Europe

Right-wing populism has been on the rise in Europe, and despite some exceptions, it doesn’t seem to be backing out. The group of people that seems to be most convinced by radical right-wing ideas is the youth - people aged 18 to 29. In the US, however, an unexpected change in this regard was initiated by Zohran Mamdani, currently mayor-elect of NYC. In the recent mayoral election 78% of people aged 18-29 voted for Mamdani, a democratic socialist.  

A New International Comparative Study by C4D Consulting on behalf of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom reveals: a lack of structural reforms and the planned EU ban on combustion engines threaten up to one in three jobs in the automotive industry, weakening its innovative capacity. Instead of technology bans, open and competition-friendly framework conditions are needed to secure the European automotive industry in global competition.

I recently attended a discussion on Europe’s competitiveness. There was unanimous agreement that we are lagging behind in all applied technologies—perhaps with the sole exception of the pharmaceutical industry. The reflexive response from the participants was: “We’ve created a fund for that.” Too few startups? Create a startup fund.Weak AI performance? An AI innovation fund!

Is the Green Deal dead or is it just resting? Does it make sense for Europe to create ambitious climate goals without the United States and China? And what should we know about climate-focused industrial partnerships of the European Union? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Susi Dennison, a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)

Ukraine has been part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) since 2017, when the European Union officially extended it to Eastern Partnership countries. For the first time, Ukrainian roads were included in the TEN-T map as part of a network ensuring strategic connections with EU member states. This became the foundation for integrating Ukrainian infrastructure into the unified European transport space.

European policymakers and large exporters are increasingly uneasy about the euro’s rise — particularly against the U.S. dollar. But this concern is misplaced. Like arguments for tariffs, it mistakes accounting effects for economic damage. A stronger euro does not weaken Europe; it strengthens it.

The European Union finds itself in a paradoxical situation. The population is ageing, the economy is stagnating, and at the same time, vast sums of citizens\' savings are lying idle in bank deposits. According to the European Commission, 31% of Europeans\' savings are unused in bank accounts. In contrast, Americans put their money to work much more efficiently, keeping three times less cash under the mattress.

Labubus, with their naughty smiles, have stolen their way into most homes with kids, but their colorful furs hold a sinister secret. They are the newest presentation of a Chinese soft power takeover. With the US clogging up its channels of influence, we had better prepare for a wave of Chinafication. Soft power is marked by the promotion of positive values.

Despite the increasing international prominence of mayors and municipal networks, local governments across Europe face numerous challenges. In the UK, local councils lack the resources to fulfill their extensive responsibilities, while in France, attempts at decentralization have been hindered by a lack of clarity over the distribution of responsibilities and a relatively high degree of central government interference.

What does Kosovo\'s path to the EU look like? What should we know about Kosovo\'s struggle for independence? What geopolitical tensions should we be aware of in the Western Balkans? And what is the situation of the Kosovar in Warsaw, Poland? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Ambassador Drilon S. Gashi, the Chief of Mission of the Consulate General of the Republic of Kosovo in Warsaw.