“You never know how long the ceasefire will last” Published: 6 October 2015 While Russia’s recent military involvement in the Syrian war theatre has caught much of the West by surprise, the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine has increasingly slipped off the public’s radar. We spoke with Marieluise Beck, Member of the German Bundestag.
Anti-refugee discourse in Hungarian mainstream politics Published: 5 October 2015 Xenophobia and efforts to turn public opinion against “social welfare migrants” are not a new invention. But the fact that every solution that comes from the EU is ignored – this is something new. By Bálint Jósa
After the EU Summit: Between Appeasement and Campaign Rhetoric Published: 30 September 2015 It remains to be seen whether the majority decision on the redistribution of 120,000 refugees was a clever move. In Central Eastern Europe, the voices against the “dictate of the majority” cannot be ignored. By Eva van de Rakt
Could the Elections End Canada’s Carbon Capture? Published: 29 September 2015 Since taking office in 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has focused on turning Canada into an energy superpower. The strategy behind this is the proposed doubling of the extraction of oil from Canada’s bituminous tar sands, located primarily in the western province of Alberta. By Liane Schalatek
The Dynamics of the Queer Movement in Turkey Published: 28 September 2015 The Gezi protests have energized the LGBTIQ movement in Turkey, giving it a sustainable boost. The history of the movement, however, began at the start of the last century at the latest. By Zülfukar Çetin
Greek Elections 2015: Quo Vadis, Alexis? Published: 23 September 2015 Will the Greek crisis return? Will Tsipras be able to stave it off? The road to national dignity is paved with good intentions and even better proclamations. By Eleni Panagiotarea
In Favour of a Solidary EU Refugee Policy Published: 22 September 2015 A special EU summit of heads of state and government will take place on 23 September. After years of neglect, however, a solidary EU refugee policy cannot be elaborated in summary proceedings and under pressure. A commentary by Eva van de Rakt. By Eva van de Rakt
An Energy Superpower Heads to the Polls Published: 21 September 2015 In the nine years under the Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada has focused primarily on its oil industry without regard for the environment and local populations. However, that line of reasoning is now losing its force. By Rebecca Bertram
Greece before the elections: “The old political system is in turmoil” Published: 18 September 2015 This Sunday, September 20, Greek citizens will go the polls for the third time in just eight months. While the refugee crisis in Europe has ousted Greece from the international headlines, the country’s political landscape is undergoing some deep and significant shifts. We spoke with Olga Drossou, director of our regional office in Thessaloniki. By Charlotte Beck and Olga Drossou
Europe Must be Strong on Climate Risk at COP21 Published: 18 September 2015 If the EU is serious about an ambitious agreement at the UN talks in Paris, it must prioritise adaptation and resilience to climate risk in the negotiations, write Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung's Presidents Barbara Unmüßig and Ralf Fücks and E3G's Chief Executive Nick Mabey. By Barbara Unmüßig and Ralf Fücks