Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Europe

📢 Meet Liz, Our New Intern! We're excited to welcome Liz Tribbensee to our team! She's in her final semester of European Studies with a focus on political science at the University of Passau and speaks German, English, and French. Especially interested in international relations, right-wing extremism, and European politics, Liz is eager to dive into the work of our European Office in Brussels. During her internship, which runs until August 2025, she'll explore the intricacies of the European Union, its institutions, and NATO. We're thrilled to have her on board! 🌟

Our new episode of the Security Snapshot 📸is online now: "Civil Preparedness - a Core Element of 🇪🇺 Europe's Security Architecture", authored by Lena Düpont, Member of the European Parliament. In times, when European security and defence🛡have become the litmus test for the survival of the European Union and members states are ramping up their military defence capabilities, civil preparedness is an indispensable prerequisite for a functioning European security architecture. In this episode of the security snapshot, we will unpack how European societies can actually become prepared 💪 and safeguard defence solidarity under the European commitment clause. 👉 Check out this new read here: https://lnkd.in/evtPcwUt

„Wir leben in der bedeutsamsten und gefährlichsten Zeit” – mit diesen Worten kündigte EU-Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen ihr gigantisches Mobilisierungspaket zur massiven Aufrüstung Europas im Vorfeld des EU-Sondergipfels an. Die Zeiten sind außergewöhnlich und außergewöhnlich ist auch das, was beschlossen wurde, und zwar in welchem Tempo – so könnte man die Schlussfolgerungen des EU-Sondergipfels zusammenfassen, der die EU-Staats- und Regierungschefs am 6. März zu den vordringlichen Themen Unterstützung der Ukraine und Verteidigung zusammengebracht hat.  Man hätte den Gipfel aber auch mit „Aufrüstung und Abschreckung” betiteln können. Wenn man sich auch beim Thema Ukraine aufgrund des ungarischen Vetos nicht auf eine gemeinsame Position der 27 hat verständigen können, so war man geeint beim Kurs für die Stärkung der Verteidigung. Die klare Botschaft, die vom Gipfel ausgeht, lautet: „Verteidigungsbereitschaft erhöhen” und „Abhängigkeiten verringern.“ Was die Sicherheit und den Frieden für die Ukraine betrifft, wird neben der EU künftig eine Koalition der Willigen, die über die EU-Mitgliedstaaten hinausgeht, die Bedeutung der Nationalstaaten erhöhen. Der Bericht und weitere Informationen zum Sondergipfel können hier gefunden werden: https://lnkd.in/eBRhSR_R

Yesterday, the first episode this year of our online event series “KAS Europe Talks” took place, discussing EU-Turkey relations in the face of geopolitical shifts. Together with our esteemed colleague Dr Ellinor Zeino, Director of the KAS Turkey Office, we assessed what the recent changes of power in Damascus and DC mean for Turkey's position on Syria and Ukraine as well as for the potential of a closer cooperation between Ankara and Brussels on these issues. Many thanks to Ellinor Zeino for the insightful analysis as well as to the more than 80 participants who dialled in and played an active role in the discussion. We look forward to many more episodes of “KAS Europe Talks” this year!

Join us TOMORROW for the next session of our event series "KAS Europe Talks". In this online discussion format, the European Office comes together with the director of one of our many other KAS offices worldwide to reflect on recent developments in their respective country or region as well as on the status quo of relations with the European Union. This session will focus on EU-Turkey relations in the face of recent geopolitical shifts: the change of power in Syria and the new situation for Ukraine following the presidential elections in the US.   The event "KAS Europe Talk: EU-Turkey Relations in the Face of Geopolitical Shifts" will take place on Wednesday, 5 March 2025, from 11:30 to 12:15 CET via Zoom. We look forward to discussing the above topics with Dr Ellinor Zeino, Head of the KAS Turkey Office in Ankara. Following an initial conversation between Dr Zeino and the Head of the KAS Europe Office in Brussels, Dr Beatrice Gorawantschy, the audience will have the opportunity to pose their own questions. The event will be conducted in German and simultaneously translated into English. For registration, please use the following link: https://lnkd.in/eddfQ4iH We would be delighted to have you with us!

With today’s announcement of the Clean Industrial Deal and the omnibus project, Commission Preident Ursula von der Leyen laid out another milestone to foster EU competitiveness 🇪🇺📈 and reduce bureaucracy while simultaneously continue the path of energy transition 🔋. The focus of the Clean Industrial Deal lies on two closely linked sectors: 🏭  Energy-intensive industries, which require support to enhance their competitiveness through providing affordable energy. ♻ The clean-tech sector, a key enabler of industrial transformation, competitiveness and decarbonisation. The Clean Industrial Deal identifies 6 areas for action 1️⃣ Access to affordable energy 2️⃣ Create demand through lead markets 3️⃣ Financing 4️⃣ Recycling and access to critical raw materials 5️⃣ Shape trade partnerships & open up markets 6️⃣ Skills development The announced measures include: Action Plan for Affordable Energy, investment guarantees by the European Investment Bank to boost private investments, Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act, state aid reforms, more dialogue with industry. Furthermore, the omnibus package aligns past legislation and aims at reducing the bureaucratic burden of CRSD, CS3D, CBAM & EU taxonomy❌ 📑. Thereby, the Commission wants to enable companies to invest an additional 50 billion euros until 2027. Thus, strengthening European competitiveness 🇪🇺 📈.

Yesterday marked three years of Russia’s full-scale invasion and war of aggression. Ukraine was also on top of our minds last week, as we were honored to host a delegation of parliamentary assistants from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Accompanied by Jan Philipp Woelbern, Deputy Head of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Ukraine office, our delegation made the long journey from Kyiv for a comprehensive five-day briefing tour in Brussels and Berlin. Together, we engaged in a series of high-level meetings and discussions with key European institutions and stakeholders to explore Ukraine’s aspirations for EU accession and deepen its engagement with European partners. 🇺🇦🤝🇪🇺 The delegation held insightful exchanges with representatives from the EEAS, the Permanent Representation of 🇩🇪 to the EU, the Council of the EU, DG ENEST & DG DEFIS, the European Parliament, the EPP and other leading experts. 💬 Additionally, we had the privilege of meeting and exchanging views with Ambassador Vsevolod Chentsov, Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the EU. Our discussions focused on supporting Ukraine’s pro-European course and war effort, with key topics including: 🔍 Ukraine’s next steps on the path to EU accession 🔍 The interconnection between European and Ukrainian security and defense 🔍 The role of the U.S. and insights from the recent Munich Security Conference 🔍 Additional support channels for Ukraine, including funding for civil society organizations This productive visit underscored Ukraine’s and the EU's unwavering commitment to strengthening ties and the need to address the pressing challenges in light of the rapidly changing geopolitical environment. 🇪🇺🇺🇦

Three years ago, on this very day, Russia launched its unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, countless war crimes and atrocities against the Ukrainian people have been committed by Russian troops. Our thoughts today are with the brave Ukrainian people, who have sacrificed so much to protect their home, their freedom, their democracy, and their right for self-determination. These are European core values and Ukraine is defending them from the Russian aggression.🛡️🪖 To further support Ukraine, the EU has adopted its 16th sanctions package against Russia and Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission have visited Kiew today to discuss further support for Ukraine. A new funding package is intended to secure Ukraine’s energy system and to integrate it into the European market. To quote Ursula von der Leyen from November 2024: “Ukraine’s future is in our Union. Your freedom is our freedom. And our Union is your home.” 🇪🇺🇺🇦 Given recent developments, it is of utmost importance to emphasize that Ukraine was attacked by Russia and has been defending itself bravely ever since.🛡️ Only Vladimir Putin and the Russian government are to blame for the breakout of violent conflict. Any possible end must not be concluded over Ukraine’s head but is only possible with Ukraine’s participation in the negotiations. Ukraine, as free and sovereign state, must decide whether to agree on the terms for a ceasefire or peace 🇺🇦. Until then, Ukraine has every right to continue to defend itself against the Russian aggression and it is of the utmost importance that European support continues and expands until then.

How do we implement the EU AI Act to secure 🇪🇺Europe’s digital future?📲 Yesterday, the European Offices of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and ZVEI e. V. brought together key policy and industry stakeholders for the new edition of our revived ThinkDigital! event series. 💡 MEP Axel Voss set the stage by arguing that Europe's digital sovereignty is non-negotiable. To secure Europe’s digital transformation and competitiveness, we must: ✅ Strengthen Europe-borne solutions;  ✅ Prioritize key sectors like AI and biotechnology;  ✅ Modernize the GDPR – harmonization across the EU27 is needed to reduce regulatory fragmentation;  ✅ Develop clear AI liability regimes to ensure legal certainty and trust;  ✅ Foster disruptive, revolutionary ideas – a fresh approach to legislation, compliance, and sectoral collaboration is required. 🔹 Key takeaways from our two high-level panels:  ✅ AI regulation & industry: Risk management is key - especially in critical sectors like medical technology. ✅ AI funding: Public procurement shall be unlocked to maximize AI’s potential. ✅ Global positioning: Will the EU’s AI regulation become a global benchmark or an outlier? The world is watching. ✅ Competitiveness & AI governance: A flexible regulatory framework is crucial - otherwise, companies might relocate AI operations outside of Europe due to compliance burdens. 🤝 A big thank you to our esteemed speakers Axel Voss, Martin Ulbrich, Viktoriia S., Dr. Till Klein, Carolina Costa Hurtado, Sue Daley OBE, Dr. Philipp Haas, LL.M.Eur., Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, and moderator Silke Wettach for sharing their insights! Now is the time to ‘Think Digital’ and turn the AI Act into a European success story!💡🇪🇺

Yesterday, the KAS European Office hosted another round of its successful format, the Working Group on European Law. 🇪🇺⚖️ With Europe facing major security challenges, the debate on how to strengthen its defense capabilities is more relevant than ever. The Polish EU Council Presidency 🇵🇱 is prioritizing security and defense, while the European Commission is working on a White Paper on European Defense, to be published in March 2025. However, significant legal hurdles remain when it comes to a more collective approach to defense funding. We were pleased to welcome Dr. Matthias Müller, EU Legal Advisor at the Permanent Representation of Germany to the EU 🇩🇪, who shed light on the legal possibilities of financing common European defense. The subsequent discussion was moderated by Benjamin Hartmann, Member of the Defense Commissioner's Cabinet, adding further valuable insights. A big thank you to our speaker and moderator for their contributions and to all participants for the engaging discussion! 🙌🏼