13 March 2026
From Capacity to Necessity
The tension in the room was almost tangible when the President of the European Commission announced on Friday, 27 February 2026, that the EU-Mercosur Agreement would be applied provisionally. After a week of uncertainty and despite widespread opposition and resistance – in a world that is drifting once again into great power politics – the EU thereby sends a strong signal that it remains committed to multilateralism and continues to be a reliable partner on the global stage. The Commission’s decision is arguably not only legally justified, but also politically imperative. Continue reading >>
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01 August 2025
A State Without Statehood
One year after New Caledonia was tormented by violent demonstrations, resulting in the deaths of 14 people and causing over 2 billion euros worth of damage, representatives of New Caledonia and the French State signed the Bougival Accord to bring an end to the situation and pave the way for peace. While Emmanuel Macron hails the Accord as “historic”, the overseas minister Manuel Valls celebrates it as “the best response to the fear”. However, a closer look at the agreement reveals that the Accord continues to entrench the French hold on the island and renders New Caledonian independence more elusive than ever. Continue reading >>
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29 May 2024
On Kanaks and Caldoches
Over the past week, the French electoral reform in New Caledonia precipitated into violent unrest. Although the French government lifted the state of emergency on Tuesday morning, in an attempt to initiate a process of de-escalation and to renew the dialogue with the independence movement, the reform will eventually move forward. Henceforth, France will further entrench its influence in the South Pacific and effectively deny the Kanak people to achieve their desired self-determination. Continue reading >>
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