Democracy

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.

"The international order will be rebuilt out of Europe." A striking claim from Canadian PM Mark Carney, but is it right? Our latest newsletter argues it will be rebuilt with Europe, not by it alone. Also inside: Hungary's democratic hopes after the election, our latest publications and upcoming events.

Hungary has chosen a new start, giving a boost to democracy across Europe. A broad alliance of politics and civil society demonstrates just how powerful solidarity and the courage to embrace change can be. This presents both opportunities and challenges for European cooperation.

AI is no longer just a technological issue – it sits at the heart of Europe’s regulatory agenda and democratic future. From the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) to emerging frameworks on trustworthy AI, the EU is actively shaping how power, responsibility and accountability are distributed in the digital sphere. At the same time, AI’s impact on labour, markets and global competition is accelerating. Karen Hao’s investigative work sheds light on how dominant tech companies are driving the current AI boom, often outpacing existing governance tools. Her reporting raises urgent questions about concentration of power, data extraction, and the gap between innovation and oversight. In this conversation, Karen Hao reflected on her global research and engage with the European approach to digital regulation. The discussion with MEP Alexandra Geese (Greens/EFA) explored how the EU can build on its DSA and DMA foundations to advance ethical, human-centric AI – ensuring that technological development aligns with democratic values, protects workers, and serves the public interest. Moderated by by Roderick Kefferpütz.

Trump has turned against the UK and Keir Starmer is looking to Europe for allies. Brexit has flatlined the economy, the White House has shown its contempt, and British public opinion has quietly shifted. For the first time in years, a UK government is making a serious case for rapprochement on trade, defence, and beyond. But after years of hostility, the EU is sceptical about Britain's overtures. Is this a genuine turning point, or the same old cherry-picking?

The opposition’s overwhelming election victory and the ousting of the Orbán regime are of historic significance for Hungary and the whole of Europe. A conversation with Bulcsú Hunyadi from the Budapest based think tank Political Capital on the reasons behind the success of the TISZA party, the challenges facing the future government, and the tireless efforts of civil society.

Hungary has voted, and in doing so, sent a message to democratic forces worldwide. Péter Magyar's Tisza Party won a historic supermajority, ending 16 years of Viktor Orbán's authoritarian rule. But rebuilding democracy, restoring the Rule of Law, and repairing Hungary's relationship with the EU will be a monumental task. We asked Adéla Jurečková, Director of our Prague office (covering Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary) what the result means for Hungary, Europe, and Ukraine.

Donald Trump is once again threatening to pull the US out of NATO. But you don't need to leave an alliance to make it ineffective. For Europe, the conclusion is unavoidable: we need to stand on our own two feet. Our latest newsletter also looks at why the false hype around small modular reactors deserves serious scrutiny, and our recent content and upcoming events.

The European Commission released its new EU Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030, setting the course for EU gender policy over the next five years. While the previous strategy (2020–2025) brought progress in several areas, it struggled to effectively address the rise of anti-gender ideologies and integrate gender equality across broader EU policy frameworks. In recent years, the growth of far-right and anti-feminist movements across Europe has highlighted the urgent need for a more comprehensive and resilient approach to defending gender equality and democratic values. In this context, we discussed on 19 March 2026 the new EU Gender Equality Strategy and our newly published report 'Defending Equality in an Age of Democratic Decline – Reframing Europe’s Gender Equality Strategy for 2026–2030' with its author Rémy Bonny (Forbidden Colours) and MEP Alexandra Geese (Greens/EFA), moderated by Louise Mollenhauer (Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung EU | Global Dialogue).

Westminster woke up to what the BBC called a "seismic event." In the Gorton and Denton by-election, Green candidate Hannah Spencer didn't just edge ahead. She won decisively with over 40% of the vote, reshaping assumptions about the limits of Green politics in the UK. It marked the first ever Westminster by-election victory for the Greens, adding to their seats from the 2024 general election and bringing their total to five MPs. In a fragmented political landscape where Labour and Reform were expected to dominate the contest, voters chose a different path. What does this victory tell us about shifting political coalitions? Is this a protest vote or something more durable? And can the Greens translate a by-election breakthrough into sustained national momentum? Roderick Kefferpütz asked Natalie Bennett, Green Party peer in the House of Lords, and former leader of the Green Party of England and Wales (2012-2016), for her take.