Articles

Europe’s defence landscape is shifting fast. Our new Böll EU Brief maps more than 160 defence agreements among EU countries, the UK and Ukraine – most signed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It shows how bilateral cooperation boosts trust and speed, but also risks fragmentation without an EU-level strategy.

After weeks of confusion and controversy around Sébastien Lecornu’s appointment as Prime Minister, President Macron faces mounting pressure at home and growing doubts abroad. Joan Lanfranco asked Marc Berthold, Director of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Paris office, what this means for Macron, France’s role in the EU, and the wider impact on Europe.

Levies, charges, and taxes make electricity expensive – and hinder the switch to the climate-friendly, electricity-based alternatives that we urgently need. Yet many companies and consumers have long been ready to make the change. The technology is already available, often from German manufacturers, who have been waiting for years for a market breakthrough. Instead, Katherina Reiche's reckless wrong-way drive continues unabated.

The European Commission’s new LGBTIQ+ Equality strategy for 2026-2030 puts equality back on the agenda – but for Rémy Bonny, Executive Director at Forbidden Colours, it comes too little, too late. As Europe faces a coordinated anti-gender movement importing authoritarian narratives into the EU, he warns that “a few nice words won’t stop that.” Joan Lanfranco asked him where the EU needs to show real political courage, how it can counter disinformation and violence, and why defending LGBTIQ+ rights has become a test of Europe’s democracy itself.

Czechia voted for change – but what kind? Andrej Babiš makes a comeback, the Greens return to parliament, and populism takes a new shape. Adéla Jurečková, Director of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Prague office, breaks down the results and what they mean for Czech democracy and the EU.

The electrical interconnection between Crete and mainland Greece was completed and has been in operation since May 2025. Connecting the island of Crete with the mainland allows the country to finally tap into the abundant wind and solar energy potential on Crete and to switch off old and polluting power plants. At the same time, the Ariadne interconnection builds the foundation for advancing green energy in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Moldova’s parliamentary elections on 28 September 2025 confirmed strong support for the country’s European path. With an absolute majority, the ruling PAS party now has a clear mandate to lead. Yet challenges remain, from economic uncertainty and justice reform to questions of regional security. We asked 3 questions to Robert Sperfeld, Senior Programme Officer in the East and South East Europe Division of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, on what the results reveal about voters’ priorities, the country’s reform agenda, and the implications for EU integration and relations with NATO.

Climate policy demands long-term vision, backed by action. The EU is at risk of under-delivering. Read our Böll EU Newsletter 9/2025 and check out our new content and upcoming events.

A potential U.S. force posture reduction in Europe will leave the continent vulnerable to further Russian aggression. Europe needs a bold action plan to mitigate capability gaps and ensure deterrence of Russia with limited U.S. involvement.