Search results

[...] The international landscape is marked by escalating geopolitical tensions, leading to the weaponisation of economic dependencies. In response, particularly since 2019, the EU has introduced a variety of new instruments aimed at safeguarding itself from unfair competitive practices, such as dumping and subsidies, and from coercive measures intended to effect political change through economic pressure. For the[...]

[...] The report is the outcome of the first "European Conclave" held in November last year at the presidential palace in Cascais at the invitation of the Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The Conclave, which was co-initiated by the Bertelsmann Stiftung as an institutional partner and organised by the leading French think tank EuropaNova, brought together 46 leading minds from all over Europe with diverse[...]

[...] 1,002 up-and-coming opera singers from 73 countries have applied for the 20th NEUE STIMMEN International Singing Competition this year. In the first of three selection rounds, all applicants go through a digital application process. In addition to providing information about their age, vocal range, training and stage experience, they are required to submit two opera arias on video. This is also a challenge for the[...]

[...] ‘We now know that we need to reform. Now we need to focus both on the timetable and the roadmap for both reform and enlargement,’ emphasized Thiago Antunes, underlining the urgency of the reform agenda. Following the landmark European Council meeting in December 2023, the debate has shifted from 'why' to 'how' both processes should unfold. It's clear that without reform, the EU's institutional framework will[...]

[...] At the presentation of its priorities for 2024, the Bertelsmann Stiftung welcomed Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz to its Berlin premises at Werderscher Markt for a panel discussion with political scientist Ivan Krastev and Bertelsmann Stiftung Executive Board member Daniela Schwarzer. In addition to Liz Mohn and members of the Bertelsmann Stiftung Board of Trustees, other renowned figures from the political arena,[...]

[...] Through its work, the Bertelsmann Stiftung aims to make democracy crisis-proof and sustainable. Here is an overview of our activities and priorities in this area: The Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index The quality of democracy in developing and transition countries has steadily deteriorated over the past twenty years. Today, there are only 63 democracies compared to a majority of 74 autocracies - this is[...]

[...] This was the main discussion topic for the Panel ‘More deliberation, more impact? Connecting European Citizens Initiative and European Citizens Panels’ organized on 5th of March during the ECI day and as a part of the Civil Society Week in the EU Committee of the Regions in Brussels. The Panel brought together well-known intellectuals, practitioners and academic experts on citizen participation: David van[...]

[...] The study, which was carried out together with GWS, reveals that the energy transition is particularly advantageous for lagging rural regions. These regions stand to benefit significantly in terms of employment and value added from the adoption of green energy, surpassing the losses incurred from relinquishing fossil fuels. Conversely, urban regions are more likely to face negative overall effects. In summary, the[...]

[...] Revitalising politics: More citizen participation for more trust in Europe The Winter School Training "Becoming a Participation Professional" is part of the democracy programme "Young Elected Politicians YEP" for young politicians from Europe. The centrepiece of the training was learning and practising different participation methods. These can be used to directly involve citizens at local and regional level. There[...]

[...] It has become evident, especially since the takeover of X (formerly Twitter) by Elon Musk, that the digital discourse is increasingly shaped by fragmentation and polarization. The recommendation systems of online platforms play a crucial role in this trend. These systems are based on algorithmic decision-making and are currently designed to maximize interaction with content. The critical factor here is not the[...]