"of bodies new and strange" – the future of human love in the age of AI Published: 4 September 2023 Essay Aifric Campbell explores the future of love and intimacy as our attention to humans is seduced by machines. By Aifric Campbell
The long summer of 2023: Why do we need to talk about the protests in Serbia? Published: 30 August 2023 Analysis Severe heatwaves are not the only factor boiling up the atmosphere in Serbia this summer. Tens of thousands of people have been taking to the streets in a wave of protests for 12 consecutive weeks. The scale of these protests, erupting in Belgrade and spreading across almost 40 Serbian cities and towns, is the most massive wave over the last 20 years. One cannot help but wonder if the boiling tension on the streets amidst a volatile environment is a prelude to a supercell democratic storm determined to drive social change. By Tara Tepavac
Civil society proposals to reconcile trade rules with the need for regulatory action Published: 13 July 2023 Commentary When governments adopt new legislation, they need to check if their plan is in line with international agreements they signed up to. Consumer and digital rights organisations from the EU and the US are concerned that rules in trade agreements could deter domestic regulation that is in the public interest. To address this, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung and Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue organised a discussion between NGOs, public officials, parliamentarians, and academics. The NGOs aimed to raise awareness and find solutions to prevent trade rules from discouraging government action and ensure improved protection for citizens writes Léa Auffret. By Léa Auffret
Remaining on the right side of history – An interview with Gergely Karácsony, the Green Mayor of Budapest Published: 5 July 2023 Interview Gergely Karácsony talks about the financial situation of Budapest, the consequences of Covid-19 and the energy crisis, the role of the EU in ensuring the self-governance of cities, future greening projects, and the impact on Hungary of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. By Anna Frenyó
We still can safeguard our freedoms Published: 28 June 2023 Commentary The catastrophic flooding in Italy shows how the climate crisis is already threatening our lives and quality of living here in Europe. We know what we need to do to slow it down. But the longer we wait, the greater the restrictions on our freedom will be in the future. By Jan Philipp Albrecht
More uncertainty ahead in Northern Ireland Published: 20 June 2023 Commentary Although the Windsor Framework was broadly welcomed in Northern Ireland as a way of avoiding the alarming prospect of a hard border with the Republic or Ireland, the Stormont Assembly is still suspended. This means the devolved government is unable to take any significant decisions. Amanda Ferguson explains why and looks at what happens next. By Amanda Ferguson
Exploring intersections: a feminist perspective on digital and foreign policy Published: 1 June 2023 Commentary Not even ten years after being mentioned for the very first time, feminist foreign policy has made it into the political mainstream: the guidelines ‘Shaping a Feminist Foreign Policy’ of the German Federal Foreign Office outline a strategic shift in German foreign politics. At the same time, digital policy has become more and more international. By Elisa Lindinger and Julia Kloiber
Regulating at a glacial pace: barriers to progress written into our trade regimes Published: 30 May 2023 Commentary We’re at a climate tipping point, yet international trade rules remain a persistent barrier to climate action. Momentum is also quickly building toward a digital tipping point: one where Big Tech surveillance is too far out of control to reign in, and where human rights and democracy only exist at the whim of tech corporations. Recurrent trade pressures could impact the willingness of the EU and the US to take action to better protect consumers in the digital market, or even to act to fight against climate change. So how did we get here, and what role do the new US–EU cooperation venues have to play? By Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue
Roderick Kefferpütz, new Director of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union Published: 16 May 2023 Press release Roderick Kefferpütz is the new Director of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union office in Brussels as of 15 May 2023. He takes over from Eva van de Rakt, who has been Head of the European Union and North America Division at the headquarters of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung in Berlin since May 2023. By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Roderick Kefferpütz
Towards a feminist strategy of care for Europe: survey for women in leadership Published: 26 April 2023 Survey Through this survey, we are seeking to shine a light on what is happening for Women CSO leaders in Europe as working culture and systems are shifting in the wake of COVID; in light of multiple systemic crises as well as the impact of #MeToo, #BLM and climate movements. Four progressive European foundations join forces around this joint project: FEPS (Foundation for European Progressive Studies), FES (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung), GEF (Green European Foundation) and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union. The feminist leadership expert Joanna Maycock and systemic change specialist Céline Charveriat are working together to conduct the research. As a recognition of the time you contribute to completing this survey we are offering a free quickfire coaching session.