Regions Europe Landingpage | Heinrich Böll Stiftung

Executive board of the Heinrich Böll Foundation Jan Philipp Albrecht and Imme Scholz on a green background with the words “Get Involved - Presidents' Column”

Dossiers

A Guide to the US Democratic Primaries

Article

The world is watching as the United States prepares for its next election marathon. Many Europeans want to know where the Democratic presidential hopefuls stand on issues from climate change or migration to regulating Big Tech. But where to start with more than 20 candidates? We try to cut a path through the US Democratic primary jungle.

Hannah Winnick, Sabine Muscat

Europe’s East - Ideas for the EU’s Policy vis-à-vis its Eastern Neighbors

Prior to the 11. Annual Foreign Policy Conference, we offer suggestions in this matter for a green policy towards the Eastern neighbors of the EU, different views and possible strategies.

Publications

The European Pillar in NATO: From Hollow to Concrete

Policy Paper

It is near consensual among Europeans that they need to strengthen the ‘European pillar in NATO’. This study traces the evolution of the concept of the European pillar, delineates potential meaning, and spells out what it would take to operationalize it.

Dr Leonard Schütte

Green Priorities for a Better EU Budget

Policy Paper

The European Commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 MFF opens a chance to raise ambition on climate, social, economic and security goals. This framing paper outlines key budget needs, priority areas and governance reforms.

Georg McCutcheon, Anton Möller, Taube Van Melkebeke

The Missing Middle

Policy Paper

The next MFF proposes centralised National and Regional Partnership Plans, shifting power to national governments and the European Commission. While promising coherence, this risks weaker regional involvement and oversight.

Tsvetelina Kuzmanova

Advancing Social Policy in the 2028–2034 EU Multiannual Financial Framework

Policy Paper

The 2028–2034 MFF proposal acknowledges social pressures but risks diluting the EU’s social dimension. Social spending is consolidated without a dedicated European Social Fund line, while guarantees are weakened.

Réka Tunyogi

New EU Own Resources to Strengthen Europe’s Long-Term Budget

Policy Paper

The European Commission’s new MFF proposal introduces five new own resources to fund Next Generation EU debt and modernise EU revenues. This paper assesses the package and argues for a balanced basket of genuine new resources to support EU goals.

Dr. Margit Schratzenstaller