Month / June 2026
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12 points go to… a vision of Europe (dis)united by music
The Eurovision 2026 Grand Final took place with a bang: Bulgaria’s “Bangaranga” snatched the first place from Israel in an edition marred by boycotts over its participation. This article explores how the song contest has succeeded in its mission to unite through music by bringing together people from all over the world and fostering the soft power of both EU and non-EU countries, but geopolitical tensions put in danger the reputation and even the future of the show.
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Albania, the Flamingo Revolution, and the enduring aspiration of a sustainable heritage and future
This article explores the Flamingo Revolution as thousands of Albanians protest the government’s decision to hand over a vast stretch of their country’s most pristine coastline to a luxury resort project. It highlights the depth of public commitment to natural heritage and sustainable ways of life, and what that entails in the context of European Union enlargement and its attractiveness.
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Trump 2.0: How Europe must respond to the US Soft Power suicide
The second mandate of President Trump and the MAGA movement have brought about political and cultural tensions in the transatlantic relationship, and impacted both the United States (US) and European Union (EU) soft power.
This article provides a summary of cS Brief #16 on Trump 2.0 and EU Soft Power.
