Democracy and societyCzechia’s perfect storm Czechs show massive solidarity towards Ukrainian refugees. But the government’s response could fuel a conflict between locals and newcomers By Katerina Smejkalova
Foreign and security policyBelarus’ half-hearted war participation While Belarus had promised to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, sending in Belarusian troops might prove detrimental to Lukashenko’s regime By
Economy and ecologyThe ECB should not hike interest rates Europe’s central bank is under pressure to raise interest rates to counter rising inflation. It should resist it By Philipp Heimberger
Future of social democracyThe French left is stuck Ahead of the French elections, the far right is on the rise. In contrast, the left is in a dire state and may face another 5-year dry spell By Stéphanie Roza
Democracy and societyClass in the classroom The British government has long been promising educational equality. Yet its policies have contributed to widening the gap By Kate Pickett
Economy and ecologyThe EU’s green banking agenda isn’t sustainable — yet By ‘greening’ finance, the EU wants to put financial flows at the service of the transition to climate neutrality. But so far its efforts fall short By Agnieszka Smoleńska
Foreign and security policyMoldova: living at the edge of war A bloody war is ravaging Ukraine. But its echoes can be heard in neighbouring Moldova as well By Igor Munteanu
Democracy and societyCondemn the Kremlin’s actions, not the people The West’s tough line against Russia is justified. But European societies must prevent the ‘othering’ of Russian people and Russian speakers By Alexey Yusupov
Foreign and security policyHow Putin underestimated Ukraine Moscow assumed that Ukrainians would welcome Russian troops with open arms. But that was a big miscalculation — based on what happened in 2014 By Hanna Shelest
Foreign and security policyBulgaria’s soft underbelly Bulgaria has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Yet the country fears NATO intervention in the conflict By Boris Popivanov