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[...] Press Release: Ahead of this year’s Europe Day on May 9, Europeans are edging towards a strategic reset. Our new study, based on surveys conducted between September 2024 and March 2026, shows a continent willing to stand on its own feet. 73 percent of EU citizens now say the Union should go its own way after decades of close alignment with the United States; up from 63 percent in 2024. The shift cuts across all[...]

[...] Press Release: Autocracies are on the rise worldwide. A majority of the 137 countries assessed by the BTI – 77 in total – are now governed autocratically. Governments in these systems are increasingly repressive toward opposition forces, media and civil society. According to the BTI, 52 of the 77 autocracies qualify as hard-line regimes in which fundamental rights are comprehensively violated – the highest[...]

[...] Press Release: Our new study shows that in many member states, including Germany, the increases in heating costs are likely to be limited. In Scandinavia, households could even see lower heating costs, as substantial investments have already been made in climate-friendly heating systems. In parts of central and eastern Europe, however, heating costs would rise noticeably. The study also finds that, if used[...]

[...] Press Release: The goal of the climate conference in Vienna is to give local stakeholders – and young people in particular – a voice. Local communities and various interest groups will be included in the discussions and decision-making processes. In addition, they will exchange ideas and experiences and create robust networks that can take action both locally and on a wider scale. "Innovative and far-reaching[...]

[...] Press Release: More than two-thirds of people in Germany aged 16 and over play digital games; in the 16–34 age group, the figure is as high as 86%, according to a new study by the Bertelsmann Stiftung. Beyond gaming, many people – especially younger ones – connect with each other on various digital platforms, such as Twitch, TikTok, YouTube and Discord. In such gaming communities, they discuss not only their[...]

[...] Press Release: "I would like to thank Brigitte Mohn for her willingness to take on the leadership of the Bertelsmann Stiftung," said Bodo Uebber, chairman of the Bertelsmann Stiftung Board of Trustees. "This demonstrates the founding family's strong sense of responsibility and guarantees the seamless continuation of the foundation's work. I am very pleased to welcome Wilfried Uhr, a highly experienced manager from[...]

[...] Press Release: Governments across Western democracies face growing pressure to reform. Yet most OECD and EU countries still lack the institutional frameworks and long-term policy strategies needed to tackle their most pressing challenges – strengthening democratic resilience, boosting economic competitiveness and adaptability, crafting socially viable responses to the climate and resource crises, and managing[...]

[...] Press Release: Growth and innovation as cornerstones of a strong democracy and a digitally sovereign Europe Germany needs to be put back on track for growth and must drive innovation together with its European partners. After all, prosperity is an important guarantor of a stable democracy. Digital sovereignty is the anchor of a strong Europe. Germany can once again become a leading country of innovation and a[...]

[...] Press Release: Despite multiple crises, support for state funding of culture remains high. Around two thirds (64%) of the respondents consider culture to be just as worthy of support as other public areas. The results of the representative study in collaboration with the opinion research institute forsa emphasize this: A diverse cultural offering is essential to strengthen social dialog. “Culture brings people[...]

[...] Press Release: The roots of Germany's gender gap in the startup sector lie in early socialization and life experiences. Young women lack visible role models in entrepreneurship, and the country's education system often fails to challenge existing stereotypes. Another major hurdle is the ongoing difficulty of combining family responsibilities with running a business – an area where structural barriers remain firmly[...]