Section: Heinrich Boell Foundation (Germany)
Why Germany needs a European Energiewende
From the national unilateralism to the European project. The German energy market will only be successful if it cooperates with its European neighbors. The origin of the German Energiewende is purely national. Indeed, when the German federal government decided to embark on the restructuring of Germany’s energy system, it did so without...
Heinrich Böll – a chronicle of his life and work
Heinrich Böll was one of the most significant writers of the post-war years. In this chronicle we remind of his life, his writings and political interventions. His courageous and unerring intervention influenced political culture in Germany. Throughout his life, Heinrich Böll transcended ideological boundaries in his committed support of...
“A coalition is not a love match” – Interview with Ralf Fücks
Are the Greens compatible with Angela Merkel? An interview with Ralf Fücks, president of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, on coalitions with Merkel, the rise of the AfD, as well as the foundation’s development over the past 20 years. Green European Journal: There are more and more liberal and left-leaning people in Germany (even among Green...
Trump’s foreign policy – Key areas for transatlantic partners to watch closely
Donald Trump’s statements on foreign policy have often been controversial, but also inconsistent. Since his election, the world wonders in which direction U.S. foreign policy will evolve. Many commentators have pointed out that there might be a shift towards a semi-isolationist approach and a renunciation of the liberal, multilateral, and...
The Marrakesh Climate Negotiations – a Mirror of a Divided World and Silent Europe
Compared to COP21 where the EU had a decisive bridge-building role between developed and developing countries in leading a strong climate coalition, in Marrakesh Europe appeared silent and divided. “Have a bias toward action – let’s see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right...
A Slippery Slope: The USA after the Presidential elections
Ralf Fücks visited the United States in the week after the elections for talks and events in New York and Washington DC. Reflections and highlights from a nation in shock. First impressions We arrive in New York five days after Donald Trump was elected the new US President on the night of November 8. The shock is slowly turning into anger....
The G7 and G20 in the global governance landscape
The Group of Seven (G7) and the Group of Twenty (G20) are informal governance clubs, which hold annual Summits of Heads of State to discuss issues of global importance. The G7 is a more homogenous, intimate group, which has been meeting for decades. It is a subset – a club in the club – of the newer and more diverse G20, which represents...
Sleepless in Europe ─ the Implications of Trump’s Presidential Victory
The victory of Donald Trump and the way his election campaign was conducted will have multiple effects on politics in the EU, sleepless nights are already one of them.I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. The last time a vote of historic proportions took place, I went to bed thinking catastrophe might just be averted. The next...
The European Union under authoritarian challenges
There’s an active interplay between anti-liberal movements and political parties within the EU and an authoritarian challenge from the outside, especially from Russia, Ralf Fücks – president of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung – told EurActiv Czech Republic. EurActiv: The EU is facing several challenges coming from both outside and inside. In order...
Parliamentary Elections in Georgia
A few days ago, the Georgian population elected a portion of the 9th parliament since the country’s independence. In more than 50 single-member districts a second round of elections is scheduled. A few days ago, the Georgian population elected a portion of the 9th parliament since the country’s independence. (In more than 50...
