Articles

After 16 years of Viktor Orbán, a change of government in Hungary seemed almost unthinkable until recently. And yet Péter Magyar and his TISZA party won the election on April 12, 2026 by a clear margin. The new government’s next steps are important milestones for the restoration of democracy and the rule of law.

When the European Commission presented its proposal for an Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) earlier this year, EU Commission Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné called it a ‘change in doctrine – something that would have been unthinkable just a few months ago’. This analysis offers a more nuanced assessment. The IAA confirms that industrial policy has truly arrived at the EU level and the proposal marks a genuine step forward by addressing demand, not just supply, and introducing an explicit language shift on local content. But the proposal reflects conflicting political priorities and contains loopholes that risk leaving delivery one step behind the rhetoric. Whether that changes will be decided in the negotiations ahead: in Parliament and EU Council, the gap can still be closed.

The election victory of Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party raises hopes for a long-delayed energy transition in Hungary. However, the road ahead is complex – shaped by Russian oil, gas and nuclear dependency, frozen EU funds, and a new government that is pragmatic rather than progressive.

Young climate advocates are tying local actions to cross-border cooperation by linking regional grassroots clean-up activities to diplomatic efforts. They've harnessed their passion to establish climate-focused partnerships to protect the Mediterranean, one of the most plastics-polluted seas in the world, as they rally to drive various initiatives. Commentary by our 2026 Young Climate Leader Salma Abbass.

Friedrich Merz’s popularity is plummeting, and Germany’s ruling parties are fighting for survival. But now isn’t the time to focus on the fate of individuals and political groupings: Europe needs to be made fit for its new geopolitical reality.

Christian Schmidt's resignation as High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina was not a routine handover. It followed intense US pressure, linked to a controversy over the Southern Interconnection pipeline, where Bosnian legislation handed a major energy project to a Trump-linked company over EU objections. With Republika Srpska's Milorad Dodik presenting the departure as his personal triumph, and European actors conspicuously silent, Bosnia's fragile post-war order is under serious strain. We asked Paola Petrić, Director of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung's Sarajevo office, what this moment means for Bosnia's institutions, for Washington's role in the Western Balkans, and for the EU's credibility as a guarantor of the Dayton framework.

Keir Starmer has survived the local elections, but commands little authority in his party or the country, writes Ros Taylor. Paralysed by the fear of a far-right government, his party has been too afraid to replace him.

European and Indo-Pacific security is more intertwined than ever. The Indo-Pacific is vital to European prosperity, maritime security, and the rules-based order. While security cooperation between the two regions has increased, it remains fragmented. And that fragmentation is costly. A new Böll EU Brief by Jacob Mardell presents a new extensive dataset mapping cooperation trends over time and potential for future engagement. The data reveals a pattern of national specialisation among the European member states and preferred partners in the Indo-Pacific. But these activities have not been organised into a coherent European offer yet. Reinhard Bütikofer, Jacob Mardell, Abigaël Vasselier, Kyung Joo Jeon and Katharina Emschermann debated the geopolitical environment impacting relations between the Indo-Pacific countries and Europe, the future of their security cooperation and how to address the coordination needs.