This week's European news

Letter n°1067 of Tuesday 14^th May 2024

How will the European elections reshape the political landscape?

Pascale Joannin - 14 May 2024

Despite a surge on the radical right, the pro-European parties are likely to retain a majority at the polls next June. Nevertheless, writes the author, "whatever their political hue", the representatives chosen "will have to commit to the progress of Europe and continue its construction, successfully begun seventy-four years ago. And not, out of anger or frustration, indulge in an experiment they might bitterly regret."

Agenda | Other issues | Contact

■ Elections :

Results of the 1st round of the presidential election in Lithuania

Incumbent President Gitanas Nausėda came out ahead in the first round of the presidential election held on 12 May. With 44.1% of the vote, he was well in advance of Ingrida Šimonytė, the prime minister, with 19.86%. The two will face each other in the second round on 26 May. Read more

A month to go before the European elections

The European elections will be held from 6 to 9 June. The citizens of the 27 countries of the European Union are being called to the polls, according to the electoral traditions of each country. As no single party will emerge from the elections with a majority, a coalition will have to be formed between three parties. Since 2019, the two leading parties are no longer enough to win a majority. What impact will the rise of the radical right have on the future coalition? According to the polls, the current pro-European coalition could hold on, despite losing seats. Read more

■ Foundation :

Publication of the "Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union 2024".

The Foundation has published the "Schuman Report on Europe, the State of the Union 2024". This year it includes the exceptional contribution of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, as well as that of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. Eminent representatives from the worlds of politics, business, research and diplomacy paint a portrait of a Union that is mapping out the contours of environmental and digital sovereignty and projecting itself into a new geopolitical era, full of new challenges, particularly for its industry and defence. The book is available in French and English. Order your copy now! Read more

The Schuman Network

The Schuman Network is an initiative of the Robert Schuman Foundation, which works to promote the sharing of ideas on a European scale. With 20 members from 12 European countries, the Schuman Network is a space for pooling research on current European issues. Since its launch, around sixty studies have been published on the network's website. Read more

A site for everything you need to know about the European elections

In less than one month, from 6 to 9 June, Europeans are invited to elect 720 Members of the European Parliament for the next five years. The Foundation has set up a website to help you better understand the role and powers of the Parliament, the voting rules and the issues at stake, and to follow the campaign with the lists of candidates and party programmes in each Member State. Read more

■ Commission :

Rule of Law in Poland

On 6 May, the Commission completed its analysis of the rule of law in Poland under the procedure laid down in Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). It considers that there is no longer a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law in Poland. It considers that Warsaw has taken legislative and non-legislative measures to address concerns about the independence of the judiciary, that it has recognised the primacy of EU law and that it is committed to implementing all the judgments of the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights relating to the rule of law, including the independence of the judiciary. Read more

■ Council :

Meeting of development ministers

On 7 May, ministers discussed the situation in Ukraine and the release of the first pillar of the Ukraine facility for the period 2024-2027. This first pillar represents €38.27 billion out of the total of €50 billion earmarked in the Ukraine facility, subject to the progress of reforms in the country. The ministers also discussed humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, while considering support for the Palestinian Authority's reform programme following the formation of a new government. Read more

Meeting of Ministers for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs

The ministers for employment, social policies and health meeting on 7 May adopted conclusions aimed at promoting the economic empowerment and financial independence of women, calling for concrete measures such as integrating gender equality into economic and financial policies, combating gender-based economic violence and reducing the pay gap. The ministers discussed the directive on equal treatment, with the majority of Member States supporting the compromise text for rapid adoption. They also discussed the state of implementation of the EU's accession to the Istanbul Convention. Read more

■ Germany :

Business Alliance against Extremism

On 7 May, an alliance of more than 30 major German companies, including BMW, Siemens, Bosch and Deutsche Bank, issued a press release opposing populism and extremism and in favour of openness and diversity, which they see as a prerequisite for global prosperity. As part of this initiative, entitled "Wir stehen für Werte" - "We stand for values" - they are calling on people to vote in the European elections, which will take place from 6 to 9 June. Read more - Other link

Olaf Scholz visits the Baltic countries

On 6 May, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the Baltic states. In Lithuania, he first visited the Bundeswehr brigade deployed in the region, accompanied by the Lithuanian President, Gitanas Nauseda. He then travelled to Riga, where he held talks with his Estonian counterpart, Kaja Kallas, followed by Lithuanian and Latvian leaders, Ingrida Simonyte, and Evika Silina. The heads of government of the three Baltic states repeated their fears about the Russian threat and reiterated the importance of a rapid response from Western countries. Read more - Other link

■ Spain :

Elections in Catalonia

For the first time since 2012, Carles Puigdemont's pro-independence party lost the majority in the early regional elections held in Catalonia on 12 May. The Socialist Party, led by the former Health Minister during the Covid-19 pandemic, Salvador Illa, came out ahead with 28% of the vote, or 42 seats out of 135 in the regional parliament. Read more - Other link

■ Finland :

Finnish President, Alexander Stubb in Berlin

On 8 May, the Finnish President, Alexander Stubb, visited Berlin. Together with the German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, he reiterated their respective countries' support for Ukraine, particularly in the face of the Russian hybrid threat. With the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, Alexander Stubb also discussed support for Ukraine and cooperation between Finland and Germany within the framework of NATO and the European Union in the field of defence. Read more - Other link

■ France :

Xi Jinping's Tour of Europe

Chinese President Xi Jinping toured Europe from 5 to 10 May. He began by meeting French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. This was an opportunity for the two heads of state to discuss relations between France and China on the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, as well as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. A session was held in the presence of the President of the European Commission. The Chinese head of state then travelled to Serbia and Hungary, where he met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The two men announced 18 cooperation agreements in a wide range of fields, including nuclear energy and cars, as well as 16 billion in Chinese investment. Read more - Other link

■ Italy :

Press statement by the Italian, Austrian and German presidents

In a joint statement by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, published in the German newspaper "Der Tagesspiegel" on 11 May, the three heads of state reiterate the importance of voting in the European elections, in particular to defend our fundamental values of pluralism, human rights and the rule of law, which are being called into question, and even openly threatened, around the world. Read more

NATO Secretary General's visit

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg travelled to Rome on 8 May to meet the President of the Italian Council, Giorgia Meloni. Their discussion focused mainly on preparations for the Washington summit and support for Ukraine. Jens Stoltenberg praised Italy's commitment to Ukraine and its contributions to NATO. For her part, Giorgia Meloni reaffirmed Italy's expectations for concrete decisions to address the challenges in NATO's southern neighbourhood. Read more - Other link

■ Lithuania :

Visit by Ursula von der Leyen

On 9 May, the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the occasion of Europe Day. They discussed support for Ukraine, sanctions against Russia, the use of frozen Russian funds, the enlargement of the European Union and the strengthening of the defence industry. Read more

■ Sweden :

Cooperation with Denmark in terms of defence

The Swedish and Danish defence ministers signed a letter of intent in Stockholm on 7 May, committing the two countries to strengthening defence cooperation, including joint procurement of military equipment and cooperation in the Baltic Sea. The letter specifies that this initiative falls within the framework of NATO, the European Union and Nordic defence cooperation (NORDEFCO). Read more

■ Macedonia :

Elections results in North Macedonia

On 8 May, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, candidate of the Domestic Revolutionary Organisation - Democratic Party for National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), won the second round of the presidential election in Northern Macedonia, with 65.14% of the vote. Outgoing President Stevo Pendarovski, a social democrat, won only 29.25% of the vote. In the parliamentary elections, the VMRO-DPMNE won 59 of the 120 seats in Parliament, against 19 for the Social Democrats (SDSM). Read more - Other link

■ Ukraine :

Defence Industries Forum

The European Union-Ukraine Defence Industry Forum was held in Brussels on 6 May. This forum, the first stage in the implementation of the European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS), focused on strengthening defence industrial cooperation between the European Union and Ukraine, with a view to providing the latter with ongoing military support. Read more

Roberta Metsola in Kyiv for Europe Day

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, visited Kyiv on 9 May to mark Europe Day. During her meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, she reaffirmed Europe's support for Ukraine and its membership of the "European family". In particular, she spoke of the Union's support for the Ukrainian peace plan, in the run-up to the Ukrainian Peace Summit to be held in Switzerland from 15 to 16 June. Read more - Other link

■ Council of Europe :

Conference on democracy and human rights

The Council of Europe's 5th European Conference on Democracy and Human Rights was held in Kristiansand, Norway, on 6 May. The conference focused on the human and material consequences of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge, placed the war in Ukraine in the wider context of the retreat of democracy in Europe and the world. For him, Ukrainian victory is imperative for a democratic Europe and an international order based on the rule of law. Read more

Preventing Hate Crimes

On 7 May, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe published a new recommendation for Council of Europe member states to take all necessary measures and allocate sufficient resources to prevent and combat hate crimes, as well as to provide support for victims, in cooperation with civil society and other stakeholders. The Committee also recommends that effective, proportionate and dissuasive provisions to prevent and combat hate crimes be incorporated into criminal law. Read more

■ Studies/Reports :

Democracy Perception Index

The 2024 edition of the Democracy Perceptions Index was published on 8 May. This annual study, conducted in 53 countries by the Latana agency and the Alliance of Democracies, assesses people's perception of democracy worldwide. Faith in democracy remains high, with 85% of respondents believing that it is important to live in a democratic country. At European level, 57% of the 15 European Union countries surveyed consider their country to be democratic. The index also gives details of the issues most important to Europeans: improving the health system emerges as the top priority, followed by reducing poverty and immigration. Read more

Recovery of irregular expenditure

In a report published on 7 May, the European Court of Auditors noted that while the Commission records irregular expenditure accurately and quickly, it often takes too long to recover it. For the period 2014-2022, the total amount of unduly spent funds is €14 billion. The Court also notes that between 14 and 23 months elapse between the completion of funded activities and a possible request for reimbursement. A further 3 to 5 months elapse before funds are recovered, with 1 to 8% of funds being waived. Read more

■ Culture :

20th European Museum Night

The 20th European Museum Night takes place on 18 May. Organised by the Ministry of Culture, more than three thousand museums in France and Europe are opening their doors free of charge in the evening to visitors of all ages, offering a chance to discover their collections and exhibitions in a different way, in a festive atmosphere. Read more

"Masters and Wonders" in Dijon

The Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dijon is presenting an exhibition of Germanic paintings from 15th-century French collections until 23 September. The 75 works on display take visitors on a journey through the former German Empire, depicting Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Alsace. This is an opportunity to discover the particular stylistic features of each region and to understand the place of these works in the late Middle Ages. Read more - Other link

"Surrealism. Other myths" in Warsaw

Until 11 August, the National Museum in Warsaw is staging an exhibition entitled "Surrealism. Other myths". Visitors can discover surrealist trends in 20th-century Polish art, with works on display dating from the inter-war period and the 1950s. The exhibition aims to treat surrealism as a global phenomenon. Read more

"Now you see us-Women artists in Britain" in London

The exhibition "Now you see us - Women artists in Britain 1520-1920" is being held at the Tate Modern in London from 16 May to 13 October. It explores the career of British women from the Tudor era to the First World War. Works by Mary Beale, Angelica Kauffman and Laura Knight reveal how women pushed back the boundaries of art by tackling traditionally male subjects and fighting for equal access to artistic training. Read more

Young European Design in Berlin

The "Next: Young European Design" exhibition is running until 26 May at the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin. The event, part of Berlin Design Week, was conceived in cooperation with EUNIC Berlin, the network of European cultural institutes. It provides a platform for young European design talent from 11 European countries, who, through 30 projects selected this year, approach design as a driving force for innovation. Read more

Futuristic design in Weil am Rhein

The exhibition "Science Fiction Design. From Space Age to Metaverse" will run from 18 May 2024 to 11 May 2025 in Weil am Rhein, Germany. 100 objects from the museum's collection will be displayed in a futuristic style designed by the Argentinian artist Andrés Reisinger, and will be accompanied by works from science fiction film and literature. Visitors will be taken on a journey through different eras, from the early twentieth century, characterised by the Space Age, to more recent representations of the metaverse. Read more

"Women's Perspective" in Madrid

The Prado Museum in Madrid is presenting a second edition of its thematic exhibition, "The Female Perspective", until 8 September. The exhibition focuses on women from European royal dynasties who have contributed to the Spanish royal collection. The exhibition covers the period 1602-1700, from Elisabeth de Bourbon to Marie-Anne de Neubourg. Through this initiative, the museum aims to raise the profile of women in art. Read more

77th Film Festival in Cannes

The 77th Cannes Film Festival runs from 14 to 25 May. It welcomes 35,000 festival-goers from all backgrounds and cultures. 22 films are in competition, and the jury is chaired by Greta Gerwig. Meryl Streep will be the guest of honour at the opening ceremony, where she will receive an honorary Palme d'Or. Read more

■ Sports :

Arrival of the Olympic Flame in Marseille

After 12 days at sea, the Olympic Flame arrived in Marseille aboard the Belem on 8 May. The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and 150,000 spectators were present. The Olympic Flame relay will now continue across France until 26 July, when it will reach Paris for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Read more