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Viktória Jančošeková

The Sputnik Shock: Slovakia’s vaccination crisis and its political fallout

“Vaccines, oil, or investments are commodities that are used as tools of influence and power. Those who say that they do not pose any risk deny the obvious reality.” This is how Czech General Petr Pavel commented on the use of the Russian Sputnik vaccine in the EU without its registration. He said this as […]

15 April 2021

Eoin Drea

It’s Recovery or Bust for Europe’s Centre Right

For those who view the pandemic as an event that will change societies and economies permanently, the post-COVID horizon seems limitless. From working patterns to the digital transformation, from increased public spending to greater European integration, Coronavirus is being used as a cypher for sweeping visions of the future.  And while fundamental issues (such as […]

14 April 2021

Hillie van de Streek

Equal political participation of women and men: Subsidiarity is not the solution

As of February 2020, the percentage of female Members of the European Parliament (EP) is 39,5%. This is the highest percentage the EP has reached since its establishment in 1979. For the 2019 European Elections, eleven Member States had legally binding gender quotas regarding the make-up of electoral lists, including sanctions in case of non-compliance. […]

07 April 2021

Anna Nalyvayko

Vaccinating Eastern Europe

In early 2020, the EU was criticised for lagging behind in providing COVID-related support, while China and Russia were delivering medical aid equipment and masks to EU Member States. We still remember the “From Russia with Love” COVID aid operation to Italy in March 2020, or the plane full of medical supplies from China. A […]

30 March 2021

Dimitar Lilkov

App Wars: The EU Must Prepare for the Digital Skirmish

In mid-2020, a lethal clash occurred between Indian and Chinese troops in the border region of Ladakh. Soon after, India opened fire on the digital front by banning dozens of Chinese mobile applications and declaring them harmful to Indian sovereignty and security. In a similar fashion, the US digital hawk brought its gaze on a […]

25 March 2021

Barbara von Ow-Freytag

The Other Russia – Europe’s Best Bet

The EU needs to rethink its Russia policy. Instead of chasing after Vladimir Putin’s confrontational regime, European leaders, who are meeting on 25 March, should throw their support behind those who work for social change and promote democracy in Russia.     Europeans must rid themselves of any expectations or hope for constructive engagement with Putin. The Russian […]

22 March 2021

Mikuláš Dzurinda

After 1 Year, a New Chapter for the Martens Centre

2020’s label will unfortunately be, above all, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has marked the fates of many people, the way of life we used to enjoy, the way in which we communicated and worked, and in fact the entire world. On one hand, it has caused unprecedent fear for human lives, but […]

19 March 2021

Marie-Anne Brouillon

Roland Freudenstein

The Case for a Blue Dragon: Facing China as a Confident Democracy

“The day we stop believing democracy can work is the day we lose it” said Queen Jamilia as the Galactic Republic faced enemies both internal and external during the Clone Wars. Today, democracies face populist and authoritarian challenges both domestically and globally. Among the latter, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is increasingly positioning itself as […]

17 March 2021

Tomi Huhtanen

China’s global ambitions will be hampered by its demographics

While the vast majority of developed countries are struggling to manage the COVID-19 epidemic, China has been able to control the situation domestically through strict measures. Today, China’s economy has returned to the path of growth in comparison to other global economic powers. The moment when China will truly become the leading global economic power […]

10 March 2021

Angelos Chryssogelos

The Vaccine Debacle Reveals That the EU is not Immune From Brexit

The EU finds itself in the midst of a vaccine crisis, with the slow rollout of its vaccination program compounded by a feud with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and a diplomatic faux pas over the application of its vaccine export controls to Northern Ireland. It is clear that the EU’s vaccine debacle creates major questions for […]

03 February 2021

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About Martens Centre

Hi, we are the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, the official think tank of the European People’s Party.
Through our work, we inspire ideas for action and shape responses to European challenges.

During testing times for Europe, we believe these challenges deserve the best of our intellectual efforts
and that is why we aim to be a leading and innovative catalyst of centre-right ideas and thinking.

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