
All eyes on CEE: The Three 2023 elections that may decide on the EU’s populist and illiberal trajectory in the coming years
After elections in Sweden and Italy last year that brought significant gains to a right-wing populist party in the former and led to a far-right populist government in the latter, the EU faces crucial elections in the Czech Republic, Poland and potentially Slovakia in 2023. Their outcomes may have important implications for the EU as they could further strengthen Europe’s populist, illiberal coalitions across Europe.

CJEU paves the way for application of the Rule of Law Conditionality Mechanism
On Wednesday, February 16, 2022, the ECJ finally rejected Hungary’s and Poland’s legal challenge, thereby paving the way for the European Commission to withhold EU funds on the grounds of erosion of the rule of law in member states. The Court’s decision allows the EU to take action against member states violating the rule of law, one of the bloc’s core principles.

Politics of Confusion – The sixth fragment: Apathy
On November 23, 2021, the European Parliament denied Mateusz Morawiecki the opportunity to speak during a debate regarding the current situation on the Belarusian border. Even though for an average polish citizen it is disheartening to see that Poland is no longer considered a reliable and significant debating partner, it is an understandable decision, which can be justified by tracing the chronology of events from this year that have contributed to the deteriorating relations with Belarus and the EU and which Poland could have, on multiple occasions, taken control of.