European Union

This Tuesday, during the General Affairs Council, ministers of foreign affairs will get a presentation by the Commission about a new Communication on the rule of law. Rather than just listen, ministers should show they are committed to backing up talk with immediate action, write Gráinne de Búrca and John Morijn.

Kazakhstan is investing in human capital and plans to become one of the world’s 30 most advanced nations by 2050. At a recent conference in the capital Nur-Sultan, leaders and economists offered advice, valid also for other countries as well: to focus on education.

A Sweden Democrat party MEP, and number four on the party's EU election list, Kristina Winberg, was on Sunday evicted from the party and removed from its voting list after revealing recorded proof of the party's top candidate, MEP Peter Lundgren, grabbing a woman's breasts during a party gathering last year. On Monday Lundberg admitted the incident but said no harm was intended and they had both been drunk.

Boeing was hit with two wrongful death lawsuits on Thursday (16 May), which claim that the US aerospace giant did not do enough to prevent the fatal crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight in March. Boeing is currently trying to get its grounded aircraft back into service.

Four-in-five students who benefitted from the EU's Erasmus+ exchange scheme find employment within three months of graduation, according to two new studies. The surveys, which polled nearly 77,000 students and staff and over 500 organisations, found 73 percent said their experience abroad helped them get their first job. Additionally, more than 80 percent of academics on the programme said it led them to develop a more innovative curriculum.

There is growing speculation in Germany that Chancellor Angela Merkel will not complete her mandate, which runs until 2021, if the current left-right “grand coalition” does not fare well in the EU election this Sunday. 

After the resignation of Vice Chancellor and FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache and the announcement that a snap election will be held, Austria remains in a deep government crisis. A video in which Strache holds out the prospect of government contracts to a woman claiming to be the niece of a Russian oligarch was made public on Friday. Strache now faces legal action. What repercussions will the scandal have for Chancellor Kurz and his ÖVP?

Almost a dozen representatives of right-wing populist parties from across Europe met in Milan on the weekend. Thousands came to hear the address by Lega leader Salvini and several counter-demonstrations took place. Salvini wants to create a European Alliance of Peoples and Nations that brings together nationalist parties in the EU Parliament. Can such an alliance work?

An interview with Angela Merkel has fuelled speculation that she may have plans to go to Brussels - even before her time as chancellor ends. She told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that she feels duty-bound towards Europe. At the same time she reaffirmed her decision to withdraw from politics in 2021. Nevertheless, Europe's media eagerly discuss the topic.