Trading partners? Europe's options against Trump's tariffs | Böll EU Brief 01/2025

Sonali Chowdhry, Julian Hinz and Hendrik Mahlkow analyse the potential consequences of rising US tariffs on European trade and explores strategic responses available to the EU, highlighting the economic risks of a tariff war for each individual EU Member State and outlining alternative strategies for the EU to safeguard its economic interests.

Northern EU enlargement in sight? Seizing momentum in uncertain times | Böll EU Brief 04/2025

Northern EU accession is becoming a political possibility that requires attention. Bundling enlargement could help build momentum. A carefully sequenced enlargement round that includes both Nordic and southeastern and eastern candidates could reinvigorate a fatigued debate. However, the EU needs to be careful to only incentivise, rather than push, EU accession. By Minna Ålander (Chatham House).

Discussion paper | Budgeting for security? Assessing EU funding instruments for defence

Anton Möller and Georg McCutcheon argue that the EU's ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 package proposal has limited fiscal impact and is unable to address the persistent lack of coordination among Member States, as it does not adequately incentivise joint procurement. Instead, the authors suggest to future-proof the EU's fiscal rules and develop an EU grants-mechanism tied to strategic cooperation, greater parliamentary oversight, and a broader concept of security that includes climate and democratic resilience. Finally, the paper also explores how increased defence demand risks fuelling excessive profits and market concentration.

Actually European!? 2025 Embracing cooperative leadership in Europe

A majority of citizens in Germany have a positive view of the new federal government‘s pledge for a stronger leadership role in the EU, but clearly advocate for doing so in a cooperative manner. These findings come from the latest edition of our long-term study 'Actually European!?' on Germany’s role in the EU, by Georg McCutcheon (Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung) and Dr. Maria Skóra (Das Progressive Zentrum).

UPDATED Factsheet | Platforms' policies on climate change misinformation

This document is a revised and updated version of the technical document Platforms’ policies on climate change misinformation first published in 2023. At that time, the Digital Services Act (DSA) had not yet entered into force. Therefore, platforms had no legal obligation to address climate disinformation in the EU, and each one did so in its own way, with varying levels of ambition and effectiveness. The DSA is now in force, but climate disinformation is not explicitly recognised as a “systemic risk”. With this regulatory gap in mind, we set out to examine how platform responses to climate disinformation evolved or failed to evolve between 2023 and 2025, and what their policies look like in practice. By Ana Romero-Vicente (EU DisinfoLab).

"If the EU wants peace, it needs to prepare for war" 

Our deterrence can only be backed by real numbers. How many weapons we have, how large is our army, wider military, and personnel numbers, and so on. That is why we need to move now with our implementation as quickly as possible. An interview with Andrius Kubilius, the European Union’s Commissioner for Defence and Space. Interview by Joanna Maria Stolarek and Adam L. Reichardt.

Despite its plan to cut emissions by 90% in 2040, the EU misses a robust response to the climate crisis

How will the EU contribute to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during the 2030s? The EU should have come up with a plan already last year if it had followed its own Climate Law and if was to fulfil its duties as a signing party of the Paris Climate Agreement. Now, after much delay, the European Commission has finally presented its legislative proposal for a new 2040 climate target. But is it enough? Commentary by Jörg Mühlenhoff.

Vacancy: Trainee (October 2025-February 2026)

The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union office in Brussels is welcoming applications for its traineeship programme, running from 1 October 2025 to 28 February 2026. The deadline for applications is Thursday 31 July 2025, 23:59 CEST.

Vacancy: Student Assistant (September-December 2025)

The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union office in Brussels is welcoming applications for a Student Assistant, to start in early September 2025, until mid-December 2025. The deadline for applications is Thursday 31 July 2025, 23:59 CEST.

Apply for project funding (2025)

While the majority of grants and projects are identified and initiated by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union | Global Dialogue office, we welcome proposals that align with our values and make a positive contribution to our programmatic work. For projects proposals for 2025, the deadline for application is Monday 15 September 2025, 23:59 CEST.

Climate disinformation media fellowship 2025

For the third time, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union | Global Dialogue, in partnership with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Washington, DC, is looking for a select number of journalists reporting on climate disinformation. Apply now if you have research ideas on the threat of growing climate denialism, the relation between big tech and climate obstruction, the climate counter-disinformation community or similar topics. The application deadline is Tuesday 9 September 2025, 23:59 CEST.

Terms of Reference: Consultancy Young Advocates for Democracy Programme

The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung's Global Unit for Democracy and Human Rights in Brussels is welcoming applications for a consultancy within the context of the Young Advocates for Democracy Programme. The deadline for applications is Sunday 10 August 2025, 23:59 CEST. 

The rise of the U.S. “Tech Right” and its implications for Europe
24.07.2025, 15:00 CEST

In this US Briefing webinar, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung explores current developments in US Digital policy and dives into critical questions on the impact of US politics on European tech regulation: What are the common goals of the tech right in the US, and how do these overlap with the Trump administration's agenda? What does the US digital policy agenda mean for Europe and the rest of the world? Are there areas where the US and Europe may yet find common ground, such as the protection of children online?

25th Foreign Policy Conference Reclaiming Peace? Freedom and Security in a Fragmented World
29.09.2025, 10:00 CEST

The 25th Foreign Policy Conference by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung will explore how peace and security are being redefined in an increasingly fragmented world. What does it take to reclaim peace and security from a progressive, Green perspective? How can these notions be re-anchored in democratic freedom, dignity and human rights — rather than surrendered to authoritarian reinterpretation?