International Relations

The outcome of the Italian election is another wake-up call. Former centre-left and socialist voters now are being caught by 'modern' populist parties who claim to defend citizens' rights and fight against a corrupt political class as well as social and economic injustice.

The Ukraine is weakened, corruption is flourishing, weapons are massively circulating since the Donbas conflict and migrants are pushing to pass the borders. But the civil society is strong, an opportunity for EU to support civil action.

Center-left parties have to reinvent and reposition regarding the new world order shaped by globalization, digitalization and changing labour conditions. People expect new answers to migration, a growing life expectancy and a vision of a “modern welfare state”.

British Euroscepticism is not necessarily xenophobic or isolationist but grounds on a feeling of loss of political, economic and legislative sovereignty and the perception of EU supremacy.

Turkey's political history is marked by powerful and authoritarian regimes. What are the underlying principles of Turkish governing culture nowadays? 

What would be a successful turning point in the Eurozone’s institutional structure? Shifts in high official positions in the Eurozone administration will introduce new priorities when it comes to safeguard and promote democratic values, overcome economic divergences and (re)build social trust.  

The Council of Europe secures human rights but Russia has its own understanding of rules and procedures. How to deal with the quirky member in order to preserve without offending? 

EU is the biggest donor of humanitarian aid to Syria and wants to play a key role in the country’s post-war future and reconstruction once the war is over. The Assad regime, with the support of Russia and Iran, has regained control of 80 % of the country and continues to bomb rebel positions in Idlib in the northwest and Damascus suburbs.

NATO and Transatlantic relations have to be redefined in the context of a multispeed Europe and geopolitical tensions and security matters Can a reshaped Euro-American alliance confront Russian provocations and terrorism? And what is Turkey’s strategy? 

Thirty years after the Velvet Revolution, the atmosphere in Czech society is poisonous. Many who followed the course of the Czech presidential elections during the past few weeks in detail must feel they are trapped in a nightmare.