Faced with the new challenge represented by the need to manage the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing pressure of the Eurosceptic populist movements, the European Union was forced to provide both an immediate response, which could reflect the ability of the Member States to act according to the principle of solidarity and a medium term solution as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework for the years 2021 to 2027, a solution reflecting the vision of the 27 member states on the future of the European construct.

On the 13th of August President Donald Trump announced that, following a personal initiative, managed by the presidential advisor Jared Kushner, there have been negotiations between the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed Bin Zayed, and that they have agreed the normalization of relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel.

Military coups in Turkey are common for the Turkish citizen. But the one on July 16, 2016 was the first time that the Turkish people decided to play a role in determining the fate of this coup.

The USA’s perceived step back from its role as a global leader, along with the increasing American-Chinese rivalry, Russia’s revenge, the consequences of Brexit etc. amplify the uncertainties and complexity of an international environment currently dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, many European countries, as well as the EU as a whole are facing security problems caused by the propaganda and manipulation policies and tactics used against them by certain powers, such as Russia.

One hundred and eighteen years ago, the First Balkan War started initiating an unstoppable spiral of events leading to the Second Balkan War, Balkan Crisis and the global World War I. What are the key lessons to be drawn from how the small Balkan states were able to drag the more powerful states into their ethnic conflicts? What are the principal unintended consequences of the influence of the Great Powers in the Balkans? And how can this provide an example of why NATO plays a crucial role in arresting the ripple effect of ethnic conflicts?

The multitude of cleavages that have become increasingly apparent across the European space in recent years underscores the need for a paradigm shift in the way that the European Union relates to its citizens. The United Kingdom’s exit from the EU, the success of Eurosceptic and populist discourse, the radicalization of public opinion, as well as the persisting differences in the developmental trajectories of EU countries highlight the need to (re-)think the European project in order to provide member states with a common sense of direction.

The coordinated response of the EU to the multiple threats and crises came in support of the member states that were significantly affected and confronted with domestic tensions and turmoil. Solidarity and cohesion were the strongest tools that the EU used to establish a common approach at the level of the European bloc, an action that was also a real challenge regarding reaching a mutual understanding. The difficulty of reaching common ground, agreed upon by all member states, delayed the EU’s reaction most of the time. The COVID-19 pandemic represents a new turning point in the history of the EU, in a political, economic and social context, where it is absolutely necessary to take actions that are mainly aimed at strengthening the concepts of solidarity and cohesion at the European level.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a series of threats to the resilience of the European bloc at an extremely rapid pace, forcing it to adapt, equally rapidly, to the new challenges. The economic, social and political crisis could therefore be seen as a defining moment that puts to test the European solidarity and cohesion.

From the Editor

For almost three years, the Hungarian government has sought to instrumentalize the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and some European Union institutions to pressure Ukraine into legislating certain entitlements for the Hungarian national community in Carpathian Ukraine.
Kyiv and Budapest have initiated an effort to resolve their differences over the impact of Ukrainian language and education laws on the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine’s Carpathian province.