After Merkel: Why Germany must end its inertia on defence and security
Angela Merkel has long resisted updating German defence policy for today’s challenges. Her successor will not be able to avoid the challenge forever
National Politics
On the rocks: Malta-EU relations in times of crisis
What policymakers across the European Union care about most does not overlap with the priorities in Malta – and during covid-19 the country has been looking for policy partners beyond Europe
Why Europe needs a vaccine against baseless challenges to election results
In supporting Trump’s lies and his refusal to concede, some eastern European governments are grooming their supporters to reject the result of any election they might lose
How the EU should turn the tables on Hungary and Poland
It was not only western European countries that insisted on the rule of law of mechanism – others like Slovakia and Romania did as well
A fundamental fight: The frugal four and the rule of law
The ‘frugal four’ are showing an admirable commitment to defending the rule of law. But they bear some responsibility in Hungary and Poland
Bubble trouble: Estonia and the coronavirus crisis
With the advent of the second wave, the medical situation in all three Baltic countries is changing quickly and, therefore, demands some flexibility from them to adequately handle the crisis
With no landslide win for Biden, Beijing benefits
No matter who wins the US election this week, the narrow margin will focus US attention at home, giving China geopolitical room for manoeuvre
How the frugal four could grow in number and influence
Brexit has denied Denmark a regular ally in EU negotiations. Copenhagen can find new friends – but it should start the hard yards now.
Why Finland never joined the frugal four
Recent signs that Finland has joined the “frugal four” are overstated, but one member of the group may well be its closest coalition partner.
The limits of “no, no, no”: Why the Dutch are so ambivalent about Europe
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is stuck between European partners urging him to engage in Europe at this critical moment and a growing chorus at home threatening to punish him if he does so