Last May the 20th a provisional political agreement between European Parliament and the Council on the Regulation governing the EU Digital Covid Certificate was reached. This certificate, previously known as Digital Green Certificate, will be a fundamental tool for travelling across Europe. It’s expected to be operative from the end of June and will allow … Continue reading EU Digital COVID Certification
Governments and “Diplomacy of Vaccines” in Times of Pandemic
A late 19th century French dramatist, Pierre-Adrien de Courcelle, once said that “Diplomacy is the longest route between two points”. This line contains the ambiguous nature of diplomacy, the dichotomy between what could be possible, and what is actually possible, given the ties imposed by the geopolitical context. The awareness that this nature often leads … Continue reading Governments and “Diplomacy of Vaccines” in Times of Pandemic
Free Press Under Attack in Janša’s Slovenia: is This Hindering the Country’s Upcoming Presidency in the Council of the EU?
Right before Slovenia inaugurated its first Council of the European Union presidency back in 2008, 571 journalists addressed a letter to the EU institutions and citizens to denounce right-winged populist Janez Janša’s government’s policies of restriction of freedom of press and state control over the main national newspapers (1). Despite the petition, initiated by Večer … Continue reading Free Press Under Attack in Janša’s Slovenia: is This Hindering the Country’s Upcoming Presidency in the Council of the EU?
National Urban Policy
— Article by Julia Kozlova Multiple studies have already predicted the 21st Century to be an urban century. As a part of social evolution, modern society tries to fit to such a new vision of living as globalisation. The whole matter of life is changing under the weight of globalisation impact. However, globalisation is also … Continue reading National Urban Policy
The Italian Welfare State is in Danger of Disappearing: Chronicles of a Disaster
A few days ago, May 15th, 2021, the Italian journal Il Foglio published an article by Andrea Ichino and Daniele Terlizzese named “Recovery and university. A proposal for scholarships” (here: https://www.ilfoglio.it/scuola/2021/05/15/news/recovery-e-universita-una-proposta-sulle-borse-di-studio-2363952/). Firstly, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan - approved by the current Italian Government and Parliament, presented to the European Commission - aims at … Continue reading The Italian Welfare State is in Danger of Disappearing: Chronicles of a Disaster
China’s Belt and Road Initiative – An Alternative to Western Globalization
The Belt and Road Initiative, often called the New Silk Road, conjures up distant and exotic images that are still reminiscent of the fairytale descriptions in Marco Polo's Milione. The allusion, which is not insignificant, refers to historical periods in which international trade was monopolised by the caravan routes that developed between the Far East … Continue reading China’s Belt and Road Initiative – An Alternative to Western Globalization
A Small Man’s Shadow
Varys smiled. "Here, then. Power resides where men believe it resides. No more and no less." "So power is a mummer's trick?" "A shadow on the wall," Varys murmured, "yet shadows can kill. And ofttimes a very small man can cast a very large shadow." --- An excerpt from A Song of Ice and Fire … Continue reading A Small Man’s Shadow
Palestinians and Israelis at Daggers Drawn: the Security Implications of Armed Conflict
As of May 19, 2021, “at least 227 Palestinians, including 64 children [and 38 women], have been killed and more than 1,500 others wounded, in what observers say has been Israel’s harshest targeting of civilian areas in the enclave to date. At least 72,000 people have been displaced, the United Nations said, with the majority … Continue reading Palestinians and Israelis at Daggers Drawn: the Security Implications of Armed Conflict
Plot Politics 