European Union (EU)

The recent election in Greece and the victory of Nea Dimokratia has strengthened Conservatives in Europe. The opposition in Greece is in a dire situation. They won't be able to put pressure on the new government, as they are too weak. 

The national elections of May 21st led to a historic victory of the conservative Nea Dimokratia, seem to have reshuffled the political landscape in the country, yet Greece is set for a second election in a month time. Michalis Goudis, Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Thessaloniki Office - Greece, provides a read of the election result.

This year`s representative survey reveals that citizens expect Germany to play a more active role in the EU.

The Heinrich Böll Stiftung’s Foreign Policy Conference in February gave a snapshot of the German Green Party’s foreign policy priorities vis-à-vis Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

A recent opinion poll by 21 Research Centre investigated how Hungarian people perceive different media outlets in the country and how they access political information.

The Russian aggression against Ukraine weakens Russia's hegemony in the post-Soviet space. Countries such as Turkey and China are becoming important players in the reorganization of the regional order. The EU must improve its policy towards the eastern neighborhood in order to remain a relevant stakeholder.

The once lively scene of local and national Ukrainian media is threatened by the brutal Russian invasion and occupation. War has changed the work of journalists and media business models are under threat.

The use of spyware against journalists in the EU is alarming. Saskia Bricmont explains how severe the threat is, who the perpetrators are and their intentions.

Gendered disinformation online silences women in the public sphere. The disinformation and democratization expert Nina Jankowicz explains how.   

Countries such as Poland or Hungary frequently face criticism for a lack of media freedom. Their governments dispute that they oppose critical media. Yet, restrictions on media freedom come in many shapes and sizes.