The EU and Azerbaijan as energy partners: short-term benefits, uncertain future Analysis Azerbaijan has strengthened its energy ties with the EU since 2022, ramping up gas deliveries and articulating ambitions to export renewable energy and green hydrogen to Europe in the future. However, the EU’s shrinking gas demand and Azerbaijan’s lack of a genuine decarbonization strategy cast uncertainty on the long-term prospects of this partnership. By Yana Zabanova
Defending our democracy starts with us, not with a shield Commentary An umbrella does not shield against flooding. For the European Democracy Shield to do what it says, it must encompass the full spectrum of hybrid threats, not only foreign disinformation. Like any shield, it is only as strong as its bearer. If it is to be more than a fig leaf, our work to defend democracy must start at home. By Alice Stollmeyer and Karen Melchior
Europe’s energy transition needs deeper integration. The North Sea is where it could start Commentary Cross-continental energy networks are the backbone of Europe’s energy transition. With the accelerated roll-out of solar panels and wind turbines, policymakers and grid operators now feel the back pain from limited energy infrastructure capacities. How can the EU rehab our existing electricity grids and gas pipelines? Two new publications from the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union provide guidance. By Jörg Mühlenhoff
How Saudi Arabia’s Neom Giga project became a global showroom of false climate solutions Analysis Alongside other European powers, the UK is helping to supercharge Saudi Arabia’s attempt to hijack the global sustainability agenda. By Lyse Mauvais
Böll EU Newsletter 8/2024 - US elections special edition Newsletter As we approach the US presidential election, it's clear that its implications will extend far beyond American borders, resonating profoundly within Europe. This election represents a critical juncture for Europe’s political and economic landscape, especially concerning the future of Ukraine and the broader European security order. By Roderick Kefferpütz
The 2024 Elections in Georgia: descent into hegemonic authoritarianism Commentary Georgia’s 2024 parliamentary elections signal the country’s descent into hegemonic authoritarianism. The ruling Georgian Dream party won by engaging in election manipulation, adopting the classical illiberal-authoritarian playbook, spreading disinformation about simultaneously remaining on the EU enlargement track and instrumentalizing Russia’s threat to the country. If the government stays in power despite these violations, Georgia’s relationship with the EU will further deteriorate. By Dr. Sonja Schiffers
Net zero and energy bills: more payback, less push back Commentary To win hearts and minds, and to prevent green backlash, net-zero policies must translate into lower bills and better services for ‘ordinary’ households. An inclusive demand flexibility strategy is vital to this. By Sophie Yule-Bennett and Euan Graham
Reindustrialisation, battery factories and Hungary's workforce gamble Background Hungary's ambitious plan to reindustrialise hinges on bringing in hundreds of thousands of migrant workers. However, this strategy faces a significant hurdle: a society already grappling with deep-seated distrust, both among its citizens and towards the influx of foreign labour. By Péter Vigh
Third-party voters could tip the election against Harris Analysis As American voters have become more firmly entrenched in their party affiliations, fewer and fewer states are in contention and the margins of victory are increasingly slim. This year, polls suggest that in the handful of swing states that will determine the race, the winner could be decided by a razor-thin margin. Votes for third party candidates could be enough to tip the election – most likely, in favor of Donald Trump. By Hannah Winnick
Migration policy: EU increasingly outsources responsibility for asylum Analysis Externalisation is increasingly seen as a lever for solving the EU’s migration issues, yet poses serious legal, ethical and practical problems. By Judith Kohlenberger