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The severe flooding which hit large areas of the Balkan region in spring 2014 highlighted serious flaws in the state response to such emergencies, as well as failures of environmental policy and planning. Fellow citizens and volunteers became a lifeline for those in need, as a result.

Voter abstention and the success of anti-Europe parties were two key trends of the 2014 European elections. Since the first direct elections for the European Parliament, a reciprocal relationship has emerged that affects the commitments of politicians, the media, and the voters. This prompts the question of to what extent the media have influenced the events of 2014.

In the recent European elections, Slovakia saw participation plummet to new lows. Yet the combination of this abstention with general satisfaction towards EU membership gives rise to a curious paradox, in which voter behaviour today continues to be affected by historical memory and many other complex factors.

A quarter of the French electorate supported the far-right Front National at the last European elections. Yet the party’s political programme remains founded on the same illusions and scapegoating, only with a new, softer and more media-savvy face.

Considering the current attitude of the Turkish government which regards regulations as hurdles reducing economic growth, the recent Soma mining accident should not have come as a surprise. From both economic and ecological points of view, the Turkish economic growth trajectory is not sustainable and should be changed.

Initiatives such as the Agenda for a Sustainable World Cup and the “Green Goal” program aim to reduce carbon emissions at this summer’s event, yet serious questions remain as to whether they promote genuine sustainability and benefits for the population in Brazil.

From the European elections of last month, a number of overarching trends can be identified among voters’ choices and behaviour. Although voting patterns varied between countries, a number of broad conclusions can be drawn which give some indication of the form the next Parliament is likely to take, and some of the key challenges it will face.

The Green Party in the European Parliament is set to count more than one MEP from Spain. In addition, Spain will be the southern European country with the most representatives in the Greens/EFA parliamentary group. This is good news, but there is still a long way to go to gather electoral support on the same scale as Greens in some other European countries.

A combination of low-turnout and a focus on national security issues boosted the far-right and the incumbent government parties. Despite the mixed message, it is clear the Poland remains firmly in the pro-EU camp.

The European elections have yielded mixed results, but it is clear that the EU is falling short in its aims to engage citizens. To address this, long overdue reforms are needed to make the EU more democratic, and a particular focus should be placed on youth to inform them but especially to provide real prospects for their future.