@techreport{JansenNguyen, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Jansen, Jannik and Nguyen, Thu}, title = {Between Continuity and a Perforated 'Cordon Sanitaire' - On the 2024 European Elections}, pages = {6}, abstract = {Between 6-9 July 2024, the 720 members of the European Parliament were elected across 27 Member States. While the elections have not led to a landslide shift to the right, there is a notable consolidation of far-right parties at the European level. Still, the pro-European centre is holding firm and maintains a majority. In this Policy Brief, Jannik Jansen and Thu Nguyen argue that the results likely indicate by-and-large continuity in the European Parliament, including an ongoing shift to the right on contested issues due to a perforated 'cordon sanitaire'. But the election results had heavily disruptive consequences on the national level, which in France has triggered snap parliamentary elections. This will have pronounced impact on the balance of power in the (European) Council and on the EU as a whole.}, language = {en} } @techreport{Nguyen, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Nguyen, Thu}, title = {What the EU should do about Viktor Orb{\´a}n}, pages = {3}, abstract = {The European Council summit on March 20 ended, like the one two weeks earlier, with two conclusions: one adopted by all 27 member states and another on Ukraine, approved by 26 leaders without Hungary to bypass Viktor Orb{\´a}n's veto. While in this case only with symbolic consequences, the pro-Russian, authoritarian-leaning government in Budapest regularly undermines the EU's ability to act. This is not a new problem. But in a radically changed global landscape, the EU must finally address it. It should do so in three steps: withholding EU funds, politically isolating Hungary, and suspending its voting rights.}, language = {en} } @techreport{KarpensteinNguyenSpieker, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Karpenstein, Ulrich and Nguyen, Thu and Spieker, Luke Dimitrios}, title = {A Matter of Solidarity: A New Approach to Revive Article 7 TEU Against Hungary}, pages = {13}, abstract = {Viktor Orbán increasingly undermines the EU's collective interests. The Hungarian government systematically uses its veto powers to block Ukrainian military aid and accession negotiations and to dilute sanctions against Russia. An Article 7 TEU procedure launched against Hungary based on breaches of the rule of law has proven to be a dead end. Given the existential geopolitical threats the EU is facing, and the urgency with which it needs to support Ukraine, the time is nigh for a new approach. In this joint policy brief, Ulrich Karpenstein, Thu Nguyen, and Luke Dimitrios Spieker argue that rather than focusing on democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, which runs a high risk of being opposed by certain Member States, a new Article 7 TEU procedure should be initiated against Hungary based on a breach of solidarity in the Common Foreign and Security Policy.}, language = {en} } @techreport{NguyenJansen, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Nguyen, Thu and Jansen, Jannik}, title = {If Europe keeps placating its own far right, how can it possibly stand up to Trump?}, pages = {4}, abstract = {European leaders have been pulled to the right on migration, the climate crisis and Israel. Their weakness is undermining the democratic principles on which the EU was built.}, language = {en} }