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In today's edition: LIFE Programme, energy security, Trans-European Transport Network

An attempt to reintroduce a water charge in Ireland failed 18 months after its implementation in 2015. Election results were decisive in the abolition of previously implemented water charges by voting for anti-water charge parties. We conducted a systematic archive study to analyse how a lack of legitimacy and subsequent public resistance were embedded in a history of organised public demonstrations and boycotts. We show how a historic lack of legitimacy has exacerbated failures in policy programme, process, and activities. We argue that this historic context may also explain why the water charges stood out as the most contested policy in a period when many austerity measures were taken. This case serves as an example of policy failure resulting from a lack of legitimacy and a subsequent policy resistance. It serves as a warning that if public resistance can be expected, a policy without broad political support and a clear contingency strategy to mitigate public resistance is likely to fail. In particular, when there is a historic lack of legitimacy, greater effort is required to avoid policy failure and achieve successful implementation.

An attempt to reintroduce a water charge in Ireland failed 18 months after its implementation in 2015. Election results were decisive in the abolition of previously implemented water charges by voting for anti-water charge parties. We conducted a systematic archive study to analyse how a lack of legitimacy and subsequent public resistance were embedded in a history of organised public demonstrations and boycotts. We show how a historic lack of legitimacy has exacerbated failures in policy programme, process, and activities. We argue that this historic context may also explain why the water charges stood out as the most contested policy in a period when many austerity measures were taken. This case serves as an example of policy failure resulting from a lack of legitimacy and a subsequent policy resistance. It serves as a warning that if public resistance can be expected, a policy without broad political support and a clear contingency strategy to mitigate public resistance is likely to fail. In particular, when there is a historic lack of legitimacy, greater effort is required to avoid policy failure and achieve successful implementation.

An attempt to reintroduce a water charge in Ireland failed 18 months after its implementation in 2015. Election results were decisive in the abolition of previously implemented water charges by voting for anti-water charge parties. We conducted a systematic archive study to analyse how a lack of legitimacy and subsequent public resistance were embedded in a history of organised public demonstrations and boycotts. We show how a historic lack of legitimacy has exacerbated failures in policy programme, process, and activities. We argue that this historic context may also explain why the water charges stood out as the most contested policy in a period when many austerity measures were taken. This case serves as an example of policy failure resulting from a lack of legitimacy and a subsequent policy resistance. It serves as a warning that if public resistance can be expected, a policy without broad political support and a clear contingency strategy to mitigate public resistance is likely to fail. In particular, when there is a historic lack of legitimacy, greater effort is required to avoid policy failure and achieve successful implementation.

EU rallies behind Breton as US sanctions test transatlantic ties

In today's edition: Mercosur, budget, pesticides

Fossilokratie bestimmt Kriege, Preise und Macht: Öl, Gas und Kohle prägen Politik weltweit. Autoritäre Regime werden toleriert, Demokratie wird geopolitischen Interessen untergeordnet. Ein Blick auf die unsichtbare Logik, die unsere Welt steuert – und wie wir sie überwinden können. , Dieser Gastbeitrag von Claudia Kemfert ist am 14. Januar 2026 in Focus online erschienen. , Die Angst geht um in Europa. Angst vor steigenden Preisen, vor einem Verlust des Wohlstands, den wir lange als selbstverständlich erachtet haben, und vor einem Krieg, den gerade wir Deutschen nie wieder erleben wollten., Es lohnt sich, genauer hinzusehen. Denn wer die Zusammenhänge erkennt, gewinnt Handlungsmacht. Die scheinbar fragmentierten Krisen der Gegenwart folgen einer gemeinsamen Logik. Es ist die Logik eines politischen Systems, in dem Macht, Sicherheit und geopolitischer Einfluss wesentlich durch den ...

ÄNDERUNGSANTRÄGE 50 - 188 - Entwurf einer Stellungnahme Bericht der Kommission über die Rechtsstaatlichkeit 2025 – Jahresbericht 2025
Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten
Adrián Vázquez Lázara

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

Robert Fico kormányfő hétfőn (1. 19.) beszélt telefonon Friedrich Merz német kancellárral, akinek elmesélte Mar-a-Lago-i élményeit. Elmondta neki, hogy kedden nyílt levelet küld Ursula von der Leyennek, az Európai Bizottság (EB) elnökének, s az irományára felhívja az összes EU-s tagállam vezetőjének figyelmét.

Greater EU-Mercosur market access will disadvantage US trade with both Europe and Mercosur nations. So we can expect the Trump administration to use diplomatic and other tools to try to stop the agreement

Alors que les États-Unis affirment leur puissance au Venezuela, Trump, Xi et Poutine cherchent-ils à instaurer un nouvel ordre mondial ?

In today's edition: MEPs debate deepfakes, US-EU biometrics deal, UK mulls social media ban

Raphaël Boukandoura, correspondant pour plusieurs médias français en Turquie, a été placé en garde à vue lundi soir après avoir été interpellé alors qu'il couvrait un rassemblement du parti pro-kurde DEM.

- Le fil de l'Info / Courrier des Balkans, Médias, Gratuit, Turquie, Une - Diaporama

Mfor.hu: Vegyesen alakult a forint árfolyama kedd (1. 20.) reggel a nemzetközi devizapiacon. Az eurót 385,47 forinton jegyezték hét órakor, magasabban a hétfő esti 385,32 forintnál. A dollár jegyzése 330,99 forintról 330,53 forintra csökkent, a svájci franké pedig 415,02 forintról 415,03 forintra változott.

Tuesday 20 January

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Tuesday 20 January

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Tuesday 20 January

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Tuesday 20 January

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Az előző héthez képest 11,2%-kal emelkedett az év harmadik hetében az akut légúti megbetegedésben szenvedők száma. Az influenza, és influenzaszerű megbetegedésben szenvedők száma 10,9 százalékkal emelkedett – tájékoztatta a TASR-t a közegészségügyi hivatal (ÚVZ) kommunikációs osztálya.

A global survey across 101 countries finds global majority support for a citizen-elected world parliament to handle global issues, reflecting widespread concern over an outdated and undemocratic international order. Credit: Democracy Without Borders

By Democracy Without Borders
BERLIN, Germany, Jan 20 2026 (IPS)

As democracy faces pressure around the world and confidence in international law drops, a new global survey reveals that citizens in a vast majority of countries support the idea of creating a citizen-elected world parliament to deal with global issues.

The survey, commissioned by Democracy Without Borders and conducted across 101 countries representing 90% of the world’s population, finds that 40% of respondents support the proposal, while only 27% are opposed. It is the largest poll ever carried out thus far on this subject.

Support is strongest in countries of the Global South, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, and among groups often underrepresented in national political systems—young people, ethnic minorities, and those with lower income or education levels. In 85 out of 101 countries surveyed, more respondents support the idea than oppose it.

“The message is clear: people around the world are ready to expand democratic representation to the global scale,” said Andreas Bummel, Executive Director of Democracy Without Borders. “This survey shows there is a growing global constituency that wants a voice in decisions affecting humanity as a whole,” he added.

The findings come at a time when the international system is under increasing strain from climate change, war, geopolitical conflicts, authoritarian resurgence, and stalled global cooperation. The results suggest that many citizens—especially in less powerful countries—see a world parliament as a pathway to fairer and more effective global governance.

In countries with limited political freedoms, support for a world parliament is particularly high. According to Democracy Without Borders, this points to a public perception that global democratic institutions could help advance democracy at home as well.

A notable 33% of respondents globally selected a neutral stance, suggesting unfamiliarity with the concept. An analysis of the survey results argues that this indicates a wide-open space for public engagement. If the idea gains visibility, support could grow substantially, it says.

“The international system created in the last century to prevent war and mass violence is built on the United Nations. But many UN member states do not represent their people. They represent oppressive authoritarian elites who have seized power.

The proposed vision of a citizen-elected world parliament could be a vital step in the discussion about building a more democratic global order,” said Oleksandra Matviichuk, head of the Centre for Civil Liberties in Ukraine awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize.

According to the survey, net opposition found in individual countries is most concentrated in high-income democracies. “This is not a rejection of democracy. It is a reminder that privilege may breed complacency, and that those who benefit from existing arrangements may underestimate how urgently they need renewal,” commented George Papandreou, Greek Member of Parliament and former Prime Minister.

Democracy Without Borders, an international civil society organization, advocates for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly as a step toward a democratic world parliament. The organization says the survey results reinforce the urgency for democratic governments to consider this long-standing proposal.

IPS UN Bureau

 

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