Migration agreement with Egypt: EU backing the wrong horse Commentary The European Commission has signed a new agreement with Egypt. One of the aims is to reduce migration to Europe. But this will most likely not succeed. By Anna Schwarz
From climate action to feminist justice Report This article discusses the potential of a feminist approach to climate justice and feminist foreign and development policy. The authors, Gina Cortés Valderrama and Katy Wiese, argue that feminist perspectives are essential in addressing economic rights, energy transition, and climate-related damages and losses. By Miriam Mona Mukalazi
Thirty years on: why the Channel Tunnel has failed to reach its potential Commentary It’s hard to imagine travel without it. Yet Brexit, COVID, government disinterest and tighter security have ramped up the cost of travelling through the Channel Tunnel, which opened almost 30 years ago. Jon Worth looks at why the tunnel has not lived up to early expectations. By Jon Worth
Böll EU Newsletter 2/2024 - Letter from our Director Newsletter In fewer than 100 days, Europe’s citizens will go to the polls to elect their representatives to the European Parliament. The outgoing parliament faced historic challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to Russia’s war in Ukraine. It rose to the occasion, advancing key legislative proposals and promoting the European Green Deal as a flagship project. By Roderick Kefferpütz
3 Questions on EU-Iran relations to MEP Hannah Neumann 3 questions Supporting a range of militias in the Middle East and providing weapons to Russia in its war against Ukraine, Iran is increasingly in the geopolitical spotlight. At the same time, Iranian women are still fighting for their rights, while legislative voting took place on 1 March 2024. So, we asked three questions to MEP Hannah Neumann (Greens/EFA), Chair of the EP Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula, Member of the EP Delegation for relations with Iran, as well as Standing Rapporteur on Iran, regarding how she sees EU-Iran relations moving forward. By Roderick Kefferpütz and Hannah Neumann
"I have nothing to regret or repent for" - Russian human rights activist Oleg Orlov sentenced to prison Plea On February 27 2024, the well-known Russian human rights activist Oleg Orlov, co-founder and long-time director of the Memorial human rights centre, was sentenced to two years and six months of prison Moscow and arrested in the courtroom - for "repeated discrediting of the Russian army."
3 Questions on European security to MdB Sara Nanni 3 questions EU nukes, EU army, EU Defence Commissioner – the debate on European security and defence is heating up. It feels like every week a new political proposal is made. So we asked three questions to Sara Nanni, Member of the German Bundestag and the Green parliamentary group’s spokesperson on defence policy, on how she views the latest developments. By Roderick Kefferpütz and Sara Nanni
"We all must fight for our democracy" Interview The Europe that will go to the polls in June 2024 is very different from that of 2019. Pandemic recovery, the climate and energy crisis, war in the continent, and the rise of the far right are all driving the narratives of the electoral campaign, but also mobilising progressive forces. Roderick Kefferpütz interviews MEP Terry Reintke, Co-President of the Greens/EFA Group and Spitzenkandidatin for the European Greens, on Green solutions for Europe in uncertain and volatile times. By Roderick Kefferpütz and Terry Reintke
Böll EU Newsletter 1/2024 - Letter from our Director Newsletter The fabric of the European security order is fraying. Putin’s imperialist revisionism threatens Europe. Trump is undermining US security guarantees for Europe. And Orbán’s vetoes are impeding European action. This is nothing new; the writing has been on the wall for a long time. What has changed is the urgency. Putin’s revisionism, Trump’s erraticism, and Orbán’s obstructionism are coming to a head. It’s crunch time. By Roderick Kefferpütz
Taiwan: and the winner is… democracy! Analysis On 13 January 2024, Taiwan successfully conducted presidential and legislative elections. The people have shown that their hard-fought democracy is the one value everybody can agree on. There were no big surprises. The DPP won the presidency and now faces a divided parliament in which no party holds a majority. This article analyses what this means for Taiwan, as well as cross-strait and EU-Taiwan relations. By Christina Sadeler