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I’m properly conscious surveys are an imposition. Which is why I might wish to thank all respondents to our reader survey from the underside of my skilled coronary heart and on behalf of everybody at EUobserver.
Final month has been considerably loopy.
We introduced a brand new imaginative and prescient and technique for supporting foundations and traders to develop EUobserver.
We ready the content material for Progress Week, which you must go take a look at when you even have your doubts about GDP as a measure of human progress.
We finalised the articles for our upcoming journal on different proteins, which ought to be popping out in June.
However we additionally ran a survey amongst our readers to learn how we’re doing and what we could possibly be doing higher. Over 200 readers took the time to reply, and whereas not scientifically vital, the outcomes have been priceless in shaping our plans for the long run.
And since I do not consider within the funding of time with out dividend, I needed to share a number of the outcomes of the survey. In case you do not care, which I might completely perceive, skip by to learn the articles you shouldn’t have missed this week.
Among the many most trusted
Maybe unsurprisingly for a survey run on EUobserver.com, most readers (75.2 p.c) thought-about EUobserver as their major supply for information on EU affairs. Politico Europe, The Guardian and Euractiv adopted with respectively 44.2 p.c, 35.9 p.c and 30.1 p.c. One reader depends on ‘none of your excessive left wing propaganda and faux information’, which appears like an intriguing title for a publication.
Virtually 70 p.c of readers ranked us as ‘among the many most trusted’ information sources, with 5.4 p.c rating us as ‘by far probably the most trusted’ ❤️. Solely two readers ranked us as ‘not trusted in any respect’, however I am going to take into account {that a} rounding error.
Most of our readers (60 p.c) come to us ‘to remain knowledgeable on EU information and coverage developments. Considered one of our readers visits us ‘to snort on the delusions of the over-educated and under-worked’. Thanks to your candour, reader.
On our journalism
Readers thought we might finest be spending our time on creating:
• Investigations — tales holding EU establishments accountable (58 p.c)
• Explainers or evaluation of reports tales (52 p.c)
• Every day EU information (39 p.c)
On that, excellent news, we’ve an entire slew of investigations developing.
When requested what units EUobserver aside from different information publications, readers wrote — and I am making a non-impartial choice right here — the next:
“Unique and, typically, in-depth protection of points that aren’t coated by others, migration particularly. And leftwing slant which typically will get in the best way of objectivity.”
“The migration part is extra important of EU establishments than the common media outlet, though sadly not important sufficient.”
“The tone could be very clear and to-the-point. Additionally thankfully much less biased in direction of Western Europe and US politics, which is refreshing.”
“Not a company mouthpiece.”
“Typically an unbiased voice, some extra in depth serious about what is going on moderately than chasing all the small print and headlines.”
“EUobs is extra reliable, much less pushed by business motives of promoting and homeowners than Politico or Euractiv. Double down on this high quality.”
On memberships
Funnily sufficient, for a publication that is member-supported and may have a paywall that kicks in sooner or later, greater than half of respondents learn EUobserver every day — however 75 p.c of respondents additionally say they aren’t paying members.
Whereas not against circumventing paywalls (shout out to archive.ph and 12ft.io), this was considerably stunning — and to be frank, regarding with regards to funding our publication for posterity. In any case, positively one thing we have to control and make clearer that our journalism depends on member assist, and with out it, we stop to exist.
In that sense, it helps that readers additionally ranked what we may do from our finish to make being a supporting member extra engaging. Other than entry to the total 20 yr archive and every day articles, readers would love a members remark part and interplay with our journalists — each of that are within the works.
What additionally may assistance is reducing our value (at the moment €19/month or €150/yr). Round 75 p.c of our readers would love a month-to-month value level between €1 and €10 per 30 days.
So let me enable you to with that instantly. In case you fill in EDITOR50 when signing up, you may get 50 p.c off the yearly subscription value, endlessly.
Most readers, like us, suppose that unbiased journalism ought to be funded by readers and members, intently adopted by EU establishments (which ought to all clearly buy a bunch membership to EUobserver), advertisers and philanthropic organisations .
Solutions for enhancements
We additionally requested readers for concepts on what options we may add to EUobserver’s web site. Quite a lot of readers steered a discussion board the place members can focus on articles and coverage, which I feel is a improbable thought.
A devoted app was one other commendable (however costly) thought. Others steered other ways of organising our information into different classes, ‘an inventory of apologies for each pretend information you posted’, and at last ‘Extra pictures of scantily-clad individuals? Nope, simply kidding. Or simply if it might enhance subscription income.’
I admire all of the responses, even the destructive and jokey ones. It is your time, and also you selected to spend it serving to us out. So even to the 70 p.c of readers who do not pay for EUobserver, my thanks are many and eternal.
In different information, we’re operating a themed week on financial progress known as Progress Week. In it, we’re exploring what financial progress means and for whom, but in addition matters like post- and degrowth, different indicators for human progress, and we spoke to a number of the main thinkers.
The Progress Week is tied to an occasion organised by MEPs known as ‘Past Progress’, and in collaboration with the European Inexperienced Journal.
Now, onwards to the information you shouldn’t have missed this week (I am experimenting with barely longer recaps of articles right here, let me know if that is good or unhealthy).
Progress Week
Kate Raworth, writer of Doughnut Economics, proposes a imaginative and prescient for prosperity past progress, arguing that societies ought to goal to fulfill everybody’s wants inside the planet’s means. She criticizes the present concentrate on financial progress, particularly in rich nations, because it usually results in extreme useful resource consumption and environmental degradation. She additionally dismisses the notion of inexperienced progress as unproven and inadequate to deal with the local weather disaster. Raworth urges a shift in financial pondering, advocating for ecological boundaries, distributive economies, and regenerative practices, with Europe probably main the best way.
Learn it.
In a dialog about the way forward for the European Union’s financial system, European commissioner for financial system Paolo Gentiloni and co-president of the Greens/EFA Group within the European Parliament Philippe Lamberts focus on the viability of sustainable progress. Gentiloni believes that progress is critical to keep away from recession and stagnation, and argues for an expanded understanding of progress that features sustainable improvement targets. Lamberts, nevertheless, questions the feasibility of infinite progress, highlighting the necessity to decouple financial measurement from its environmental influence. Each agree on the significance of addressing inequality, however differ on the position of progress in attaining this, with Gentiloni pointing to historic intervals of diminished inequality throughout excessive progress, and Lamberts suggesting that inequality discount will be achieved by political selections, not essentially tied to progress.
Learn it.
Investigation
Quick meals large McDonald’s is main a significant lobbying marketing campaign towards new EU legal guidelines geared toward decreasing packaging waste. Along with packaging producers and commerce associations, McDonald’s wrote to European policymakers demanding a pause to laws selling reusable packaging. The trade’s opposition is predicated on claims that the laws would undermine Europe’s web zero ambitions, regardless of critics accusing them of selling scientifically doubtful proof. The lobbying effort has concerned funding research, launching web sites, and sponsoring articles attacking the laws, which goals to sort out the expansion in packaging waste and single-use plastic. Critics argue that trade teams are resistant to alter on account of issues about profitability and the necessity for vital funding.
Learn it.
Labour
Two Italian MEPs, Licia Ronzulli and Daniela Aiuto, introduced their infants to the European Parliament throughout plenary classes to advocate for girls’s employment rights and spotlight the challenges confronted by moms. Nonetheless, the principles of the European Parliament don’t recognise maternity or paternity go away for MEPs. Presently, MEPs can take excused absence earlier than or after giving start, however they lose their proper to vote in plenary. Some MEPs are calling for the popularity of maternity go away and the suitable to vote whereas being a mom, in addition to the opportunity of distant voting, which was efficiently carried out in the course of the pandemic. Failure to modernise these guidelines may discourage individuals, particularly ladies, from pursuing a political profession.
Learn it.
Migration
Discussions on asylum reform inside the EU embody proposals to detain households with babies alongside the borders, shifting accountability onto international locations like Italy and Greece. Critics argue that this method will result in extra detention, unlawful push-backs, and probably create ghetto-like camps much like these beforehand seen on Greek islands. The European Fee’s authentic proposal sought to exclude households with youngsters below 12 from expedited asylum processes, however the Swedish EU presidency now needs to incorporate them. The proposal faces opposition from the European Parliament, with some MEPs advocating for the next age restrict and emphasizing the necessity to defend the rights of kids.
Learn it.
Ukraine
The European Fee’s “whistleblower device” has been receiving nameless tip-offs on Russia-sanctions violations, however EU member states aren’t actively sharing data on frozen belongings. The fee has been selective in referring circumstances to member states for follow-up investigations, relying totally on customs knowledge moderately than laborious intelligence to curb circumvention of sanctions. A brand new IT platform, SIER, is being developed to facilitate information-sharing amongst EU capitals, however for now, a beta-testing messaging board known as FSOR is getting used with restricted participation. EU international locations are discussing new Russia sanctions, however preliminary proposals have upset some frontline international locations, and there are challenges in implementing and implementing sanctions, comparable to monitoring Russian oligarchs’ management over EU firms and minimising job losses.
Learn it.
Economic system
MEPs have expressed issues that the proposed new income sources for the EU’s €800bn Covid-19 restoration fund is not going to be enough to cowl borrowing prices. Repayments and borrowing prices are estimated to be at the least €15-20bn per yr till 2058. The European Parliament known as on the European Fee to current new proposals for added revenues by the third quarter of 2023. The Fee’s proposed income sources, together with the carbon market, a carbon border levy, and a tax on giant multinationals, are anticipated to generate solely round €6.5bn per yr, falling wanting the wanted quantity. MEPs steered potential new sources of income, comparable to a monetary transaction tax, a digital levy, and a good border tax.
Learn it.
As at all times, thanks to all new subscribers to this text, and my numerous inboxes are open for suggestions, solutions, ideas, leaks, concepts and gossip. And remember to develop into a member (or subscribe to our every day e-newsletter) to assist our work.
See you subsequent week,
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