HB
Foreign and Security Policy
Conference and report
European Union and its Eastern Neighbours.
On March 18-19 2010 experts, representatives of national administrations and the world of politics from Poland, Germany, other European countries, states taking part in the Eastern Partnership initiative and Russia met in Warsaw to discuss the perspectives for developing the European Union’s Eastern Policy for upcoming years – specifically during the period of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council. The conference – an open meeting (March 18) for the general public and an expert meeting (March 19) – was organized by the Warsaw office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the German Bertelsmann Foundation and the Polish Centre for European Strategy demosEuropa.
"How to deal with Iran?" - International conference – The question posed has never been easy to answer and is hardly more timely. The Heinrich Böll Foundation Prague and the Association for International Affairs (AMO) jointly organised the International conference “How to deal with Iran?” and a series of side events (13 - 15 April) which discussed current developments in and around Iran. HBF Prague more»
An inch closer to a world without nuclear weapons – President Obama sees New START as literally a new start for relations between the United States and Russia, and as a “clear and concrete” step towards fulfilling the vision of a safer world, i.e. a world without nuclear weapons. But how big a step is this really?

 

Šadí Shanaáh more»
Energy and Climate
The photovoltaic sector in Germany: Survived one crisis but facing the next one?
June 25, 2010 -

Over the last two years, most industrial branches in Europe have felt the consequences of the financial and economic crisis. The German renewable energy sector, however, like the eco-insdustry in general, seems to be an exception. What are the reasons behind this counter trend? And will it be endangered by the current reduction of the feed-in tariff for solar power? Also the consequences of the revision of the nuclear phase out in Germany for the renewables are examined in the separate article by Lisa Reichmann.

Lisa Reichmann more»
International conference
"Greening the Economy" Conference –

The international conference in Berlin on May 28-29 deals with the political framework, regulatory instruments, as well as leading technologies, key projects and new alliances for the economic-ecologic turnaround. Watch live stream from the conference and read other texts available.

Prague seminar and papers on way ahead from Copenhagen – February 15, 2010 - The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (HBS) follows up on the outcome of the Copenhagen summit with the Prague seminar on March 3 and a series of analysis: Sascha Müller-Kraenner looks at how Europe can revive the multilateral climate proceedings with a convincing strategy and the HBS staff from around the globe provides in the study "Failure or Opportunity ?" the sum up of how the outcome of COP 15 is perceived in different regions. Follow the proceeding of the Prague seminar on video. more here »
Democracy
Enfant terrible of the Eurozone - Why did Slovakia refuse to bail out Greece?
August 31, 2010 -

Shortly after a new ruling coalition formed Slovakia’s new center-right government, a small shock wave rolled through Europe. First the Slovak government and then parliament voted to withhold Slovakia’s share of a European bailout loan for Greece’s embattled economy. Not that Slovakia’s minute share of the package would mean a lot for the eurozone – the decision’s importance lay in its symbolism and, therefore, in politics.

 Juraj Mesík more»
The Election is Over – What is Ahead for Slovakia? –

In the second of his analysis of the Slovak parliamentary election Juraj Mesík gives his assesment of the results and their impacts on the Slovak politics. In early July 2010 we still can hope for better though only time will show whether the new elite will change the corrupt and intransparent way of Slovak policy-making. In the previous article, also available here, he assesed the pre-election debate.

 

 

 

Juraj Mesík more»
Electing a new President for Germany – July 4, 2010 -

Politicians in Germany were facing the task of finding a new Federal President at a time where many citizens are loosing trust in the country’s leadership. According to various observers, the governing coalition desired a President who would not cause additional discussions and who would be acceptable to many of its supporters, in order to demonstrate unity.

Lisa Reichmann more»
The role of the Parliament in the EU's Human Rights Policy –
With the Lisbon Treaty coming into force, Parliament's role is key. But is the EP well prepared for the new task? Barbara Lochbihler, MEP for the Green party and the former director of the German branch of "Amnesty International", comments in detail on the stronger and weaker spots of the EP's policy. 
Gender Politics Makes a Difference - Experiences Across the World – April 29, 2010 - Politics can only succeed when it is inclusive of all genders. Gender justice is an ambitious goal, one that the Heinrich Böll Foundation is pursuing together with many different allies worldwide. This publication gives an overview of their work. click the link below»
The History and Memory of Communism in the Czech Republic – March 9, 2010 - The Czech reflection on communism is still undertaken in peculiar waves even twenty years after its fall. Indifference and extreme anti-communism with the accompanying desire to name and marginalise the culprits of past evils regularly alternate or supplement one another. Cleansing society of representatives of the past regime and understanding the past are two different things which are only loosely connected. It is a bit late for the former, while most of the latter still lies ahead. Michal Kopeček a Matěj Spurný more»
Green Economics
A Green New Deal for Europe - Towards Green Modernization in the face of Crisis
November 13, 2009 - In the face of the current multiple crisis (financial, economic, social, environmental), the need for sustainable policies is self-evident. The Green New Deal is the integrated policy approach that Greens in Europe are putting forward as a solution to the crisis. The current report by the Wuppertal Institute analyzes in depth the climate, environment and energy aspects of this proposal.
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Magazine
Boell.Thema - Green New Deal – July 27, 2009 - There is a centrist idea of a Green New Deal that is being discussed worldwide as a response to the dual economic and environmental crises. As different as these two concepts may be, they share a common core: both first require a great leap toward a sustainable economy. more»
Study
Toward a Transatlantic Green New Deal: Tackling the Climate and Economic Crisis – July 23, 2009 - The report examines ways in which the current economic downturn is an opportunity to fight climate change while creating quality jobs. more»
Towards a Global Green New Deal – September 9, 2009 - The international debate on a Green New Deal (Ban Ki Moon, Achim Steiner, Nicholas Stern et al) takes place just in time. The economic Tsunami which today is devastating the world economy is much more than just a widespread recession. It marks the end of an old model for economic growth and the beginning of a new era. Ralf Fücks more»
The European Green Collar Economy – July 27, 2009 - Green European Foundation’s meta-study by Jan Seifert adds to the debate on a New Green Deal for Europe by giving a first overview on surveys that deal with the employment potential of greening the European economy. more»