European Union

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About a new Issue of Public Reason, a Journal of Political and Moral Philosophy.

• How did It All Begin?

The Volumes contain Papers presented at the ECPR Summer School of Political Epistemology on July 27-31, 2020. The ECPR Standing Group on Kantian Political Thought organised the Summer School. Keele University and Jagiellonian University co-convened the Summer School.

The purpose of the Summer School was to convene scholars at different stages of academic careers. The aims were to meet and discuss key methodological issues in normative political theory, in particular in political epistemology.

There were 9 teaching sessions and 9 delegate presentations during the 5 days. I participated as a Paper presenter, hoping to receive feedback, make contacts, and that a scientific publication could grow out of this project.

Finally, authors from Canada, Estonia, Germany, Poland, the UK, and the US contributed to the Volumes.

• The Content of the Volumes

Jakub Szczepanski (Jagiellonian University) summarises in “Introduction” that the presentations discussed the role of knowledge and justification in politics; the problem of deep disagreement; epistemic injustice; democracy; the role of theory in politically relevant epistemic processes; constructivist and contractual accounts of justice; the role of sincerity and trust in politics; the epistemic value of electoral processes; the use of ignorance in political processes, included populism, propaganda and manipulation; uncertainty, and freedom of speech.

Robert Weston Siscoe (University of Notre Dame), “Epistemic Democracy and the Truth Connection.” The author discusses epistemic democracy and its relationship with truth. Siscoe argues that democracies have a truth-tracking feature and that they trace truth better than other political institutions. The article also discusses what truth is and how to trace it.

Lingyu Jing (University of York), “Speaking Truth to Power? A Foucauldian Theory of Whistleblowing in a Nihilistic World.” The article departs from the view that there is no truth outside power in our post-truth era. Therefore, the argument goes, whistleblowing, that has always been subjective, is even more losing its meaning.

Manuel Knoll (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München), “The Significance of Deep Disagreements on Justice, Values, and Morals for Political Epistemology.” The author asks whether there is knowledge about values, the good, the just, and the morally right that could be applied to political issues. Knoll argues that there is no ultimate moral knowledge to ethically orientated political decisions but deep disagreements. The article refers to deep disagreements as disagreements in good faith that cannot be resolved through the use of reasons and arguments. Deep disagreements are resistant to rational solution because of a clash of underlying principles or framework propositions. Although political decisions are usually based on some kind of knowledge, the central question of political epistemology is whether there is any knowledge that can ethically orientate political decisions

Jaanika Erne (University of Tartu), “On the Meaning of Democracy in the European Union.” The author focuses on the limits of defining democracy. The aim is to show the functional nature of law, and the politics of meaning. Although law is aiming at being complete, it functions in the context of incompleteness of even the broadest research units – categories. Because empirics in itself cannot explain empirics, an empirical analysis can only circle. This happens even when one increases the number of categories. Only the question „Why?” will unveil the explanatory and interpretive dimensions. 

Kristoffer Ahlstrom-Vij (Birkbeck, University of London), “Political Knowledge: Measurement, Elitism, and Dogmatism. Public Reason.” The author shows the importance of the question of measurability of knowledge specifically in political elections. Ahlstrom-Vij asks what political knowledge is and how is it measured. The article argues that standard political knowledge tests measure political knowledge. The author uses counterfactual modeling to show the difference such knowledge can make to political choice.

John E. Roemer (Yale University), “Epistemological Issues in the Theory of Equality of Opportunity.” The author asks about the optimal policy of equal opportunities. In the end of the article he states that recruiting for social positions on the basis of merit alone is now quite rare.

• About Public Reason

Public Reason characterises itself as a peer-reviewed open-access journal of political and moral philosophy. The journal is also available in print. It publishes articles, book reviews, and discussion notes from all fields of political philosophy and ethics, included political theory, applied ethics, and legal philosophy.

Public Reason publishes also texts from other areas of philosophy if they are relevant for issues of moral and political philosophy.

The journal is committed to a pluralistic approach. It promotes interdisciplinarity and original perspectives, the ideals of critical thinking and clarity. The journal addresses the international philosophical community, and a broader public interested in political and moral philosophy. See the journal’s website at https://publicreason.ro/home

The post Public Reason, Vol. 15, No. 2, 2023 and Vol. 16, No. 1, 2024 appeared first on Ideas on Europe.

On Thursday, MEPs will host prominent Russian opposition voices for a discussion on EU support for Russia’s pro-democracy forces in the new geopolitical context.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On Thursday, MEPs will host prominent Russian opposition voices for a discussion on EU support for Russia’s pro-democracy forces in the new geopolitical context.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On Thursday, MEPs will host prominent Russian opposition voices for a discussion on EU support for Russia’s pro-democracy forces in the new geopolitical context.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 26 March, the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) jointly launched the new EU Preparedness Union Strategy, which will be presented in a joint meeting of the SEDE, ENVI, and LIBE committees, on 3 June. The strategy outlines how the EU aims to better anticipate, prevent and respond to risks such as cyberattacks, disinformation, and climate impacts.
The EU Preparedness Union Strategy is a direct follow-up to the Niinistö Report's recommendations on strengthening the EU's preparedness. It proposes 30 key actions and an Action Plan to improve Europe's ability to manage risks ranging from cyber threats and disinformation to climate change. The strategy calls for a shared European approach, recognising preparedness as not just a national but a Union-wide responsibility. It promotes a "preparedness by design" culture across all EU policies. The initiative is led by Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, responsible for equality, preparedness, and crisis management, including civil preparedness and international cooperation on disaster risk management. The strategy highlights the need for stronger coordination and resilience mechanisms across the EU in response to growing and complex threats.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, and political group leaders will visit Copenhagen on Tuesday to prepare the upcoming Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, and political group leaders will visit Copenhagen on Tuesday to prepare the upcoming Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 69 - Draft opinion Amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund + (ESF+) as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges
Committee on Security and Defence
Urmas Paet

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 121 - Draft opinion Amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1058 and (EU) 2021/1056 as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the mid-term review
Committee on Security and Defence
Riho Terras

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Committees

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O presidente do Conselho Europeu António Costa proferiu o discurso de abertura do Fórum de Investimento UE-Brasil em São Paulo. O fórum constitui a plataforma para o lançamento formal do diálogo estruturado sobre investimento entre a UE e o Brasil.

Following its political announcement on 20 May, the Council lifted the EU’s economic sanctions on Syria imposed ontothe Assad regime. It also removed 24 entities from the EU list of those subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources. In parallel, it extended the listings of individuals and entities linked to the Assad regime until 1 June 2026.In support of the transitional authorities’ efforts to safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Syrian people, the Council also imposed new restrictive measures on two individuals and three entities for human rights abuses and stands ready to consider further listings on those fuelling instability.

The High Representative issued a statement on behalf of the European Union on malicious behaviour in cyberspace against Czechia.

The Polish Presidency published conclusions on strengthening EU democratic resilience, supported by 25 delegations.

Main agenda items, approximate timing and press opportunities.

Simplification: Council adopts position to simplify and strengthen EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism.

The Council decided to launch the sixth wave of 11 new PESCO projects to strengthen EU defence capabilities and contribute to a strong EU’s defence posture.

The Council adopted a regulation setting up the Security Action for Europe instrument, which will provide EU member states financial assistance for up to €150 billion euros, with the aim of strengthening the European security and defence industry.

Council gives its final approval to the amendment to the CO2 standards for cars and vans.