Institute of International and European Affairs’ Post

Project Tempo's research shows that despite Rassemblement National’s steady rise, its supporters are less anti-EU than is often assumed. Under Marine Le Pen’s leadership, RN has notably softened its anti-EU rhetoric, moving away from calls for Frexit and instead focusing on reforming the EU from within. This shift reflects a growing pragmatism among its voters, many of whom are more concerned with the EU's approach to areas like immigration, the environment and economic regulation, than with leaving the union altogether. This moderation aligns with broader French public opinion, indicating a more nuanced relationship between RN supporters and the EU than previously thought, which could, in future, have implications for key policy agendas such as the European Green Deal. Sign up to the Resource Hub and access the full article: Beyond Euroscepticism: Why France’s Far-Right Voters Still See Value in the EU - https://lnkd.in/eyWi6ErK

The recent decision not to appoint a Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs is telling of the direction Europe is moving in. The removal of this crucial position is a political choice, one that shows social justice is no longer a priority for European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. With the ongoing industrial crisis and increasing job insecurity, the absence of a clear voice for workers within the European Commission is alarming. More is being expected of individuals, without the collective protection that is essential in times of economic restructuring. Recent protests have made it clear that unions will not stay silent. It’s time for Europe to take responsibility and place workers’ interests at the center — not just in words, but in action. 💪

Watched the #maastrichtdebate last night. Despite von der Leyen's rebrand, she missed a trick trying to persuade young voters, prime targets of an EU-wider electoral strategy to curb far-right momentum in June, by insisting on the informal "Ursula." It's like when someone's mother insists on being called by her first name - familiar yet grating. Von der Leyen's effort, while polished, arguably stretches her role as the EPP’s figurehead too far (their insta looks more like a cult for Bryan Johnson now). According to POLITICO Europe, Bas Eickhout came out as the clear favorite amongst the crowd after taking von der Leyen to task over allegedly diluting the Green Deal. Context: two months ago, the Commission proposed the 2040 targets (90% reduction in GHG by 2040 relative to 1990), much like the ones the Greens pitched at their conference in February. Given this, his criticism and Politico's reading seems a bit misplaced, considering the Commission proposal purposefully mirrors that of the Greens as a tactic to outmaneuver them, positioning the EPP as being equally committed to aggressive climate action. It's essentially a race to the bottom in seeing who can be the most radical and where both parties know the promises are more about electoral optics than feasibility. The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change delineates a brutal truth for any 2040 target: near-total decarbonisation of the power sector, including an end to coal by 2030 and unabated gas by 2040; a massive ramp-up in renewable energy; significant cuts in fossil fuel imports; accelerated carbon removal; and an aggressive push towards energy efficiency and electrification of transport. These measures are to culminate in electricity making up 42% of final energy consumption. With approval scheduled for after the elections in what's still likely to be a more right-leaning Parliament, new composition of committees will add to difficulties in achieving the ambitious 2040 targets. A fact both Bas and Ursula are well aware of. Expect a return to a relatively more muted, but fair, climate policy after June 9.

Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as President of the European Commission! 👍 Today, the European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen for another five-year term. She will now begin to assemble her new team of Commissioners. #Eurodesk #EUElections2024 #EuropeanParliament #YourVoteYourDecision #EuropeanUnion Image description: Ursula von der Leyen stands in front of a red background with yellow hands holding blue flags. A bold black and white text above her announces her re-election as President of the European Commission. Below, a quote about enabling young people is displayed. Alt-Text: Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected as President of the European Commission. Quote: "We must enable young people to make the most of Europe's freedoms, from a stronger Erasmus+ to more citizen engagement."

Is there a potential shakeup in European leadership on the horizon? Ursula von der Leyen has been President of the European Commission since 2019, seeing it through the COVID-19 pandemic and the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Tonight, EU leaders failed to reach a deal to give her a second 5-year term. This may be a signal of a larger Post-COVID changing of the guard in global leadership to come. If you believe the polling numbers in Canada, the United States, and the UK, this will be the first of a few dominoes to fall. People and businesses alike should be watching the trends and getting informed on what the potential freshmen class of global leaders have to say on the issues. #G7 #globalpolitics

👉 Man after man after man... 🙁 Unfortunately, it looks like the new #EUCommission will be a rather manly affair, as governments flatly ignore Ursula von der Leyen's request that they each nominate a man and a woman so she can build a gender-balanced 26-person team. Therefore, probably two-thirds of the EU’s 27 commissioners will be male if the attitude does not change. This article from POLITICO explains the background: https://lnkd.in/eDDV6njA #EWMD #genderequality #EUCommission

💡 Every Monday, ESSNA's "On Our Radar" posts explain the latest policy and regulatory developments affecting the #sportsnutrition sector. What's the impact of #EuropeanElections on the industry? 👇 ➡ Follow the ESSNA Secretariat and get in touch at info@essna.com to get more updates like the below.

🇪🇺🗳️ Ursula von der Leyen's Latest Strategy Unveiled at Maastricht Debate 🌍💬 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has signaled a potential shift in EU politics by expressing openness to forming alliances with hard-right parties in a bid to secure a second term. Speaking at the Maastricht Debate, organized by POLITICO Europe and Studio Europa Maastricht, she hinted at a possible deal with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group following the upcoming EU-wide election in June.   The ECR group, known for its Euroskeptic stance and right-leaning policies, could significantly influence EU policymaking if a tie-up with von der Leyen's European People's Party materializes. This potential collaboration could impact key areas like migration, climate legislation, women's rights, and defense.   While von der Leyen ruled out collaboration with the extreme right-wing Identity and Democracy group, she left room for engagement with the ECR, stressing that it "depends very much on how the composition of the Parliament is, and who is in what group" 🤝🏛️.   This move underscores the shifting dynamics in European politics and the challenges facing centrist leaders like von der Leyen in navigating alliances to secure key positions in the EU institutions. The outcome of the upcoming election will likely shape the direction of EU policy for years to come.   Read more about this development from POLITICO here: https://lnkd.in/eBPHjMTp 📰🔗   #EuropeanPolitics #EU #MaastrichtDebate #Election2024 #EuropeanUnion #VonderLeyen #ECR #CentristPolitics #EUAlliances

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The European Parliament today elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission for another term. In #Hungary, after years of negative campaign against her, von der Leyen has 82% name recognition, but only 25% have a positive opinion of her, while 49% have a negative opinion. The image of von der Leyen has decisively deteriorated in Hungary since 2023: her negative ratings have increased by 12 points, while the positive assessments have dropped by 4 points. More details in the new foreign policy survey of Policy Solutions: https://lnkd.in/dJMh8jeE