History, Society & Culture

Book Review: My Name is Europe by Gazmend Kapllani

The Albanian author Gazmend Kapllani was born in Lushnje, Albania and migrated in 1991 to Greece and later on to the United States of America. Today he is one of the most popular columnists in Greece. In his first novel “A short border handbook” Kapllani focused on migration and borders, (…)

Sunday 12 February 2017

Roadmap to a Europe with a common language

European democracy or the European labour market cannot function efficiently without a common language. Juuso Järviniemi argues that English is the most logical choice for our shared language, and lays out his vision for a Europe where everyone can communicate with each other spontaneously.

Thursday 9 February 2017

’If the leaders have the courage, they will find people supporting them!’

Professor Roberto Castaldi is a political scientist and committed European Federalist. Treffpunkteuropa met him to talk with him about his unique projects to promote Europe emotionally and to ask for his opinion on issues regarding Italian and European politics.

Wednesday 28 December 2016

Poland: For Catholics only ?

The suggestion by one PiS MP of deporting non-Catholics out of the country shocked many, Poles were quick to react.

Wednesday 30 November 2016

Transnationalism and non-EU communities in Europe

In one way or another, non-EU communities face very serious problems with adopting the identity of their host countries because of transnationalism and multinationalism.

Wednesday 17 August 2016

Towards Pereustroika? Why “failed multiculturalism” sparks the need for change

Nearly 30 years ago, Russia and other former USSR states entered an active phase of perestroika (restructuring), when Soviet society started to experience radical changes after deep socio-cultural, political, demographic and economic stagnation that lasted for over two decades.

Wednesday 17 August 2016

Austerity and isolation in immigrant communities

It is important to mention that EU policies have encouraged austerity measures that affected the welfare policies of nation states including Belgium and France, and that this appears to be harmful for people belonging to non-EU communities who depend on state support. Such a situation was provoked by the global recession and the eurozone crisis that began in Ireland and other Southern European nation states including Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Most EU member states were left with no other choice but to reduce spending on social programs in order to balance federal budgets and avoid any serious form of bankruptcies in the future.

Wednesday 10 August 2016

Attack on European Civilisation

Islamist terrorists attack Brussels and kill many people, in a manner similar to the Paris attacks – similar scenarios in different European cities. Do extreme right-wing nationalists like Le Pen and Wilders have a point? Are Muslim minorities posing a threat to Europe? Or is it ourselves that dismantle our own civilisation?

Thursday 31 March 2016

Memory cannot live while amnesia survives

The PiS government’s dealings with memory are an attempt at fostering a selective memory of the 20th century, which can do no good to Polish society and Polish reputation worldwide.

Wednesday 30 March 2016

The United Nations, Sport and the Environment

The world of sport was thought to be “hostile to environmental issues” for a long time, but it is now becoming an important actor in the field of sustainable development.

Tuesday 22 March 2016

The new pillar of social rights – more ’business as usual’ than serious reform

In the new pillar of social rights the European Commission missed the chance to introduce clear cut indicators to monitor member states´ social performance. As a result, the social dimension of the economic and monetary union (EMU) will remain in the shadow of macroeconomics.

Sunday 20 March 2016

The Referendum in the Netherlands: Meaning for the EU & Ukraine’s Future

The European Union and Ukraine signed an Association Agreement in 2014. Five years of difficult negotiations and preparation of the text of the Agreement was preceded by that outstanding event. Ukrainians defended (sometimes with their lives) their right to the European way of life during the revolutionary days of Euromaidan.

Monday 29 February 2016

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