The Euroscepticism that blossomed into Brexit has been markedly muted since that project has failed to bring the benefits advertised by its architects. Furthermore, concerted action at the EU level has translated into a growing appreciation of the bloc's collective strength – most notably when dealing with continent-wide challenges as seen recently.
Eurostat polls in the wake of the pandemic and energy crisis have shown that EU citizens largely look favourably on the institutions, that have disbursed record funds to revive industries and are seeking to capitalise on the chance to drive a much-needed green transition; though this hasn't received universal praise.
Yet the power that EU institutions gain as arbiters of the third largest economy in the world (when pooling the economies of individual Member States), legislators and administrators are endowed with enormous authority – power that might bring vast financial gain if aligned to your advantage.
So proved the Qatargate corruption scandal, in which EU officials accepted substantial bribes in return for political favours. The debacle confirmed what many had suspected – that the entire structure lacks the checks and balances to ensure against such interference. Half a year later, the public remains unconvinced that the issue of corruption is being dealt with seriously.
Many elected officials are also frustrated by the lack of progress on the matter, insisting that "self-policing doesn’t work" and pushing for independent oversight. They argue that the measures currently proposed to get serious on the issue seem almost set up to fail: an ethics body designed to safeguard the integrity of the institutions and their functionaries has been allocated just €600,000 annual budget – as much as might fit in a suitcase but hardly enough to catch the big fish.
Whilst latest polls highlight a rise in interest about the EU across the bloc, without a robust and transparent system to keep tabs on funds this indicates a pervasive suspicion rather than burgeoning approval. With even MEPs attesting to a "culture of impunity", how much longer can the institutions put off a systematic restructure? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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1. Rue de la Loi, Wetstraat, Law Street? English may become Brussels' third official language
English should become an official administrative language in Brussels, in addition to French and Dutch, said Brussels Minister for Multilingualism, Sven Gatz – advocating a big promotion for the Capital Region's non-official third language. Read more.
2. 'Nothing ever happens': EU not doing enough to tackle corruption, poll shows
Half a year after the Qatargate corruption scandal made headlines across the world, 60% of European citizens are not satisfied with the EU's efforts to fight corruption – up 12 percentage points since July 2019, a new poll by the European Parliament has revealed. Read more.
3. Belgium's next wage indexation delayed a month due to falling inflation
Belgium's next automatic wage indexation is set to be delayed by a month as the country's declining inflation rate continues to ease pressure on Belgian consumers. Read more.
4. Belgian Pedalo World Championships returns to Brussels this weekend
The Belgian Pedalo World Championships is set to return to Brussels on Sunday, pitting pedalo racers in a four-hour endurance race around the lake of the Bois de la Cambre. Read more.
5. Le Chou News: AI Should Come From Châtbot Region, Says EU
Le Chou is Europe's most dedicated source of news. Catch up weekly on the biggest headlines with our roundup, all with an intentionally inaccurate and satirical streak. Follow live updates on Twitter and watch Le Chou TV on Instagram. Read more.
6. 'Don't Mow May' campaign boosts garden biodiversity
More bees, more plants, as well as endangered plant and flower species, have started to emerge in the gardens of people who participated in the campaign against mowing last month. Read more.
7. Hidden Belgium: The Vintage
It’s sometimes hard in Bruges to find a quiet cafe terrace to sit out in the sun. But you might try The Vintage at Westmeers 13. Read more.
