantine or coronavirus tests. Critics say it’s a recipe for delays and confusion.
L’estate sta arrivando, ma i problemi di movimento non finiscono con la vaccinazione
EURONEWS – Con l’avvicinarsi dell’estate e l’aumento delle vaccinazioni, la Commissione europea afferma di volere che gli Stati membri eliminino ulteriormente le restrizioni ai viaggi all’interno del continente.
Faciliter les déplacements pour cet été dans l’Union européenne
EURONEWS – Accélérer la levée des restrictions de déplacement entre les Etats membres. C’est le souhait de la Commission européenne à l’approche des vacances d’été.
EU leaders discuss repercussions for Belarus after Ryanair ‘hijack’
CNBC – Outraged European leaders are gathering in Brussels on Monday to discuss how to punish Belarusian authorities, after the forced landing of a Ryanair flight and subsequent arrest of a journalist on board.
Coronavirus: tirs croisés sur le certificat vert européen pour voyager
LE SOIR – Alors que les Européens se demandent à quelle sauce ils vont être traités aux frontières cet été, nombreux sont les détracteurs de la proposition de certificat vert européen.
La Superlega riunisce l’Europa (brexiteer compresi)
IL FOGLIO – L’exit dall’Uefa ha provocato una cosa inedita nella storia recente dell’Europa: tutto lo spettro politico si è unito in difesa dell’establisment calcistico.
Un social “libero” per discutere il futuro dell’Ue.
EDITORIALE DOMANI – La piattaforma digitale per la Conferenza sul futuro dell’Europa rappresenta un tentativo inedito di confronto paneuropeo. Ma non basta raccogliere spunti, il punto è trasformarli in decisioni, ed è su questo che si gioca la riuscita del progetto: chi trarrà la sintesi e in che modo?
Niebezpieczne iluzje „paszportu szczepionkowego”
KRYTYKAPOLITYCZNA – Unia rozważa wprowadzenie tzw. paszportu szczepionkowego. W założeniu ma on ułatwić otwieranie granic i powrót do „normalności”. W praktyce będzie kolejnym mechanizmem profilowania i ekonomicznego wykluczenia, bo szczepienie na COVID-19 wciąż jest w Unii przywilejem.
Djebbari et les guerres d’ego — Amazon tranquille — Sapin 2 Noël
POLITICO PARIS Influence – Les manœuvres du gouvernement pour épargner Amazon. Couac de la nouvelle Agence de l’Innovation pour les Transports:Bercy accuse Jean-Baptiste Djebbari de la jouer solo. Entretien avec Guillaume Courty, universitaire qui dézingue sur la loi Sapin 2.
Le “Sofagate” secoue toujours les institutions européennes
EURONEWS – Un incident diplomatique en passe de devenir une crise interne de l’UE. Les secousses du “Sofagate”, le camouflet protocolaire infligé à la présidente de la Commission européenne à Ankara la semaine dernière, se font toujours à ressentir à Bruxelles.
Green wave — Vaccine comms lessons — New pesticides regime
POLITICO EU Influence – For the Brussels influence industry, AstraZeneca’s tarnished reputation is a cautionary tale — and a new client pitch.
“Ha partecipato a un evento lobbistico sui vaccini senza l’ok della corte Ue”. Pitruzzella lascia l’incarico all’Aspen Institute
IL FATTO QUOTIDIANO – Ha lasciato la vicepresidenza dell’Aspen Institute Italia dopo aver partecipato a un dibattito con Farmindustria. Oggetto del dibattito: i brevetti dei vaccini.
Apel do Komisji Europejskiej: Brońcie polskich sędziów!
WYBORCZA – “Doszliśmy do etapu, w którym niezależnym sędziom grozi się zarzutami karnymi i wykorzystaniem środków przymusu za próby stosowania prawa Unii i orzeczeń Trybunału Sprawiedliwości” – piszą w liście otwartym do Komisji Europejskiej przedstawiciele polskich organizacji pozarządowych i akademicy z całej Europy.
La negoziatrice Ue sui vaccini ammette l’incontro con le lobby, ma soltanto a metà
EDITORIALE DOMANI – Sandra Gallina partecipa a una tavola rotonda con Farmindustria in cui si discute di brevetti dei vaccini. Prima il suo staff nega, poi non risponde.
Child rights — Transparency during corona — German side jobs scandal
POLITICO EU Influence – The Commission is expected to present a new EU strategy on the rights of the child next week, along with a proposal for a Council recommendation on a European child guarantee.
Sei domande sul passaporto vaccinale
INTERNAZIONALE – Tedeschi in Spagna, olandesi in Grecia e francesi in Italia? Una cartolina del “mondo di prima” che potrebbe tornare d’attualità quest’estate se i paesi europei si metteranno d’accordo sulle condizioni di entrata nei loro territori.
Covid-19 : six questions sur le passeport sanitaire
LE MONDE – Emmanuel Macron a détaillé le calendrier de la levée des restrictions en France, dans lequel le passe sanitaire est mentionné à plusieurs reprises.
Will COVID-19 spark reform of the EU’s borderless Schengen Area?
EURONEWS – Several EU countries are moving to reinstate border checks and travel restrictions over a troubling surge in coronavirus variants.
Faudra-t-il un passeport vaccinal pour pouvoir voyager en Europe cet été ?
LE PARISIEN – La Commission européenne va proposer un dispositif permettant de justifier si l’on a été vacciné ou si l’on dispose d’un test négatif afin de se déplacer plus librement d’un pays à un autre. Mais le chemin est encore long avant une éventuelle mise en place.
¿Podría Draghi descompensar la balanza de poder de la Unión Europea?
LA VANGUARDIA – En Bruselas, como en tantos otros rincones de Europa, el nombre de Mario Draghi evoca una frase, “haré lo que sea necesario para preservar el euro”, que marcó un punto de inflexión en la crisis de la moneda única y contribuyó a alimentar el capital político de “SuperMario” en los círculos comunitarios.
Covid-19: L’UE divisée sur le passeport vaccinal
LA LIBÉRATION – Certains pays membres, comme le Danemark, programment déjà la mise en place d’un pass pour les personnes vaccinées contre le Covid-19. D’autres redoutent les inégalités que cela pourrait engendrer alors que les campagnes de vaccination sont loin d’être terminées.
Facing up to the demands of post-Brexit business travel
Financial Times – Working trips between the EU and UK will still be possible — but with more planning and paperwork.
Los choques con Londres y AstraZeneca socavan la credibilidad de Von der Leyen en plena crisis
EL PAÍS – La Comisión Europea destaca las numerosas iniciativas adoptadas en un solo año y atribuye los posibles errores al ritmo trepidante de los últimos meses.
Amid vaccines row, EU adopts regulation to control export of COVID-19 jabs
EURONEWS – The European Commission has adopted a regulation to control the export of coronavirus vaccines manufactured in the EU, amid a row with vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca, and warnings of a brewing vaccine war with the UK.
Covid-19 Vaccine Passports Are a Ticket to Nowhere
BLOOMBERG – Gloomy visions of an inoculated elite lording it over everyone else won’t get needles in arms any faster.
Merkel, la europeísta conversa
FINANCIAL TIMES – Budget stand-off over rule of law ends in neither victory nor defeat for Hungary and Poland.
Commission to revamp campaigning rules after von der Leyen video storm
POLITICO – EU chief’s participation in a Croatian election campaign video sparked criticism.
Italy’s government could soon collapse over a dispute about EU funds
CNBC – The latest political dispute is coming at a particularly painful moment.
Future of Europe conference: one year on standby
EU OBSERVER – The troubled Conference on the Future of Europe, intended to reconnect the European project with its citizens, remains in deadlock due to an ongoing institutional dispute over who will chair it.
Numérique: une intense campagne de lobbying à Bruxelles
LE FIGARO – Face au Digital Services Act et au Digital Markets Act, la mobilisation des lobbyistes du secteur était prévisible et attendue. Mais certaines méthodes ont choqué.
EU still lacks a ‘silver bullet’ for bringing autocrats to heel
FINANCIAL TIMES – Budget stand-off over rule of law ends in neither victory nor defeat for Hungary and Poland.
Věra Jourová, Europe’s ‘lonesome sheriff’
POLITICO – Under fire in battles over EU values, Commission VP shoots from the lip.
EU summit: Budget stalemate continues but Hungary not united in opposition to EU’s rule of law
EURONEWS – Leaders gathered remotely to discuss the desperately needed coronavirus recovery fund and budget.
Can the EU Commission scrap its CAP plan?
EURACTIV – The European Commission’s threat to withdraw its legislative proposal for the post-2020 EU’s farming subsidies programme has irritated EU lawmakers. EURACTIV.com asked some legal experts to clear the air about the controversy.
Deal reached to link EU funding to respect for rule of law
EURONEWS – A deal has been reached that would give Brussels the green light to cut EU funding to member countries over rule of law issues.
MEPs slam EU rule of law measures as ‘ill-equipped and ineffective’
EURONEWS – From judicial independence in Poland to media freedom in Hungary, violations around the rule of law have been the most contentious of EU issues.
With Phil Hogan’s departure, Ursula von der Leyen bets on ethics
POLITICO – Irishman’s exit shows the Commission president won’t tolerate the impression that her top team can act with impunity.
How Hogan’s resignation presents Von der Leyen with a fresh headache
EURONEWS – “This certainly will become a headache for Von der Leyen and the new [European] Commission because this will lead to a reshuffle of her college – this is very likely.” Alberto Alemanno, EU Analyst.
Von der Leyen provoca las iras de socialistas y liberales al tomar partido en unas elecciones nacionales
EL PAÍS – La presidenta de la Comisión podría haber violado la obligación de neutralidad prevista en el código de conducta del organismo.