Monday

20th Mar 2023

Podcast

First aid for Polish democracy

  • By fully embracing the legal concept of 'chilling effect', Brussels can help judges, activists and journalists in countries like Poland to resist autocracy (Photo: Helena Malikova)

Parallels with the Soviet era are increasingly evident in Poland where the ruling coalition hounds judges and captures courts.

Adam Bodnar, the country's human rights commissioner, lambasts European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for a "lack of leadership" amid an antidemocratic onslaught that's also damaged media pluralism.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

Laurent Pech, the head of the Law and Politics Department at Middlesex University, London, urges Brussels to do much more to stop modern-day autocrats from creating a climate of self-censorship that entrenches their power.

By fully embracing the legal concept of "chilling effect," Brussels can help judges, activists and journalists in countries like Poland to resist autocracy, says Natacha Kazatchkine of the Open Society European Policy Institute, which partnered with EU Scream in making this episode.

Author bio

EU Scream is the progressive politics podcast from Brussels. Produced by James Kanter with graphics by Helena Malikova and music by Lara Natale.

You may also follow via @euscreams subscribe via iTunes, Spotify or from the EU Scream website.

Why Ursula von der Leyen won't go

Ursula von der Leyen appears secure in her job as president of the European Commission. That's despite a troubled vaccine rollout in which delayed deliveries can cost lives and livelihoods.

Keeping the Red Flag flying

The hard-left is often associated with the colours red for revolution, and black for anarcho-syndicalism. But the movement is more and more green these days too.

Taking Brexit personally

James Crisp has Boris Johnson's old job in Brussels covering EU affairs for The Daily Telegraph. He often writes with that jaundiced eye on the European project you'd expect from a correspondent on a venerable Conservative UK newspaper.

Eurocrats who look like Europe

There is a double standard at the heart of the European Commission. Women — mostly white women — benefit from affirmative action when applying for jobs. But people of colour seeking advancement do not benefit from special consideration.

The climate allies Europe needs

With the COP26 climate conference about to get underway in Glasgow, major breakthroughs look elusive. Among the spectres at the feast are raging geopolitical tensions, high energy prices, the ongoing pandemic and a lack of diplomatic vigour from Europe.

Corruption in the family

In this episode, a Socialist MEP gives a first-hand account of being obstructed and misled by two of the prime suspects in the Qatargate scandal. She also shares her feelings of vindication now that the truth is coming out.

Mars, god of war, returns to Europe

Political scientist David Rowe has been looking into why so much of Europe wasn't ready for Putin — and the consequences for the Western allies of not spilling their own blood in Ukraine.

Ethics after Qatargate

The dumpster fire at the European Parliament may be largely of the EU's own making.

Latest News

  1. 'Final warning' to act on climate change, warns IPCC
  2. 'No one is unemployable': the French social experiment
  3. Why can't we stop marches glorifying Nazism on EU streets?
  4. Op-ed debate: Should NGOs be subject to stricter transparency regulation?
  5. 'Forever chemicals' industry hit by perfect storm
  6. EU summit zooms in on global roles This WEEK
  7. EU launches 'Hydrogen Bank' — but what is it?
  8. MEPs probing spyware 'stonewalled' by EU states

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic and Baltic ways to prevent gender-based violence
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Economic gender equality now! Nordic ways to close the pension gap
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Pushing back the push-back - Nordic solutions to online gender-based violence
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: The Nordics are ready to push for gender equality
  5. Promote UkraineInvitation to the National Demonstration in solidarity with Ukraine on 25.02.2023
  6. Azerbaijan Embassy9th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting and 1st Green Energy Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us