When the EU interferes with plastic bottle caps, it is interfering with our freedoms. When, on a hot day, after a long run, I want to take my well-deserved gulp of water, the tangled cap comes as a slap in the face. I don’t blame big businesses or the weather for my plight. Instead, with a parched mouth, I curse EU bureaucrats in their air-conditioned ivory towers for making my life marginally worse with another pointless regulation.

Teodor Nedev (IME):

Earlier this month, it became clear that the World Bank has classified Bulgaria as a high-income country. This news is an important reflection of the long-term growth trajectory and catching-up process of the developed countries, particularly those in the European Union. Still, it is far from meaning that Bulgaria already has a guaranteed spot in the rich countries club and does not have any difficult problems to solve.

Oksana Kuziakiv (IER):

Ukraine is experiencing an intense heat wave, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The situation is exacerbated by frequent power outages, lasting 15 to 18 hours a day, rendering air conditioners useless. These power shortages, the result of significant damage to Ukraine’s power infrastructure caused by Russian military actions in March and April 2024, are profoundly impacting Ukrainians’ daily lives and business operations.

LFMI:

Last October, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced that it was concluding the research phase of the Digital Europroject and moving on to its implementation. However, the questions of what impact the introduction of central bank digital currency (CBDC) will have on the financial market and whether it will benefit consumers still need to be answered.

Ondrej Chlubna (Liberalni Institute):

Ostrava is an often overlooked region in the Czech Republic, facing a very difficult and uncertain future over the next decades. The region has historically been entirely dependent on coal mining, which is an unenviable position at present time, as the mines are being closed.

Liberte!:

As the festival of ideas approaches, the eleventh edition of the Lodz Forum promises to be an event like no other. Set to take place on October 18-20 at EC1 Lodz, this year’s theme, “City. Europe. Future,” will guide us on a visionary journey exploring urban development and European integration.

Liberte! & ELF:

What is the relation between culture and populism? What should we know about EU cultural policy? And what is the role of philanthropy in shaping modern culture? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Isabelle Schwarz, the Head of Public Policy at the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) in Amsterdam. Previously, she was the Director of ENCATC (European Network of Cultural Management and Cultural Policy Education), the President of the Thomassen Fund (focus on Eastern and Central Europe), and the founder of the Nordic-Baltic Platform for Cultural Management. Earlier, she held research and project management positions with the UN World Commission on Culture and Development, the Council of Europe, the Foresight Department of the Ministry of Culture of France, foundations, and NGOs. Tune in for their talk!