Issue 517 | 15 June 2020

Our cover interview this issue is with Renew Europe MEP Chrysoula Zacharopoulou. The Development Committee Vice-Chair tells Lorna Hutchinson why everyone, regardless of skin colour, gender, disability, ethnicity or sexual orientation, should have the right to live with dignity and opportunity and why we must commit to defending these founding European values.

Faced with a belligerent Russia to the east and an often indifferent EU to the west, the EU’s Eastern Partnership is in need of a spruce up. With comment from European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, and the chairs of Parliament’s delegations to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia look at how the EU can better support, encourage and inspire its eastern neighbours.

Elsewhere we look at how the EU’s energy policy can transition to climate neutrality while fuelling a green economic recovery. Featuring comment and analysis from European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, and vice-chairs of the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee, Morten Petersen and Zdzisław Krasnodębski

Also inside: European Commissioner for Development, Jutta Urpilainen and the Chair of the European Parliament’s Development Committee, Tomas Tobé look at the issues driving EU development policy In the wake of the Coronavirus crisis. Meanwhile Jeroen Lenaers reviews the General Data Protection Regulation and Frances Fitzgerald (IE, EPP) discusses the impact that COVID-19 has had on domestic violence.

Our Commissioning editor Rajnish Singh pens this issue’s editorial to the background of the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests. We also bring you coverage from Managing Editor Brian Johnson of our recent webinar on antimicrobial resistance, in partnership with PA International, and hosted by MEPs Peter Liese and Tiemo Wölken

Finally, answering our five questions this issue is Romanian Renew Europe MEP Dragoș Pîslaru.