Opinion: I Marched for Change in 2023. Now, I’m Watching My Country Slip Away
2023 is a year Poland will never forget - for the first time in eight years, the nation stood united. The parliamentary elections brought a fresh wave of hope. But it was the looked down upon, ‘ungrateful’ Gen Z that stole the show, voting the conservative and eurosceptic coalition out with a skyrocketing turnout of 75%. The democratic opposition won, only for Poland to return to the right-wing track two years later, choosing Karol Nawrocki as the next president. Why and how did the Polish Gen Z revolution fall? I sat down with my Polish colleagues to reflect on our country’s situation and ask them: what happened to the ‘hope’ of 2023, and where did the momentum go?
The European Council has approved the conclusions on defense, competitiveness, and migration: what’s new?
The European Council adopted conclusions on competitiveness, migration, and defense. The Twenty-seven called on the EU to "accelerate work on all fronts to decisively increase Europe's defense readiness within the next five years."
How much money will Italy collect from the EU with the new European budget?
Over the next seven years, Italy will receive €86.6 billion from the EU, according to the European Commission's multiannual budget proposal for 2028-2034. Our country is the fourth largest beneficiary of EU resources after Poland, France, and Spain.
From climate change to the tragedy at Praid
For some, climate change doesn't mean much—just some glaciers melting in a hurry or temperatures that can terrify people—but this can lead to natural disasters that become true tragedies, as we witnessed at the Praid Salt Mine. More than eight months have passed since Romania witnessed a disaster in the heart of Harghita, in Praid, where since May of last year, states of alert seem to continue without stopping. The Praid Salt Mine was flooded after the flow of the Corund stream rose abruptly, and the press reported even then that all the water overflowed into one of the most important tourist attractions in the country. Shortly after this incident, both tourism and production activities at the salt mine were halted. Consequently, Romania lost control, and authorities and organizations began to worry. We spoke with several representatives of civic organizations to find out how they managed the period when the Praid Salt Mine was flooded, what solutions they propose to fix the problem, and how to prevent possible incidents through awareness of climate change issues. "Only 4% of Romanians consider climate change a national priority. Awareness of the impact on agriculture, water, economy, and health does not yet translate into a strong demand for climate action," said Dragoș Tuță, President and Founder of the Sustainability Embassy in Romania. "In a democratic society, messages should be transmitted by citizens to political leaders through collaboration with civil society." Public policies are necessary to reduce climate risks, but involvement from everyone is also needed to protect vulnerable communities and contribute to the fight against climate change through initiatives accessible to the general public. climate change through initiatives accessible to the general public.
What changes to carry-on luggage on airplanes with the EU proposal? Airlines: "Tickets will be more expensive."
The European Parliament is working on a proposal to require airlines to include carry-on baggage in the price of the basic ticket, without extra charges. Meanwhile, low-cost airlines continue to oppose it, threatening price hikes for all customers if the law passes.
The CASE against censorship: Daisy Ruddock on SLAPPs and free expression
SLAPPs are spreading across Europe—and they’re designed to drain, intimidate, and silence the people who speak truth to power. In this episode, we sit down with Daisy Ruddock (CASE / Index on Censorship) to unpack how legal harassment works, how CASE coordinates cross-border resistance, and what’s at stake as Europe debates stronger anti-SLAPP rules.
What Europe will do with its money in 2026: next year’s budget to be approved by the European Parliament
The European Parliament's plenary session is debating the new draft of the European Union's 2026 budget, approved by the committee earlier this month. Negotiations with the Council will follow. The focus is on innovation, agriculture, defense, and cooperation. The Erasmus+ and EU4Health programs are at risk due to the €4.3 billion in borrowing costs for NextGenerationEU.
International Women’s Day: Conversations on Opportunity and Support with Roberta Metsola
Marking International Women's Day alongside the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, brought together young women for an evening of discussion and connection. Through an open panel and networking session, participants reflected on opportunity, competition, and the importance of women supporting one another.
