Članak Polish Presidency of the EU Council se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

This insight aims to shed light on conscription as part of a broader remilitarisation trend among EU member states and analyse how it fits within the EU’s framework of resilience and strategic autonomy. In the second part, the paper compares Serbia’s intention to reintroduce conscription with the intentions of its EU counterparts, investigating whether Serbia’s move is part of the same remilitarisation trend or driven by purely national motives. Given the country’s thorny path towards EU membership due to insufficient rule of law standards, foreign policy alignment, and unresolved issues with Kosovo, the paper particularly examines whether the reintroduction of conscription might have any detrimental effect on regional dynamics and Serbia’s EU aspirations.

Članak From Peace to Preparedness: Conscription as a Once-Again Fashionable Idea in the EU and Serbia se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

In the context of such challenges, the Hungarian Presidency sets strong ambitions, seeking to defy its critics and demonstrate its capacity for effective and decisive leadership. Besides the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine and other security risks confronting Europe, the Presidency will engage in addressing the acute economic problems reflected in EU companies lagging behind their global counterparts, particularly those in the US and China. Judging by Hungary’s Presidency programme and Victor Orbán’s messages, Budapest recognises both security and economic issues faced by Europe, making the enhancement of the EU’s competitiveness and its defence capabilities the top two priorities of its Presidency. In addition, as a country which shares the border with both the Western Balkans (WB) and Ukraine, Hungary is now in a position to potentially accelerate the EU enlargement process by prioritising this policy and putting it high on the EU agenda. Therefore, this paper aims to critically examine the declaratively proclaimed goals of the Hungarian Presidency, answering the question of how realistically achievable they are and what are prerequisites for their fulfilment.

Članak The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU: Navigating the EU in Times of Change se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

With farmers dealing with a wide range of challenges, from rising costs and impacts felt from the war in Ukraine, it is clear that European policymakers are struggling to address farmer’s needs. This brings into question the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) – traditionally known as one of the earliest and most significant aspects of European integration. Launched in 1962, the CAP sought to support farmers, improve agricultural productivity, and safeguard Europe’s food supply. Currently, the CAP has a budget of over €380 billion, which still represents almost a quarter of the total EU budget. It is fair to say that the CAP has transformed Europe and its agricultural sector. Having said this, the recent protests pose questions about whether the measures the EU takes within the context of this central policy area, from income support and market interventions to rural development measures, are enough. It is also important to explore how WB countries navigate the challenges presented by their agricultural sectors, particularly in relation to the CAP, and what role the EU plays in assisting these countries in aligning their agricultural policies with EU standards. As this new crisis will put Europe’s problem-solving capabilities to the test, it will be of paramount importance to see how the EU manages to juggle extensive internal protests with a new push for further enlargement.

Članak Europe’s farmers taking to the streets: What will come of the recent disruptions? se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Članak Belgian Presidency of The Council of the EU se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

As the EU’s Israel-Palestine policy is dissected, the questions also arise: What is Serbia’s stance on this issue and is its position on this matter also a part of its both East and West geopolitical equation? Answering these questions is warranted, as Serbia continues to find itself in a delicate balancing act of nurturing its partnerships with the East, despite its official strategic priority being EU membership. Through rigorous analysis, the paper evaluates the extent of Serbia’s alignment with EU policies on the mentioned conflict and uncovers the multifaceted factors influencing its position. As the role of the Israel-Palestine conflict is examined as a litmus test for unity and diversity of opinions within the EU, Serbia’s standpoint is scrutinised, and broader questions regarding its policy alignment with the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) are addressed.

Članak In the Shadow of the Middle East: EU and Serbia’s Israeli-Palestinian Policies Compared se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

In July 2023, Spain will assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union, being the first in the new trio together with Belgium and Hungary. This will be Spain’s second presidency since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty and fifth overall.

However, it remains unknown who will be leading Madrid, as the snap general elections are scheduled for 23 July, thus causing fears that a long government formation could draw Madrid’s attention away from Brussels. This will be yet another challenging presidency, with the war in Ukraine still looming at large, an ongoing economic crisis with high inflation, unprecedently high interest rates and competition with China, as well as the need to combat climate change. Adding to the weight of responsibility, Spain will hold the so-called “golden presidency”, meaning that this will be the last presidency in which the incumbent institutional cycle will work in full capacity before the European Parliament elections in June 2024.

Thus, Spain will have the responsibility to make progress and finalise many pending dossiers before the work of the EU institutions pauses for almost a year. Having in mind the presidency’s motto, “Europe-closer”, the aim of this insight is to analyse how Spain will navigate Europe in the next six months.

Članak Spanish Presidency of the Council se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Članak Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Having in mind the war in Ukraine and its consequences in the form of constrained economic recovery previously caused by the pandemic, the refugee crisis and energy crisis can be expected to dominate the Presidency’s agenda. The aim of this paper is to examine to what degree the Czech Programme will be occupied by the consequences of war development on the EU’s eastern borders, and what kind of policy solutions and attempts to set them in motion will Czechia offer.

Judging by the Presidency slogan, which is Europe as a Task: Rethink, rebuild, repower, it can be anticipated that rethinking European geopolitical position, rebuilding Ukraine after the bloody war, and repowering the European defence structures will be the focus of the Council’s work in the upcoming six months and longer. While some Council presidencies aim to finalise long-running legislative priorities, Prague largely sees its job over the next six months as a crisis responder. Czechia will have its hands full forging common positions on financial and political support for Ukraine, and reducing the bloc’s continued reliance on Russian energy. Having in mind the presidency programme and volatile geopolitical developments, this paper also aims to uncover whether the Council will have enough time and energy to dedicate to the enlargement policy and the Western Balkans region under the Czech baton.

Članak Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

In order for this acknowledgement to materialise in practice, the leaders of the Western Balkans (WB) also agreed to incorporate elements of the EGD into all interrelated sectors and policies, based on the European Commission’s Guidelines, with the common goal of developing carbon-neutral and sustainable economies in the region. Given that it has been a year and a half since the Sofia Summit, it is warranted to break down the complex notion of the Green Agenda and analyse whether and to what extent it has the potential to truly induce changes in the Western Balkans. Therefore, the paper presents key issues identified in the five pillars of the Green Agenda, examines certain cross-cutting aspects of the green transition that could be essential for achieving a climate-neutral Western Balkans, and provides concrete measures and proposals for effective Green Agenda implementation.

Članak The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Moreover, the Ukrainian-Russian border is facing increasing tensions, while the Conference on the Future of Europe (CotFoE) is expected to end with concrete results. As Europe is faced with times of change, expectations are high from France that it will take the lead and steer the Union in the right direction in the upcoming six months. Having in mind the Presidency slogan – Recovery (reliance), Power (puissance), and Belonging (appurtenance) – this Insight analyses how France will navigate Europe in this increasingly complex context.

Članak The French Presidency of Council of the EU se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Članak Serbia and Civilian CSDP Missions se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.