Central Europe Explained

Audio-Version des Buches  Balkan nach Europa - sofort!  Erhard Busek und Sebastian Schäffer fordern die sofortige Aufnahme aller Westbalkanstaaten in die EU. Ihr Plädoyer verbinden sie mit „G’schichtln“ über Grenzen, Glauben und Grausamkeiten, über Fabeln, Frieden und Fußball. So bilden die persönlichen Erlebnisse und Erinnerungen der Autoren auch ein Zeugnis ihrer Zeit. Dr. Erhard Busek...

Albanien, Bosnien Herzegowina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Nordmazedonien, Serbien:  Balkan nach Europa - sofort! Eine Kurzgeschichtensammlung über den Westbalkan und ein Plädoyer für dessen sofortige Aufnahme in die EU, geschrieben von  Erhard Busek  und  Sebastian Schäffer . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“ The European Commission is the only Think Tank with executive power.”     In July 2020, the European Council agreed to a historical recovery fund: Next Generation EU , in order to support member states affected by the pandemic. Now that it has been ratified by the European Parliament, each of 27 EU Member States must do so for the decision to enter into force.  Which are the futur...

"It would be well worth taking a united approach rather than a bilateral one (in relations to the United Kingdom)." January 1, 2021, marked the end of the transition period during the EU law continued to apply in the United Kingdom, and with that Brexit finally entered into force. What does Brexit mean for the Central and Southeast European region? Can Brexit have a possible domino effect within t...

“[Mini Schengen] is actually a request to go quicker and to go deeper into integration.”  Looking at the map of Europe, the Western Balkan countries appear as a non-EU enclave surrounded by EU-member states; between Greece and the rest of the EU but outside of the Schengen area.  This episode focuses on the challenges at the borders of the EU by putting light on the cooperation in the We...

“Central Europe became a sort of the center of a sandwich between Germany and Russia”.  Following up on Ivana Karaskova's and Malwina Talik’s talk about China and Central Europe, this episode focuses on the relations between the United States and the region. For this, Emma Hontebeyrie (Podcast Producer for IDM) is welcoming Dardis McNamee, Editor in Chief of the city regional magazine and aff...

Why is it important to talk about women's rights? "Emancipation means the lack of discrimination (…) but emancipation is also a state of mind."  says Judit Acsády in our interview.  Women’s situation in Europe has steadily improved over the past decades but can we, therefore, be complacent about the condition of women’s rights? Inequalities and biases remain a fact in various spheres of...

“When it comes to Chinese influence in the economy, there are many more words than deeds.” This episode is about a new old player on the Central and Eastern European playground, namely People’s Republic of China. An old player because before the fall of Communism in Europe, many countries of the region had close ties with China, even if sometimes on an on-and-off basis. A new player because w...

"Let's be more active, this should be our motor in the region. Let's propose constructive ideas, let's lead some European initiatives. [...] And with that, we can start talking of erasing some of these division lines which exist between West and East." Lack of political representation in Central and Southeast European countries; EU institutions' leading positions held by "old" Western EU members;...

"This is the future for Central Europe: [to] start to take itself more seriously; grow more mature in public discussion about directions, about the strategy and also about consequences of lack of such a strategy." In the following episode, Malwina Talik - research associate at IDM - is welcoming Wojciech Przybylski - President of Res Publica and Editor in Chief at Visegrad Insight - to discuss the...

“We have to remember that the accession to the EU did not mean only the integration of the Central and Eastern European countries into the Western Europe but also an  unprecedented integration of the Central Europe itself." In our next episode, Daniel Martínek, research associate at IDM, is welcoming Vít Dostál, Research Director of the Prague-based Research Center AMO - Association for Inter...

“Emissions don’t know any borders: the ones emitted from a coal power plant in Czech Republic are just as responsible for the bushfires in Australia as emissions emitted in Australia or in the US or anywhere else.  We all have the responsibility to reduce our emissions. ” In our previous episode, Katalin-Tünde Huber mentioned that we need intensive European support and long-time projects...

“It should be a peaceful competition, but competition it will be.” In the third part of “Becoming an EU Member,” we are now focusing on the future perspectives, opportunities, and challenges in the region.  Last week, Sebastian Schäffer discussed with the two European enlargement specialists, Katalin-Tünde Huber, and Ambassador Klaus Wölfer, about the potential accession of the Southeast...

“Now we have to refocus on where we stand and what we really want to achieve.”  Following our previous episode “Becoming an EU Member - The case of Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia”, this podcast focuses on Southeast European countries. Therefore, Sebastian Schäffer (Managing Director at IDM) is welcoming two European Enlargement specialists: Mag. Katalin-Tünde Huber - Head of Unit "EU Enlargem...

“Becoming an EU and NATO member was a historic vengeance” In this episode, Sebastian Schäffer (Managing Director at IDM) is interviewing Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu, former Prime Minister, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Romania.  Together, they will discuss the latest European enlargement in 2007 and the lessons learned. How did the a...

"Art and culture touches not only our intellect but also our souls and our hearts" This episode, which is the second part of "EU to your home", will focus on European integration politics. Daniel Martínek (Research Associate IDM) will talk to Katka Krejcova, responsible for international relations in the Department for Art and Culture in the Office of the Government of Lower Austria. How can the E...

“The EU Strategy for the Danube Region is the implementation of the European idea.” This week, Silvia Nadjivan (Deputy Managing Director at IDM) will be talking to Robert Lichtner, coordinator of the Danube Strategy Point in Vienna.  In the first episode of our series “EU to your Home”, they will be discussing together the regionalization of European politics with a focus on the mutual depend...

“We should continue to tell people that what they believe in terms of the nation-state is also a myth.” The “imagination of the nation” plays a key role in the perception of citizens towards the European Union.  As explained our the previous episode, European myths strongly impact these beliefs which have diverse consequences in different parts of the EU.  Focusing on Central and Southea...

“In the end for many, the EU itself is a kind of myth.” From fantasy to a more accurate reality, myths about Europe and the EU are a wide-ranging subject. Some, as the myth of Europa, are based on mythology. Other, as the ‘bicycle myth’, come into sight as metaphors. However, popular myths about the EU also find their origin in reality and can even sound quite absurd.  ‘Curved cucumber’, ‘ban...

"Education and culture should be something that the EU do together", Ambassador Emil Brix. Which role did European Community for Coal and Steel play in the creation of the EU? How was it perceived behind the Iron Curtain? What are the current expectations about the EU? What should be the future European agenda? In this episode, Daniel Martínek is discussing with Ambassador Emil Brix, Director of t...

"Minorities do have the voice but the their voice is not heard." Together, Biljana Jovíc (Chairperson at the Center for Migration Studies, Belgrade) and Silvia Nadjivan (Deputy Managing Director at IDM, Vienna) will focus on the place of minorities in the region. Which place do they actually have? How are they integrated? How can the knowledge of common people about their neighboring countries be...

"Overcoming historical legacy and conflicts with cooperation within many levels: regional and European." In this episode, Márton Ugrósdy (director of the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest) and Daniela Neubacher (research associate at the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe) are focusing on Austria, Visegrád Four, and the Western Balkans. Together, they will discuss...

What is the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe? Together with Sebastian Schäffer, managing director of the institute, we will be discussing about what IDM actually is. We will see how the "power" of History shaped the institute, which have been the latest changes for IDM, current challenges and next steps for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does Central Europe mean today? What are its various meanings? Which one should we follow?    In this opening episode, we will focus with Dr. Erhard Busek on the different existing approaches towards Central Europe. We will try to define what actually Central Europe is and, from a territorial point of view, try to understand the ever-changing geographical expression “Central Europe”...

What is Central Europe today?  Austria, Visegrád Four, Western Balkans. What are popular myths in and about the European Union? How do regions connect with European politics?  Enlargement, borders, China, Russia, Turkey. Which challenges lie ahead regarding the social and political situation in the region?  Climate change, economy, Green Deal. How will Brexit affect Central and Sout...