Dear friends,
This May invites a moment of reflection. We mark Europe Day and 75 years of the Schuman Declaration, a proposal that laid the foundation for what would eventually become the EU. We also commemorate 80 years since the end of World War II, and 70 years since Germany joined NATO.
These dates remind us of how our continent’s institutions have woven diverse countries together in peace, prosperity and shared values.
Despite the many challenges they face, they remain incredible poles of attraction. The European Union – imperfect though it may be – exerts a magnetic pull in these times. Support for EU membership is rising in places as unexpected as Iceland, Norway, and Greenland. And across the Atlantic, recent polls show that many Canadians would welcome EU membership if it were on offer.
Trump’s tariff war has also led many countries to seek closer economic ties with the EU. We should seize this strategic opening. In the first edition of our new Böll EU Brief, featured in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, we show how the EU can respond to US protectionism by deepening trade partnerships with like-minded countries such as Japan and South Korea. The Böll EU Brief is our new format for delivering sharp, accessible analysis on key EU policy issues in just 10 minutes.
Meanwhile the UK and EU are seeking to strengthen their security relations. Expectations are high that a security and defence partnership will be forged at the upcoming summit on 19 May. Stay tuned for insights from our office in this regard.
In this dynamically changing world, the EU’s role is forced to evolve and we are actively contributing to this conversation. On 15 May, together with the Representation of North Rhine-Westphalia to the EU, we are hosting a fully booked public debate with leading figures like Jürgen Trittin, David McAllister, Delphine Pronk and Almut Möller.
Meanwhile strengthening our own team for the challenges ahead, we are looking for a new Head of Programme for EU and International Politics. If you are passionate about shaping Europe’s foreign and security policy and its role in the world, I encourage you to apply by Sunday 4 May.
As we commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War, we must reflect not only on the past but on how historical narratives shape our politics today. Our Berlin headquarters will host the 13th European History Forum, exploring how history is remembered, reinterpreted, and mobilised across the continent.
And in this challenging international environment, the issue of climate change is not disappearing. We are continuing our work on the green transformation and the fight against climate disinformation. On 12 May, we launch the Green Deal Risk Radar 2.0 with a public webinar on climate ambition and the clean industrial deal. To mark World Press Freedom Day, our HQ will hold a webinar on the role of independent journalism, followed by a dedicated session from our EU office on climate disinformation on 15 May, where we expose the biggest climate disinfo threats of 2025 and what we can do about them.
The challenges before us are great – but so is Europe’s potential. As we mark the upcoming Europe Day, we are reminded that the European Union has always been a project of progress in the face of adversity. That spirit will be essential in the months and years ahead.
Warm regards,
