Row over the EU Council Presidency
Romania has been subject to criticism on a daily basis since taking over the EU Council Presidency at the beginning of the year. Great attention is being given to the description of the Romanian government as “criminals” and an “accident of democracy” by the country’s liberal President, Klaus Iohannis. It is also the EU Commission’s view, however, that attempts by the government in Bucharest to control its own judiciary are threatening the rule of law and undermining the fight against corruption. Against this backdrop, the question being discussed is anyway what difference can a country make during a six-month EU Presidency? It might not be able to make much of a difference, but it can create some trouble. And that is probably what is causing the apprehension. Even the relatively noiseless Austrian EU Presidency came in for criticism at the end of last year due to Austria’s withdrawal from the UN migration pact. The accusation directed at Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is that Austria’s stance has prompted other countries to leave too. Whether and how Romania will now succeed in its role as “independent arbitrator”, remains to be seen.
But there is also some good news to report: Since its foundation almost 15 years ago, cep’s activities have been focussed on Germany and the decision-makers in Brussels, but we are now embarking on the next step and this year will see the opening of an office in Paris with branches in other EU countries to follow. |
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| Protection for Whistleblowers |
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Whistleblowers are to be given better protection in the EU which will improve the enforcement of EU law. For this purpose, the EU Commission wants a Directive to create mechanisms with minimum standards to protect whistleblowers against retaliation for reporting breaches of specific EU law.
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| Early Childhood Education and Care |
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The provision of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in the EU is to be expanded and its quality improved. The corresponding proposal by the EU Commission for a Council Recommendation relates to children up to compulsory school age, their parents and the staff in ECEC facilities.
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| Reform of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) |
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On 4 December 2018, the Eurogroup agreed on a reform of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). In the run-up to forthcoming changes to the ESM Treaty, cep analyses the Eurogroup’s political agreements.
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“I think the government in Bucharest hasn’t yet fully understood what it means to take the chair over the EU countries.”
Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission |
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“The next recession will come, and I don’t mean in the distant future. It will hit the unprepared giants, France and Italy, particularly hard.”
Prof. Lüder Gerken, cep President |
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“Solving Italy’s problems will take more than a rescue package.”
Dr. Bert Van Roosebeke, cep Division Head |
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Dr. Julien Thorel, Director of the Paris office
studied European politics, contemporary history and German at the Universities of Littoral-Côte d‘Opale, Tübingen and Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris III, where he obtained his doctorate in 2004. In 2001, he founded the newspaper Dialogues européens of which he was Editor in Chief until 2006. Between 2007 and 2013, Thorel was Maître de conférences at the Universities of Jean Monnet and Paris-Seine. From 2013 to 2017, he headed the Institut Français in Munich. His most recent position was Deputy Head of the Institut franco-allemand d‘études européennes.
With outstanding connections in France, Julien Thorel is the author of numerous publications on French and German European policy and on current Franco-German relations. |
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French and Danes strike the most
Working days lost due to strikes per 1000 employees* |
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