Europe

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, Jaques Delors Centre, Berlin) and Piotr Buras (European Council on Foreign Relations, Warsaw) moderated by Jan Philipp Albrecht, President, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. 

The European right to freedom of movement allows any EU citizen to live, work and move freely between Member States, ensuring equal treatment and non-discrimination. However, if you take a closer look at this picture, some gaps appear. As is tragic with respect to most such gaps, it is already-vulnerable groups which are most likely to fall through them.

In this analytical piece, Jessica Varela dives into the history of black Germany in their quest for full citizenship from the late nineteenth century until 1921.

The concept of Heimat, which is rooted in German-speaking countries, raises questions of belonging and is often misused on the right-wing political spectrum. The AfD, a German populist party on the right, even uses food in its exclusionary othering strategy against migration

Brexiters promised that leaving the EU would enable Britain to embrace a new global role. Arthur Snell explains why, despite the fillip of its support for Ukraine, the UK is struggling to establish a place in the world order.

Poland is considered a problem child in the European Union. Although Polish people remain enthusiastic about the EU, there is a great deal of friction at the political level, not least because of Poland's violation of the rule of law. However, diplomat Dr Marek Prawda sees opportunities for a better Europe in German-Polish cooperation.