All timely commentary & analysis

New Atlanticist

May 6, 2020

German court decision complicates ECB coronavirus efforts

By Ole Moehr

“This is time for solidarity and boldness in the European response to this unprecedented crisis. Unfortunately, the [German] Court’s decision endangers the ability of the Bundesbank to participate in the ECB’s program in the long run. Besides, it undermines the authority of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and could provide a worrying precedent for states asserting their sovereignty with illiberal measures against the rule of law in Europe,” Benjamin Haddad says.

Coronavirus European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 29, 2020

Pandemic response should not equal isolationism, Swedish FM argues

By David A. Wemer

International cooperation will be crucial not only to “fight the pandemic” of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), but also “to get us back on track afterwards,” Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ann Linde said on April 29. She stressed that while leaders remain focused on containing outbreaks in their own countries, they must avoid the temptation to shun the benefits international trade and cooperation can bring as a much-needed economic recovery begins.

Coronavirus European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 29, 2020

Something not so rotten in the Kingdom of Denmark

By Nauja Bianco and Andras Simonyi

Denmark’s success in combating the coronavirus provides a powerful example of how democracies can be more effective in times of crises.

Coronavirus Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Apr 23, 2020

Why the Netherlands opposed unconditional European coronavirus aid

By Elmar Hellendoorn

Southern European calls for northern solidarity should be backed up with a quest for greater empathy in countries like the Netherlands. As long as the Dutch public remain largely unaware of the plight of southern Europe—as well as ignorant of the geopolitical consequences of too much fiscal rigidity—the current clash may only be a prelude to a much larger battle.

Coronavirus European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 22, 2020

Coronavirus spurs Europe’s quest for digital sovereignty

By Kenneth Propp

All of the virus-related developments—growing skepticism about global sourcing, the deepening threat of disinformation, the centrality of digital services in a return towards normality, and the privacy and security questions that dog them—will have an impact on the EU’s longer-term quest for digital sovereignty.

Digital Policy European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 21, 2020

There is a better way to counter China in multilateral organizations: Lead with allies

By Gerard Araud and Benjamin Haddad

There are plenty of reasons to be underwhelmed with the WHO’s performance in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. The administration’s response to halt funding, however, will have the opposite of the intended effect. Rather than beginning a long overdue debate on Chinese influence over multilateral institutions, it will reinforce the very reason why Chinese influence has grown in the WHO and other institutions: US disengagement.

China Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Apr 17, 2020

Life in Hungary during COVID-19

By Bálint Ablonczy

It remains to be seen what effect the coronavirus will yet have on the Hungarian people. So far, it seems, Hungary is far from the worst that was thought possible.

Coronavirus Hungary

New Atlanticist

Apr 10, 2020

Eurozone passes coronavirus rescue plan, but political unity remains elusive

By David A. Wemer

Although European leaders were finally able to agree on a massive rescue package to help the European economy weather the storm of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the lack of unity on display over the protracted negotiations raises deep concerns about Europe’s ability to navigate the difficult road to recovery.

Coronavirus European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 8, 2020

Slovakia looks towards an end to COVID-19’s painful isolation

By Alena Kudzko

Slovakia now needs to find ways to prepare for a post-COVID-19 world. Borders and national solutions can only provide necessary relief during an emergency. Looking ahead, the country will be tasked with finding ways to resolve the tension between attaining a false sense of security through national measures and walls, on the one hand, and the need to restore economic prosperity, on the other, through common European solutions.

Central Europe Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Apr 7, 2020

Addressing Hungary’s coronavirus emergency legislation

By Denise Forsthuber and Daniel Fried

Many in Europe and the United States who consider themselves friends of Hungary have struggled over what to do with what can be increasingly interpreted as an authoritarian drift in that country. Hungary was one of the early leaders of Central Europe’s democratic transformation after its overthrow of communist rule in 1989; this is the tradition we would prefer to be celebrating today. Instead, we struggle to find a way forward.

Coronavirus European Union