Publications

Europe wants greater digital independence – but what do people expect it to deliver? The policy brief “CTRL + ALT + Europe?” explores the expectations behind these figures and explains why Europe needs technological capabilities, transparent and trustworthy digital...

Ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, a new joint study by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the Bertelsmann Foundation North America points to support on both sides of the Atlantic for pragmatic cooperation on shared interests and a more independent Europe.

Now in the fifth year of resisting Russia’s full-scale war of aggression, Ukraine and the European Union are closely interconnected. Yet their citizens differ significantly in how they view granting Ukraine EU membership and the adjustment costs involved, as well as in how...

Ten years ago, Britain decided to leave the European Union. The Brexit referendum sent shockwaves across the continent. A decade later, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the wider world have all changed profoundly. Against this backdrop, the Bertelsmann Stiftung...

In a world increasingly shaped by war, confrontation and great-power rivalry, public opinion across the European Union points in one direction: greater independence. Nearly three in four Europeans now say the EU should ‘go its own way’ after decades of close cooperation with...

Once again, the world’s attention turns to Germany as the country undergoes national elections. For this analysis, we examined eupinions survey data from 2017, 2021, and 2024, drawing on EU-wide surveys of over 9,000 citizens – each conducted shortly before Germany’s federal...

Did the re-election of Donald Trump change Europeans' minds?

In November 2024, we published the report “Old Habits Die Hard” in which we looked at the state of the transatlantic partnership in the wake of the US elections. Following the publication, questions arose...

We see that 80 years of prime partnership have created a solid base of mutual appreciation and similar sensitivities. However, eight years of American hyper-polarization at home and mixed messaging abroad have taken their toll. In 2024, 63% of Europeans agree that it is time...

The re-election of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States provided clarity about what to expect from the world’s most powerful nation and how to adopt. In view of this decision by the American voters, we examine how Europeans perceive the future of the...