Expert interviews
on European
current affairs
In the series we speak with experts from different disciplines about current affairs in Europe.
By approaching current events from various disciplines, we provide insight into complex problems in Europe, across the boundaries of specific fields. We highlight European politics and policy, the socio-economic situation, ethical-medical issues, technology, education and much more. And so we make the various causes and consequences of a problem understandable.
Interviews
“Europe needs to work towards a Europeanised NATO:” How will the US midterms affect EU security?
Will the US leave NATO? What will happen with American support for Ukraine? Does Europe have enough capacity to protect…
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“Berlin will be more strict than before”: Why Germany’s new political reality is a European problem
The latest state elections in Germany are raising questions well beyond the country’s borders. The AfD’s strong result in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern…
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“Germany first”: What AfD’s landslide in Saxony-Anhalt means for Europe?
Germany and Europe as a whole have woken up to a new political reality. For the first time since the…
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EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: a game changer or bound to fail?
On 12 June 2026, the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum (the Pact) entered into application. Many politicians hope it…
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The State of the Union Law: “For the EU to defend its fundamental values, Member States must support them”
As the European Union faces growing geopolitical tensions and concerns about democratic backsliding in several member states, questions about the…
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10 years after Brexit: Why the UK’s relationship with Europe still defines its politics
On June 23, 2016, British voters chose to leave the European Union. Yet even ten years after the historic referendum,…
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Beyond the platform debate: Wartime Russia’s volunteer networks and the EU’s digital democracy dilemma
As the war in Ukraine continues to reshape Europe’s political and digital landscape, questions about online participation, platform regulation, and…
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Energy crisis in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine: is cross-border cooperation on electricity a solution?
Since the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the supply of…
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‘Bulgaria does not need to become the ‘new Hungary’ – this is very much the case already’
The results of the Bulgarian elections from the 19th of April 2026 were surprising in at least two respects. Firstly,…
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Orbán loses his grip on Europe: ‘The spirit of democracy has been reawakened in Hungary’
Péter Magyar of the Tisza Party has won the Hungarian parliamentary elections and has even secured a super-majority. This will…
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“A stable neighbourhood is a first-order security interest for us.”
Currently, nine countries are candidates to become members of the European Union (EU). Recent Russian destabilisation and disinformation campaigns in…
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“If Orbán stays in power, Hungary will become even more marginalised”: Why Hungarian elections matter for the EU
As tensions between Brussels and Budapest deepen, Hungary is becoming increasingly isolated within the European Union. While EU leaders struggle…
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“The EU cannot stay out”: Pressure mounts on Brussels over Iran conflict
The war between the US and Israel and Iran, which broke out over the weekend, unexpectedly for most European leaders,…
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“It’s about who they are, not what they stand for”: the long road to gender equality in EU politics
While women represent about 51% of the EU population, they hold only 38.5% of seats in the European Parliament following…
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Local Europe: The impact of EU agricultural policy on Dutch farmers
The numerous protests in recent years have made it clear that there is great dissatisfaction among farmers. They have to…
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“The Peace Board tells us more about power than peace”: From the UN to ‘Trump Inc.’
Trump’s Board of Peace, unveiled last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos with Donald Trump as lifetime chairman,…
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Iran’s protests, EU sanctions, and Trump’s challenge to international law
With reports on the death toll in Iran since the outbreak of mass protests more than two weeks ago ranging…
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Trump versus the EU: How should European leaders respond?
As the EU braces for the arrival of the U.S. delegation at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Greenland is…
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“Most content is removed by platforms, not EU courts”: How Europe is making Big Tech accountable
Earlier this week, Pakhuis de Zwijger and Studio Europa Maastricht hosted a new edition of Lokaal Europa, a programme that…
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From Venezuela to Greenland: How Trump’s actions are shaking European security
European leadership has had a turbulent start to the year. Following the seizure and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro…
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‘Europe is a democracy, so we need to complete the green transition democratically’
On Saturday 22 November 2025, the COP30 climate conference in Belém (Brazil) concluded with an agreement between 194 countries. Many…
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From disinformation to drones: How Europe can prepare for the next crisis
Drones, cyberattacks, online disinformation – the war in Europe is back not only in the form of missiles raining down…
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Q&A – Blijf sleuren: zo veroverde Europa een plek in het Leids gemeentebeleid
***This Q&A is in Dutch*** Leiden is, zeker gezien zijn formaat, een stad met een bijzonder internationaal statuur. Het kan…
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Q&A – Van losse initiatieven naar beleid: zo bouwde Leeuwarden aan een sterke Europese strategie
***This Q&A is in Dutch*** Leeuwarden is een stad met een rijke historie en bloeiende gemeenschap, die in 2018 bekroond…
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Q&A – Van losse kansen naar een breed mandaat: zo benut Hasselt Europa in het nieuwe bestuur
***This Q&A is in Dutch*** In België vonden in 2024 de gemeenteraadsverkiezingen plaats. Nu we in Nederland ook weer bijna…
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Five years after Belarus’s uprising: Is Europe doing enough to support democratic forces?
Five years after Belarus’s mass protests against the fraudulent re-election of Alyaksandr Lukashenka as president in 2020, the country remains…
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When compromise fails: What France’s chaos and the Dutch vote mean for Europe
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s resignation this week — barely hours after announcing his new cabinet — has plunged France…
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Safeguarding the ballot: Can Brussels counter Russia’s grip on European elections?
Foreign interference has become a recurring subplot in European politics. From Romania’s cancelled presidential election to Germany’s far-right surge, Russia…
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“She’s painting a picture of European unity”: What von der Leyen’s State of the Union tells the world
Ursula von der Leyen’s latest State of the Union addressed a broad scope of topics – from the ‘usual suspects’…
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“We have to start thinking as Europeans”: What do Russia-Ukraine peace talks mean for the EU?
While experts speculate about what security guarantees could be offered to Ukraine ahead of the anticipated one-on-one peace talks between…
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European leaders at the White House: A turning point – or a fleeting show of resolve?
As the world held its breath during last night’s meeting at the White House between American President Donald Trump and…
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Europe and the 5% NATO target: Economic push or political hurdle?
As the Netherlands recovers from hosting its first NATO summit, where alliance leaders committed to investing 5% of their countries’…
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“Europe can’t rely on the US as much as it currently is doing”: What will the future of EU and NATO look like?
The Netherlands is preparing to host its first NATO summit in The Hague late June. A team of experts from…
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Beyond fake news: The EU’s struggle to tackle online disinformation
With disinformation campaigns becoming a hot topic at every recent European election – from Romania to Germany – digital regulation…
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“The ease with which politicians attack journalists is very worrying”: Can the EU protect press freedom?
May 9 marks Europe Day, which celebrates peace and unity in Europe. This year, it also commemorates 75 years since…
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The future of extended reality (XR) in Europe: Balancing innovation and regulation
As the world of extended reality (XR), so creating new virtual worlds and augmenting the physical world with digital objects,…
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EU policies and social media: Impact of body image in the digital age
As Europe grapples with a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the conversation around body image has never been more crucial. In…
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The Digital Services Act against conspiracy theories: How EU policies tackle online misinformation
As misinformation and conspiracy theories continue to shape public discourse, efforts to combat their spread have become more critical than…
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“Vance and Musk appropriate the discourse of free speech to kill it”: Can DSA protect democracy from populism?
The influence digital platforms have on democratic processes is becoming more evident, both for regular citizens and policymakers. With the…
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European elections and the normalisation of the extreme right: What the Madrid summit means for the EU?
Leaders of the European Parliament’s far-right bloc, Patriots for Europe, held their first official summit in Madrid over the weekend…
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“European security doesn’t come for free”: societal resilience, a new defence commissioner, and budget challenges
As the three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, European leaders continue to grapple with aligning their security…
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Between NATO, Trump, and the far right: How will German elections impact EU security policies?
The outcome of the German elections on February 23 will have significant implications for European affairs, including security policies. Amid…
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“Closing borders would diminish the sense of unity that defines Europe”: Schengen Museum director on freedom of movement
On January 1, 2025, Bulgaria and Romania became full members of the Schengen Area, allowing their citizens to travel to…
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Tata Steel and the Clean Industrial Deal: How will the EU Commission approach green transition?
Climate activists and politicians are abuzz with discussions about the Clean Industrial Deal, a new EU policy designed to accelerate…
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Meta’s moderation changes and Musk’s influence on German elections: Can the Digital Services Act protect European users?
Following Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s controversial announcement about scrapping third-party fact-checkers and replacing them with X-like community notes, experts are…
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“The biggest challenge for Europe is staying united”: honorary consuls on promoting EU values through education
On December 10, the Maastricht Consulates Prize on EU Law 2024 was awarded at Maastricht University. The prize of €…
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“We want to protect our citizens from bad practices”: How EU is regulating AI
The European Union made history as the first jurisdiction in the world to pass the AI Act, a comprehensive legal…
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From floods to war: Can Europe handle its next crisis?
Last week, former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö presented a report on strengthening Europe’s civil and military resilience and preparedness. At…
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“Threats have become more sophisticated and transnational”: Europol’s Director on new challenges to EU security
This year, the EU’s law enforcement agency, Europol, celebrates its 25th anniversary. Although it was formally established in 1999, its…
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“Information is used as a weapon”: Eva Hartog on reporting from Russia, freedom of speech in Europe, and societal polarisation
On 17 October, the second edition of Cartoons’ Day will take place in The Hague, featuring the award ceremony of…
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Unresolved division: Lasting impact of German reunification on national and European identity
On October 3, Germany commemorates its Unity Day, a national holiday dedicated to the reunification of the country. This year…
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Race to the bottom: how the EU Migration Pact challenges European solidarity
Tineke Strik, Member of the European Parliament for GroenLinks, Professor of Citizenship and Migration Law at Radboud University, and chair…
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Continued support in security and continued scepticism of globalisation: What Kamala Harris’ nomination might mean for the EU
Over the last few weeks, the world has been holding its breath watching the unfolding drama of the US presidential…
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Make Europe Great Again: how the Hungarian EU presidency upsets Brussels
Since Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the EU Council on July 1st, its Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has…
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“The EU is not short of rules. It’s whether they are enforced or not.”
Emily O’Reilly has held the position of EU Ombudsman for over a decade, ensuring the transparency of the EU institutions…
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The European system is a strange kind of creature
On the cusp of the ceremony for receiving their honorary doctorate at Maastricht University, we speak with Liesbet Hooghe and…
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Literature as a vehicle for European cultural deepening
The first issue of The European Review of Books was released in June 2022. Number four will be published on…
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The power of personal choices to change systems
On 6 November 2023, Nora Wilhelm (Aarau, 1993) will give a lecture at Maastricht University about human- and climate-conscious systems…
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A chain reaction in European defence cooperation
On 3 May 2023, Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren will give a Europe Lecture in Maastricht at the invitation of Studio…
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‘In the end, it’s not about numbers and percentages, it’s about people’
Bart van den Boom (1969) of Viewmaster Projects is the curator of No Access, an exhibition on view in the…
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‘Cultural events in the Euregion help to broaden our horizons.’
This year’s Cultura Nova (26 August-4 September), will be the last for Fiedel van der Hijden (1958) as artistic director.…
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Put a bit of imagination into Europe
Robert Skidelsky isn’t seventeen anymore. The emeritus professor of political economy at Warwick University is eighty two to be precise,…
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In the bio-economy, circularity goes further than just recycling
Plastics, made from plants? The bio-based economy makes it possible. It is the field of study of Yvonne van der…
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From upcoming elections in Hungary and France to the war in Ukraine: two experts about the extreme-right
While Europe is under the spell of the war in Ukraine, important elections are coming up in France and Hungary.…
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Bye birthday pictures, hello human ads: welcome to a new era on social media
After more than 12 years at Maastricht University, Catalina Goanta is pursuing her career as Associate Professor in private law…
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The EU must now prepare for a world after Biden, says Hylke Dijkstra, and that means a bigger budget for defence and security
War looms in Eastern Europe as Russia threatens to invade Ukraine over supposed fears of an eastward NATO expansion. It…
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Who calls the shots in Europe? That question should be front and centre at the Conference on the Future of Europe, Karin van Leeuwen believes
EU leaders hope the Conference on the Future of Europe, a wide-ranging programme of work focused on EU reform, will…
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The EU and Trump aren’t that different when it comes to migration, argues Melissa Siegel
This January, two hundred randomly selected citizens will discuss the future of European migration during the Conference on the Future…
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“Let’s assume the EU Green Deal works out in Europe. What will the rest of the world look like?”
Christian Scholl and Serdar Türkeli, both passionate about climate policy, are the new directors of the Dutch arm of the…
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‘I censor myself all the time’ says Tom Janssen, winner of the 2021 European Cartoon Award.
But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t draw what he wants. What makes a good political cartoon? And do cartoonists self-censor…
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Expert interviews
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‘Made in Europe’ has the potential to become a very valuable quality label for AI, says Gerhard Weiss
“I lost control. It happened fast.” Professor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Gerhard Weiss smiles explaining why his interview…
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Barking back at Brussels: can national parliaments influence European decision-making?
The Dutch elections are coming up! Should party campaigns focus on Europe? Or should the EU be largely irrelevant in…
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Curbing the power of digital platforms: in conversation with Catalina Goanta
After a thought-provoking lecture by Marietje Schaake, organised by the Centre for European Research in Maastricht (CERiM) on January 12th,…
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How can Biden heal divisions in the US? “Rectify the wealth gap”, says Roberta Haar
Expert interview: Roberta Haar on polarisation and EU-US relations after Trump Take an already polarised society, add a pandemic and…
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What is the corona crisis doing to our expectations for the future? “The utopian views have disappeared already”
Expert interview: Harro van Lente about our expectations of the future and technology “In a year’s time, as soon as…
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Ten years of Viktor Orbán: “This is not just crisis management, but the far right in power”
Expert interview: Ferenc Laczó on the rise of ‘soft authoritarianism’ in Orbán’s Hungary Closing down media outlets, universities and borders:…
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We can barely tolerate the uncertainty about coronavirus – but we’ll have to
Expert interview: Esther Versluis about our (in)tolerance for uncertainty From the shape of bananas to key climate decisions, the European…
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How open should the university be?
Expert interview: Rianne Letschert on higher education during coronavirus “Sorry to keep you waiting, I was in a meeting.” A…
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Will the Euro survive the corona crisis? “We don’t have sufficient mechanisms to absorb shocks together”
Expert interview: Clemens Kool about the Eurozone’s capacity to weather the coronavirus storm How to get out of this crisis?…
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How to make ethically responsible corona policy? “We simply don’t know enough about the virus”
Expert Interview: Peter Schröder-Bäck about the challenges of ethical corona policy in Europe How to decide between implementing a lock…
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“More than ever the credibility of European cooperation is at stake”
Expert interview: Mathieu Segers about European cooperation in times of crisis “What does the EU have to offer?” is the…
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