It’s two years since the 2019 European Election, marking the start of this 9th term of the European Parliament. And for a while I have had this nagging feeling that something is not right about the Parliament in this term.
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Category: EU Politics
Something doesn’t add up (or how tweeting openly about gaps in our knowledge about vaccine supply can get better answers that classical journalism)
Back in 2013 when we naively thought social media could be a force for political good, Andy Carvin wrote a book called Distant Witness, which was about his experiences covering and understanding political upheaval from the other side of the world,
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The EU’s impending communication headache: approval (or not) of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine
⚠️ WARNING! Political communication is my area of expertise, NOT public health. This blog post is no recommendation as to what ought to happen from a health perspective! ⚠️ ? This piece was written on 25.1.2021, i.e. before the decision
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“How to Work with the EU Institutions” – a book chapter, and the online launch event
I might have been happily blogging away here for the last fifteen years, and in the meantime racking up enough words to publish a few books, but I have never had the confidence or the sticking power to actually write
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Borders on the ground, borders in people’s heads
Yesterday was a public holiday in Berlin and I took a little cycle trip along the Teltowcanal all the way to the small town Kleinmachnow, sandwiched between Zehlendorf and Potsdam, south west of Berlin. The canal itself was partly the
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The deed is done: Mogherini is the new Rector of the College of Europe
So it is done. Mogherini has today been appointed as the new Rector of the College of Europe at a meeting of the Academic Council of the College, to be confirmed by the Administrative Council in June. Not that there
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Open Letter to Herman Van Rompuy
A fortnight ago I wrote a blog post about the possible appointment of Federica Mogherini as Rector of the College of Europe, and why Herman Van Rompuy has questions to answer about this. Since then I have dug. I have
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Why Federica Mogherini should not be appointed Rector of the College of Europe, and if she is appointed, Herman Van Rompuy has questions to answer
TRANSPARENCY NOTE: I have been teaching at the College of Europe in Bruges for 5 years. I teach the Negotiation Simulation (compulsory course, taught with 2 others) and a short optional course entitled “Online Communications in EU Policy-Making“, both courses
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EU top jobs – were we just lucky in 2014?
In 2014 the race to become President of the European Commission – using the new Spitzenkandidat process – was a two-horse race, and months ahead everyone knew who would likely win – Jean-Claude Juncker (EPP). Martin Schulz (PES) put in energy and
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The EU top jobs merry-go-round – over to you, European Parliament?
So the Heads of State and Government put in an all-nighter at the European Council in Brussels. And this morning at the time of writing there is still no consensus as to who will get any of the EU’s top
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In Germany everyone cares about the EU, but not really about the European Parliament election
A short while ago I needed to buy a plant pot so headed off to my local Hellweg DIY store. And EU flag was fluttering in front of the building, and placards inside told me “Hellweg zeigt Flagge für Europa!”
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4 years of simulation games about the EU – some reflections
It has been a while since I last wrote about teaching about the EU through simulation games. Now, in light of further experience, it is high time to return to this topic. I’ve now run 4 negotiation simulations at the
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