Democracy

Across Europe, young men are increasingly engaging with far-right politics and narratives online. But how does this process actually work and what can progressive actors do differently to reach young men? These questions have been explored in a new cross-country study on the so-called 'Manosphere'  examining digital ecosystems targeting young men in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. In this webinar, we discussed what the research tells us about how young men engage with political content online, where progressive communication currently falls short, and how progressive actors could develop more engaging narratives and communication strategies.

The European Commission has published its pre-enlargement policy reviews on 6 October 2026, setting out how the EU should prepare for future enlargements. With gradual integration, possible safeguards in future accession treaties and reforms to the EU’s decision-making rules all under discussion, the reviews put the focus on both the path to membership and the changes needed within the EU itself. We discuss the latest proposals, key reforms and the upcoming European Council summit with MEP Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA), Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation to the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee.

Associate membership, UK return talk, gradual enlargement: integration in changing shape while the EU's political centre weakens. Read more in our latest newsletter.

Britain’s new prime minister has said that Brexit was a mistake and Britain should have a much closer relationship with the European Union. Ros Taylor looks at what that relationship could look like, and asks whether there is a chance the UK will rejoin the EU or the single market.

Die internationale Ordnung ist im Umbruch. Russlands Angriffskrieg gegen die Ukraine stellt Europa vor historische Herausforderungen und wirft grundlegende Fragen auf nach Abschreckung, Verteidigungsfähigkeit und langfristiger Stabilität. Gleichzeitig erhöhen neue geopolitische Rivalitäten, wirtschaftliche Abhängigkeiten und globale Krisen den Druck auf die Europäische Union, strategisch handlungsfähiger zu werden. Insbesondere vor dem Hintergrund einer Neuausrichtung der US-amerikanischen Außenpolitik. Über diese Entwicklungen sprach am 22. September 2026 Robert Habeck, Vizekanzler und Bundesminister für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz a.D. (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) mit Helga Schmidt, Journalistin und ehemalige Leiterin des ARD-Studios in Brüssel (Hörfunk). Im Mittelpunkt standen dabei zentrale Fragen für die Zukunft Europas: Welche Rolle kann und sollte Europa in Zeiten wachsender geopolitischer Spannungen einnehmen? Wie kann die EU ihre Sicherheit, Interessen und Werte wirksam schützen, und mit welchen Partnern?

The Berlin election has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, with the fringes gaining strength whilst the centre erodes. Surprisingly, The Left has emerged as the strongest force. The Greens have fallen short of their election target and lost key districts, but are playing a central role in the formation of the government.

The candidate makes all the difference; the CDU finds itself outside parliament for the first time the Greens secure their place in the state parliament and are highly likely to become a governing party. The AfD becomes the strongest force and the sole opposition party.

The state election reflects a deep-seated division. The far right narrowly missed securing the absolute majority it had sought, thereby triggering a political earthquake. Forming a government is likely to prove difficult.

Europe faces war, trade tensions, climate chaos and AI disruption all at once, with limited political bandwidth to match. This month's newsletter explores what real capacity to act requires: dynamic institutions, bold partnerships beyond full EU membership, political leadership amid fraying centrism, and the funding to back it all up.

The new British prime minister is a far better communicator than Keir Starmer. But we have little idea of his thinking about the world beyond Britain, says Ros Taylor. For the moment, Andy Burnham’s priorities lie at home.

Since Germany’s last federal election in 2025, its centrist parties have lost large numbers of voters to the fringes – particularly to the Right. At the same time, the Greens have also regained ground. A new study gives clues as to how a centre-left political platform can secure a strong governing majority.

The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung's Global Unit for Democracy and Human Rights in Brussels is welcoming applications for its traineeship programme, running from mid-September 2026 to December 2026. The deadline for applications is Sunday, 16 August 2026, 23:59 CEST.

Franziska Brantner and Joschka Fischer spoke about the state of the country, for the new Böll.Thema 1/26,. Brantner is Member of the Bundestag since 2013 and Co-Leader of the German green party Alliance 90/The Greens since 2024. Fischer was the first ever Green Vice-Chancellor (1998-2005).

Europe is heavily dependent on US companies for cloud services, AI and digital infrastructure. However, the close ties between Big Tech and politics in the US exacerbate the risks associated with this dependence. The EU needs to realign its digital strategy.

Record heatwaves have swept across Europe this summer, and climate change no longer feels like a distant warning. It is part of daily life. Cutting emissions remains essential, but Europe will keep warming regardless. That means climate policy must also embrace adaptation: cooler cities, more green spaces, resilient buildings, and protection for those most exposed to extreme heat. Check out also our latest content and upcoming events.

It has forced Keir Starmer to resign. Now the Labour Party is pinning all its hopes on Andy Burnham, a charismatic mayor from Manchester, writes Ros Taylor. It knows the alternative is a far right government. 

Denmark's Green Party (SF) has just made history, entering government as the country's second-largest party after the March 2026 election reshuffled the Folketing. With five ministers in the new cabinet, SF holds more influence than at any point in the party's history. MEP Rasmus Nordqvist reflects on what that means for the green transition, how Danish climate ambition connects to a stalling EU agenda, and how the party is navigating the tension between its values and the security priorities of a new coalition operating in an uncertain geopolitical moment.

From the Digital Services Act to EuroStack, MEP Alexandra Geese argues that Europe's digital sovereignty will not be won by copying US platform models. It requires investment, industrial policy, and the courage to build on Europe's own democratic strengths.

The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union | Global Dialogue office in Brussels is welcoming applications for its traineeship programme, running from September 2026 to February 2027. The deadline for applications is Sunday 28 June 2026, 23:59 CEST.

The AI gold rush is rewriting the rules of energy, politics and society at once. Europe's answer so far has been a sovereignty debate. Our latest newsletter argues the bigger question is what kind of society AI will create.