The development of Poland since the EU accession in 2004 was often seen as a pioneering example for the recent history of the European integration, sending an important political signal for a common European future. In particular, Germany and Poland strove in numerous bilateral initiatives not only to develop closer political cooperation, but also to intensify their cultural exchange.

On 7-9 October 2016, Das Progressive Zentrum joined the third edition of the Cluny Forum as a cooperation partner. Created three years ago by the French-German Association „Trait d’Union“, this Forum creates new bridges between young and innovative managers from business as well as from the civil society working in one or both countries. Gathered together, they exchange experiences about their own working environment, discuss common challenges and design new ideas in a European perspective.

Hungary is commonly portrayed as one of the most Eurosceptic countries in the European Union. Paradoxically, however, the Hungarian public has by and large a positive image of the EU. How can this be explained? And how is the current refugee crisis affecting the EU-Hungarian relations?

On 23 and 24 September 2016, the European Reformists Summit entitled „Rebuilding Trust“ took place in Lyon. The event, being composed of an introductory roundtable, three workshops and a closing session, was organised by a European network of think tanks, consisting of Das Progressive Zentrum (Germany), Les Gracques (France), Institut Montaigne (France), Astrid (Italy) as well as Policy Network (UK).

Similarly to trends across Europe, populism and radical right-wing politics have become an inextricable part of the political landscape in Bulgaria. Yet, some characteristics render the Bulgarian case unique and highlight the rather different underpinnings compared to, on the surface, similar political phenomena in the East and the West.

As the dust caused by the explosion on 23. June is beginning to settle, we can start picking up the debris to see what may possibly be salvaged from the disaster. It is still much too soon to tell what the final outcome of the referendum will be, which was directed at Westminster, not at Brussels. Probably, Britain will leave the EU. The following thoughts reflect the author’s ongoing despair over the outcome of the referendum of June 23rd and his hope that there is a chance that the UK government will find a way never to send the letter required by article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

Die Große Koalition wird das heiße Eisen Europa nicht mehr los. Mit großer Beständigkeit streiten die Regierungsparteien über Lösungen und Antworten auf die europäischen Krisen unserer Zeit. Jüngstes Beispiel: der Zwist zwischen SPD-Parteichef Sigmar Gabriel und dem Europa-Doyen der CDU Wolfgang Schäuble. Streitpunkt ist diesmal die Ausrichtung der künftigen Europapolitik in der post-Brexit-Ära.

Seit dem Brexit-Votum dreht sich die Debatte darum, wer Schuld am Ausgang des Referendums hat. Das Wesentliche wird dabei übersehen: Die Verantwortung für den Brexit tragen vor allem die Wählerinnen und Wähler.

On Friday, July 1, the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and Das Progressive Zentrum hosted a roundtable discussion on the US American Presidential Elections. After introductions by Ernst Stetter (Secretary General, FEPS) and Dominic Schwickert (Director, Das Progressive Zentrum), we were delighted to engage in a discussion with Ken Gude (Senior Fellow with the National Security Team, Center for American Progress), Paul Nolte (Professor of Contemporary History, Free University of Berlin), and Barbara Junge (Deputy Editor, taz.die tageszeitung). The roundtable was chaired by Sudha David-Wilp (Deputy Director Berlin Office and Senior Transatlantic Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States).

Nach erfolgreichen bilateralen Town Hall Meetings in Athen, Lissabon, Rom, Marseille und Madrid startete DIALOGUE ON EUROPE nun in die multilaterale Phase. Am 28. Juni 2016 trafen Bundesaußenminister Frank-Walter Steinmeier und Staatsminister Michael Roth im Europasaal des Auswärtigen Amtes in Berlin auf 250 ausgewählte VertreterInnen der europäischen Zivilgesellschaft.

We are delighted to officially announce that we have started new strategic cooperations with the Italian think tank Volta as well as the French think tank Terra Nova.

Two weeks before British citizens go to the polls, our third roundtable on the Brexit referendum took place. Our key questions concerned current British debates, the latest developments in British politics at the eve of the referendum, as well as British, German, and European perspectives on how to proceed after this – in any case – decisive moment for Europe.

Irgendwann war es dann amtlich: Alexander van der Bellen ist neuer Bundespräsident Österreichs. Allerdings mit gerade einmal 50,3 Prozent der Stimmen. Wie groß kann also die Freude überhaupt sein, wenn der FPÖ-Rechtspopulist Norbert Hofer gleichzeitig einen so großen Zuspruch der Wählerinnen und Wähler erfährt?

Am 23. Juni 2016 stimmen die Bürgerinnen und Bürger Großbritanniens über den Verbleib ihres Landes in der EU ab – ein schicksalhaftes Datum nicht nur für Großbritannien, sondern für den gesamten europäischen Integrationsprozess. Vor diesem Hintergrund diskutierten wir mit etwa 35 TeilnehmerInnen die ökonomischen und politischen Folgen eines BREXIT, das britisch-europäische Verhältnis sowie grundlegende Fragen zur Zukunft der EU.

Anlässlich des anstehenden Referendums in Großbritannien diskutieren Natalie Bennett, Vorsitzende der Green Party of England and Wales, und Michael Kellner, Politischer Bundesgeschäftsführer von Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, per Videokonferenz am Dienstag, den 17. Mai 2016 im Progressiven Zentrum über den Verbleib Großbritanniens in der Europäische Union.

In October 2015 the Civic Platform (PO) lost the parliamentary elections in Poland, after having been in power for 8 continuous years. The tables have turned, allowing the national-conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) to form a majority government. Ever since, the PiS – which has president Andrzej Duda already on their side – keeps on petrifying its power while promising „good change“.