{"id":26,"date":"2026-06-02T19:17:52","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T19:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onyxsilk.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/?page_id=26"},"modified":"2026-06-02T19:17:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T19:17:52","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/onyxsilk.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-white-color has-crimson-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-dark\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;min-height:100vh;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/onyxsilk.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/wp-content\/themes\/telex-neweu-politics\/assets\/hero-eu-parliament-protest.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-crimson-background-color has-background-dim-70 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem);padding-bottom:12rem;padding-left:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem)\">\n<p class=\"dateline has-white-color has-text-color has-monospace-font-family wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);font-size:0.7rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.4em;text-transform:uppercase\">Brussels \/ Berlin \/ Paris \/ Rome<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading hero-tilt has-white-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-hero-font-size\" style=\"letter-spacing:-0.03em;line-height:0.85\">NewEU<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);font-size:clamp(1.2rem, 3vw, 2.2rem);font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.15em;line-height:1.1;text-transform:uppercase\">The Continent Demands a Voice<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-white-color has-ink-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white);border-top-width:3px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-right:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-left:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2d75d2f8 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.85rem, 1.8vw, 1.3rem);font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.12em;line-height:1.3;text-transform:uppercase\">Unfiltered opinion, sharp analysis, and fearless editorial on the <mark style=\"background-color:transparent\" class=\"has-crimson-color has-inline-color has-text-color\">politics reshaping Europe<\/mark> \u2014 delivered to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\"><div\n\tclass=\"neweu-newsletter-signup is-layout-stacked wp-block-neweu-newsletter-signup\"\tdata-endpoint=\"https:\/\/onyxsilk.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/neweu\/v1\/newsletter-signup\"\n\tdata-nonce=\"f3b4281456\"\n\tdata-success=\"You&#039;re in. Watch your inbox.\"\n>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"neweu-newsletter-signup__heading\">Get the Briefing<\/h3>\n\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"neweu-newsletter-signup__description\">Sharp analysis and fearless opinion on the politics reshaping Europe \u2014 delivered weekly.<\/p>\n\t\n\t<form class=\"neweu-newsletter-signup__fields\" novalidate>\n\t\t<input\n\t\t\ttype=\"text\"\n\t\t\tname=\"name\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"neweu-newsletter-signup__input neweu-newsletter-signup__input--name\"\n\t\t\tplaceholder=\"Your name (optional)\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Name\"\n\t\t\tautocomplete=\"name\"\n\t\t\/>\n\t\t<input\n\t\t\ttype=\"email\"\n\t\t\tname=\"email\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"neweu-newsletter-signup__input neweu-newsletter-signup__input--email\"\n\t\t\tplaceholder=\"Your email address\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Email address\"\n\t\t\tautocomplete=\"email\"\n\t\t\trequired\n\t\t\/>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"submit\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"neweu-newsletter-signup__button\"\n\t\t>Subscribe<\/button>\n\t<\/form>\n\n\t<p class=\"neweu-newsletter-signup__status\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-white-color has-ink-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f86056ca wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4a06314c wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<p class=\"has-crimson-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\">Latest Editorials<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-xx-large-font-size\" style=\"letter-spacing:-0.02em\">From the Newsroom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-crimson-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-crimson-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query alignwide is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"columns-3 wp-block-post-template is-layout-grid wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-f13c73cb wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-38 neweu_editorial type-neweu_editorial status-publish hentry\">\n\n<article class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-c5d0c4ec wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--crimson);border-top-width:6px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b9f57eba wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-muted-color has-x-small-font-size has-monospace-font-family\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-02T19:17:52+00:00\">June 2, 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title has-large-font-size has-slab-serif-font-family\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onyxsilk.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/?neweu_editorial=von-der-leyen-second-term\" target=\"_self\" >A Second Term Built on Sand<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67f1687f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-muted-color has-text-color has-monospace-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase\">By<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-muted-color has-text-color has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase\">NewEU Editorial Board<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"line-height:1.5\" class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-white-color has-small-font-size\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Ursula von der Leyen secured her second mandate atop a coalition held together not by shared conviction but&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/article>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-37 neweu_editorial type-neweu_editorial status-publish hentry\">\n\n<article class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-c5d0c4ec wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--crimson);border-top-width:6px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b9f57eba wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-muted-color has-x-small-font-size has-monospace-font-family\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-02T19:17:52+00:00\">June 2, 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title has-large-font-size has-slab-serif-font-family\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onyxsilk.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/?neweu_editorial=european-parliament-irrelevance\" target=\"_self\" >Is the European Parliament Becoming Irrelevant?<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67f1687f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-muted-color has-text-color has-monospace-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase\">By<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-muted-color has-text-color has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase\">NewEU Editorial Board<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"line-height:1.5\" class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-white-color has-small-font-size\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The European Parliament was designed to be the democratic engine of European integration. In the current legislative cycle,&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/article>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-36 neweu_editorial type-neweu_editorial status-publish hentry\">\n\n<article class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-c5d0c4ec wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--crimson);border-top-width:6px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b9f57eba wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-muted-color has-x-small-font-size has-monospace-font-family\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-02T19:17:52+00:00\">June 2, 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title has-large-font-size has-slab-serif-font-family\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onyxsilk.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/?neweu_editorial=eu-migration-pact-failure\" target=\"_self\" >The Migration Pact&#8217;s Quiet Collapse<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67f1687f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-muted-color has-text-color has-monospace-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase\">By<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-muted-color has-text-color has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase\">NewEU Editorial Board<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"line-height:1.5\" class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-white-color has-small-font-size\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">One year after its passage, the EU Migration and Asylum Pact exists primarily as a press release. On&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/article>\n\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-white-color has-crimson-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--crimson);border-top-width:6px;border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--crimson);border-bottom-width:6px;margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f86056ca wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4a06314c wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\">Opinion<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-xx-large-font-size\" style=\"letter-spacing:-0.02em\">Voices Across the Continent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-white-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-white-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query alignwide is-style-loop-zigzag is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-c88bcb30 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-44 neweu_opinion type-neweu_opinion status-publish hentry\">\n\n<article class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-bottom-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.2);border-bottom-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2d75d2f8 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:45%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:55%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67f1687f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\">France \/ Western Europe<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-monospace-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\">\/<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-bce1e28bd3a845e989b378f3a88d1373 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-white-color has-x-small-font-size has-monospace-font-family\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-02T19:17:53+00:00\">June 2, 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 style=\"line-height:1.1\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-ffbebf86522cf02f33b86c42d73dc059 wp-block-post-title has-x-large-font-size has-slab-serif-font-family\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onyxsilk.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/?neweu_opinion=marine-le-pen-normalization\" target=\"_self\" >How the Centre Normalised the Far Right<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67f1687f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-monospace-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase\">By<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase\">Marc-Antoine Delacroix<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-white-color has-small-font-size\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The far right did not storm the gates of European respectability on its own. It was escorted in, one rhetorical concession at a time, by centrist leaders who&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-43 neweu_opinion type-neweu_opinion status-publish hentry\">\n\n<article class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-bottom-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.2);border-bottom-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2d75d2f8 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:45%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:55%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67f1687f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\">Southern Europe \/ Eurozone<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-monospace-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\">\/<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-bce1e28bd3a845e989b378f3a88d1373 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-white-color has-x-small-font-size has-monospace-font-family\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-02T19:17:53+00:00\">June 2, 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 style=\"line-height:1.1\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-ffbebf86522cf02f33b86c42d73dc059 wp-block-post-title has-x-large-font-size has-slab-serif-font-family\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onyxsilk.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/?neweu_opinion=euro-and-austerity-legacy\" target=\"_self\" >The Euro&#8217;s Unfinished Austerity Reckoning<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67f1687f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-monospace-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase\">By<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase\">Dimitra Papadimitriou<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-white-color has-small-font-size\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Fifteen years after the sovereign debt crisis, Southern Europe&#8217;s economies are presented as recovery stories. But beneath the GDP headline numbers, the structural damage inflicted by troika-era austerity&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-42 neweu_opinion type-neweu_opinion status-publish hentry\">\n\n<article class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-bottom-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.2);border-bottom-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2d75d2f8 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:45%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:55%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67f1687f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\">Western Balkans \/ EU Enlargement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-monospace-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\">\/<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-bce1e28bd3a845e989b378f3a88d1373 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-white-color has-x-small-font-size has-monospace-font-family\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-02T19:17:52+00:00\">June 2, 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 style=\"line-height:1.1\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-ffbebf86522cf02f33b86c42d73dc059 wp-block-post-title has-x-large-font-size has-slab-serif-font-family\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onyxsilk.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/?neweu_opinion=eu-enlargement-western-balkans\" target=\"_self\" >Enlargement Fatigue and the Western Balkans Trap<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67f1687f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-monospace-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase\">By<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase\">Arben Qorraj<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-white-color has-small-font-size\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The European Union has spent two decades promising the Western Balkans a future inside the bloc. The promises have become a trap \u2014 binding enough to shape domestic&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-41 neweu_opinion type-neweu_opinion status-publish hentry\">\n\n<article class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-bottom-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.2);border-bottom-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2d75d2f8 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:45%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:55%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67f1687f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\">EU Institutions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-monospace-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\">\/<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-bce1e28bd3a845e989b378f3a88d1373 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-white-color has-x-small-font-size has-monospace-font-family\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-02T19:17:52+00:00\">June 2, 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 style=\"line-height:1.1\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-ffbebf86522cf02f33b86c42d73dc059 wp-block-post-title has-x-large-font-size has-slab-serif-font-family\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onyxsilk.vagabond.andreidraganescu.info\/?neweu_opinion=brussels-democratic-deficit\" target=\"_self\" >The Democratic Deficit Brussels Will Not Name<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67f1687f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-monospace-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase\">By<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.15em;text-transform:uppercase\">Katrien Vandenberghe<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-white-color has-small-font-size\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The European Union&#8217;s institutions operate under a democratic logic that most European citizens have never been invited to understand \u2014 and that opacity is not accidental but structural,&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-white-color has-ink-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f86056ca wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-crimson-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\">Explore<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-xx-large-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);letter-spacing:-0.02em\">Our Sections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3cd392e0 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-ink-color has-surface-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-47f72d27 wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--crimson);border-top-width:6px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-ink-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-x-large-font-size\">Editorial<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ink-color has-text-color has-serif-font-family has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">In-depth institutional analyses and investigative commentaries on the forces shaping European governance and democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-slab-serif-font-family has-link-color has-x-small-font-size wp-elements-6bae9d625c9fb6a45e722613e09fef57 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.18em;text-transform:uppercase\"><a href=\"\/editorial\/\">Browse Editorials<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-ink-color has-surface-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-47f72d27 wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--crimson);border-top-width:6px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-ink-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-x-large-font-size\">Opinion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ink-color has-text-color has-serif-font-family has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Provocative takes from contributors across the political spectrum \u2014 from MEPs and diplomats to activists and scholars challenging the consensus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-slab-serif-font-family has-link-color has-x-small-font-size wp-elements-992133ed87665e86ce52f28dde647fae wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.18em;text-transform:uppercase\"><a href=\"\/opinion\/\">Browse Opinion<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-408dd9ab wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-ink-color has-surface-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-47f72d27 wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--crimson);border-top-width:6px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-ink-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-x-large-font-size\">Brussels Bureau<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ink-color has-text-color has-serif-font-family has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Dispatches from the corridors of power. Committee hearings, Council summits, and Commission maneuvering \u2014 reported without deference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-slab-serif-font-family has-link-color has-x-small-font-size wp-elements-133dae5e13bb323ac2310c13005ed752 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.18em;text-transform:uppercase\"><a href=\"\/editorial\/\">Browse the Bureau<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-ink-color has-surface-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-47f72d27 wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--crimson);border-top-width:6px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-ink-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-x-large-font-size\">Policy Briefs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ink-color has-text-color has-serif-font-family has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Concise, actionable breakdowns of legislation, trade agreements, and regulatory shifts affecting 450 million Europeans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-slab-serif-font-family has-link-color has-x-small-font-size wp-elements-9aa564e52c8984a8f54040b13a321a12 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.18em;text-transform:uppercase\"><a href=\"\/editorial\/\">Browse Briefs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-white-color has-ink-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--crimson);border-top-width:6px;margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2098a6fa wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-white-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-x-large-font-size is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--crimson);border-left-width:6px;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);font-style:normal;font-weight:900;line-height:1.2\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Europe cannot afford timid journalism in an era of authoritarian drift, democratic backsliding, and institutional paralysis. The continent needs voices willing to name what others euphemise.<\/p>\n<cite>Elise Vanderstraeten, Founding Editor<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-white-color has-ink-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white);border-top-width:3px;margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2098a6fa wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-crimson-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-x-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-weight:900;letter-spacing:0.25em;text-transform:uppercase\">Contribute<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-slab-serif-font-family has-xx-large-font-size\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);letter-spacing:-0.02em\">Have Something to Say?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-muted-color has-text-color has-serif-font-family has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">NewEU publishes opinion columns and editorials from contributors across the political spectrum. If you have a sharp take on European affairs, we want to read it. No gatekeeping. 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