Archive
European Politics
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‘Hemicycle Views’: Interviewing MEP Peter Kouroumbashev (S&D)
February 7, 2019
Our second 'Hemicycle views' interview was with Bulgarian MEP Peter Kouroumbashev, from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&D). He joined the European Parliament two years ago and sits as a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Hence, this is the first time he will see the European elections as an MEP himself. His career in politics is broad, having been twice elected as an MP for the...
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What might the next EU Health agenda look like?
January 30, 2019
The European Commission plays a key role in complementing Member State national health policies and ensuring health protection across all EU policies. Our healthcare policy expert Emma Cracknell shares her thoughts on the topics that the next Commission might look to cover. The health of Europe’s citizens is evolving alongside two trends: an ageing population and an increase in largely preventable diseases. By 2025, 20% of EU citizens will be over the age of 65...
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FleishmanHillard Brussels launches the “Hemicycle Views”
January 18, 2019
With the European Elections approaching, as part of FleishmanHillard's Year of Change initiative, we are launching a series of interviews with some Members of the European Parliament to get first-hand analyses of some of the Institution’s key achievements from the past five years and a view on the future of the European Union. Introducing the 'Hemicycle Views' Barbara Mariani, Vice-President in the Energy & Transport Team and Malik Duhaut, Account Manager in the Environment & Food...
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How to Measure the Impact of Social Media for Public Affairs
November 28, 2018
Our Challenge: Social Media is for Marketers Social media has become a veritable public affairs tool in its own right. Public affairs activities are incredibly difficult to measure, but with social media we’ve been given a gift. We have data, so much data, for free and at our fingertips. But there’s a problem. None of these social media platforms were built with us in mind. Social media is for marketers. And marketers need numbers. Marketers operate...
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Move over America, Europe is dealing with its own brand of political and cultural disruption
November 27, 2018
I often find myself explaining the current political climate in Europe to friends, family, and clients with this: “If you think the United States is crazy right now. Europe is at least as crazy as the U.S.” My observation tower for Europe’s current environment is Brussels, where I head the digital public affairs offering for FleishmanHillard across the EMEA region. Yes, Europe’s current politics can rightfully be described as “crazy” but in that environment, we’re seeing something both...
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Next European Commission – What are the tech issues that policymakers will target? #FHYearofChange
November 23, 2018
A long read version of this article first appeared on 22 October Tech policy can garner significant attention in Brussels, especially in light of Commissioner Vestager’s enforcement decisions against Apple, Google, and Amazon, as well as the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal. While Commission President Jean Claude Juncker prophesied in 2014 that the Digital Single Market (DSM) would generate up to €250 billion of additional growth in Europe, the tech sector now gets more closely associated...
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EU chemicals policy under the next Commission
November 16, 2018
The next European Commission will undoubtedly face a busy chemicals agenda. So busy it will only have to pick and choose its issues. But that’s it, it will have to choose, or risk others choosing for it. Looking at the Juncker Commission’s legacy on chemicals policy, one may remember the controversial discussions around glyphosate, the long-awaited criteria to identify endocrine disruptors, or the many fitness check (REFIT) exercises carried out by the administration. But these...
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EPP to elect its lead candidate
November 7, 2018
On Thursday, the European People’s party will elect its Spitzenkandidat (lead candidate) for the European elections. First established in 2014 as part of the procedural changes to electing the new Commission President, it is seen as the official response to an attempt to bring the EU closer to its citizens. However, it is also widely viewed as an attempt by the European Parliament to have a greater say in who becomes the next Commission president...
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Next European Commission – What are the key milestones in the year ahead? #FHYearofChange
November 2, 2018
On 1st November 2019, the next European Commission will take office. In this video, Clément Luzeau maps out key milestones before the next President of the Commission settles in the Berlaymont building. Until March 2019, during the run-up period, European political parties will select their Spitzenkandidaten/’lead candidates’ and decide on their manifestos. These manifestos will be debated at European level during the official campaign period, from March until the European elections on 23-26 May. The selection...
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Energy policy: What are the priorities for the next Commission starting in 2019? #FHYearofChange
October 30, 2018
2019 represents the Year of Change in many sectors, including energy policy. Specialised in environmental and energy policy, Kaja Hengstenberg talks about the many priorities for the next Commission. She outlines the different discussions that will emerge regarding the Clean Energy Package, energy taxation, gas legislation and the Governance of the Energy Union. Unfortunately, we can't predict how these discussions will unfold. Yet, we can confirm that the EU will seek to maintain a global role...