Democracy online: The Canadian debate on digital platform regulations Published: 12 April 2024 Podcast episode Governments around the world are trying to tackle “Big Tech”, and in Canada, the government has rolled out a package of digital legislation: Bill C-11 and C-18. But it isn’t without controversy. This Böll.Spotlight podcast episode takes a closer look at these bills, how they’ll affect the average Canadian, the criticisms and what this means for European legislation. By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
The EU AI Act and environmental protection: the case for a missed opportunity Published: 8 April 2024 Commentary The AI Act has finally overcome its latest hurdle in the European Union’s legislative procedure after its adoption by the European Parliament. However, a void in its final version draws attention to the weakening of obligations aimed at reducing AI’s environmental impacts, despite the technology’s severe impacts on local communities, fauna and flora, both within and beyond European borders, particularly in the Majority World. This commentary investigates the opportunities missed by EU bodies to address such impacts during the AI Act debates. By José Renato Laranjeira de Pereira
New Climate Clarity Hub Published: 2 April 2024 Info hub The new Climate Clarity Hub is a platform that consolidates knowledge and expertise on climate mis|disinformation. Developed by EU DisinfoLab and supported by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, it seeks to confront climate pessimism and call for action, sharing knowledge, analysis, content, resources and anecdotes both from an ecological activism perspective and within the counter-disinformation community. By EU DisinfoLab
“We have to demonstrate that free societies do things better” Published: 28 March 2024 Interview Timothy Garton Ash is one of the greatest political voices in Europe. In his latest book “Homelands,” he tells the story of how Europe emerged from the ravages of war in 1945, recovered, rebuilt, and moved towards the ideal of a Europe that is “whole, free, and at peace” ‒ until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A conversation with Roderick Kefferpütz about shattered illusions, the war in Ukraine, democratic backsliding, and the fight for freedom. By Roderick Kefferpütz and Timothy Garton Ash
Böll.Thema 1/24: Europa - Ein Versprechen Published: 27 March 2024 böll.thema War in Europe, the worsening climate crisis, Europe's position in the global power structure: the EU is facing historic challenges. The European elections in June 2024 will decide what happens next. Current surveys see right-wing populist parties on the rise. They stir up fears about the future and stir up sentiment against Brussels without themselves having answers to the problems of our time. But we need positive and courageous ideas for Europe. [Publication in German] By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
Actually European!? 2024 Public opinion in Germany ahead of the European elections Published: 21 March 2024 Summary The 2024 European elections will take place from June 6 to 9 in the shadow of multiple crises. Populist and radical right-wing forces could benefit from this. Projections predict a shift to the right in the next European Parliament. These forces seek to renationalize European politics and weaken the EU‘s ability to act together. Specifically, the European Green Deal and support for Ukraine could be curbed. The EU would be weakened at a time when it has to solve major challenges for the future. In this context, the sixth edition of the long-term study Actually European!? examines how the German population views the European elections and what they expect from their government at the EU level. By Dr. Christine Pütz and Johannes Hillje
No carte blanche for Orbán - the European Parliament takes the European Commission to court Published: 20 March 2024 Event recording The European Parliament made a decisive move on 11 March 2024 to initiate a lawsuit against the European Commission before the European Court of Justice, following the contentious release of €10.2 billion in frozen EU cohesion funds for Hungary. This occurred despite Hungary ceasing to be a democracy and continuing to suffer from systemic corruption and rule of law deficiencies according to experts, multiple indexes and the EP itself. This webinar took place on 20 March 2024, with Márta Pardavi (Hungarian Helsinki Committee), Kim Lane Scheppele (Princeton School of Public and International Affairs) and Prof. Laurent Pech (Sutherland School of Law), moderated by Adéla Jurečková, Director of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Prague. By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Prague
Towards the 2024 European Parliament elections: How can EU reform and enlargement succeed? Published: 8 March 2024 Event recording Why is EU institutional reform important and what are the priorities? What is the connection between EU reform and enlargement? How would a possible right-wing shift affect the EU’s ability to carry out internal reforms and how can reform and enlargement still succeed? This panel discussion took place in Berlin on 7 March 2024, with Dr. Thu Nguyen (Deputy Director, Jacques Delors Centre, Berlin) and Piotr Buras (Head of Office, European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), Warsaw), moderated by Jan Philipp Albrecht, President, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
Böll EU Newsletter 2/2024 - Letter from our Director Published: 5 March 2024 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 Published: 4 March 2024 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