My Interrailing Experience with #DiscoverEU
This summer, I was fortunate enough to be one of 1500 18-year old Europeans who won an Interrail pass in the #DiscoverEU competition, organised by the European Commission. Here is the story of my experience, my wonderful discoveries and my difficulties behind this impressive publicity stunt from the EU.
Quiz: European Union
The European Union is often cause for heated discussions. Do we still need it? How can we improve it? Should more countries join? But even though public debate is focussing on the EU often these days, facts often seem to get blurred with fiction. Time to check your knowledge about the European Union!
When people die because their rescuers are standing trial
While European politics is discussing symbolic political measures and right-wing populists of all countries are trying to push through deportations and prevent immigration, hundreds of people continue to die in the Mediterranean attempting to reach Europe by sea. Civilian sea rescuers are doing their best to prevent this – and are increasingly criticised and criminalised for doing so. We spoke with Claus-Peter Reisch, the captain of the Lifeline, about the the fraught situation.
The EU and its mafia: it’s complicated
For years it seemed the European Union had given up the fight against corruption and organised crime. Now something could happen again – although not much is to be expected from the political sphere.
United States of Europe: Is it really possible?
In face of the potential EU inefficiencies, some voices defend the need to create a European federation similar to the USA one. But is it really viable? In today’s article we’ll present some reflections on this matter.
The European Union – so much more than just a joke
‘No to the European Union.’ Ok, but what then? A nationalist renaissance? Political isolation and marginalisation? Stirring up hatred and closing borders? Anti-European movements are growing, not only in Great Britain, where Brexit taught us that everything is possible. This shows us that EU-scepticism represents a real threat to the basic values of our European coexistence.
Reconciliation is a first step towards identifying with Europe
An example from German-Czech history shows how difficult it can still be today to produce a collective narrative for the European commemorative culture.
Going out onto the streets for Europe – a conversation with a committed European
Rallies of right-wing populists and anti-EU demonstrations have been the order of the day in Europe. Pro-European and liberal movements, however, only usually make their voices heard just after an election has been decided in favour of nationalists and populists. But Pulse of Europe wants to change that and give the fans of a united Europe a voice. We spoke with Akilnathan Logeswaran, who has been out on the streets of Munich, demonstrating for the EU since February.
Quiz: How to swear and insult in Europe
What is the first thing you teach your new foreign friend in your native language? More often than not, it is a bad word, am I right? Most Erasmus students come back home experts in multilingual swearing, and if you haven’t heard these expressions before, here is your chance to catch up!
Battling the Post-Erasmus Blues: Culture Shock, again?
Culture Shock. It is a term we have all heard a hundred times before and it is something that every university will mention in pre-departure meetings. As Erasmus students, we all associate these two words with the beginning of our time abroad. But what do they actually mean? And is it possible to get “culture shocked” twice?
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