Bertelsmann Stiftung "Europe"

Unequal Trust, Shared Interests: Support for a Rebalanced Transatlantic Partnership

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, a new joint study by our foundation 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. Trust remains profoundly unequal: Europeans are half as likely to consider the U.S. trustworthy as Americans are to trust Europe. Yet, majorities on both sides favor deeper EU-U.S. ties, while Canada leads preferences for stronger future partnerships.

Democratic Governance for the Future - an Atlas

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:48:37 +0200

Societal challenges such as climate change, demographic change and geopolitical upheavals reach far beyond individual legislative periods. At the same time, democratic politics is often geared toward short-term problem-solving. How can long-term interests and the perspectives of future generations be factored more systematically into political decision-making?

Europe’s exit strategy: reviving the continent’s stock market listings

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Europe’s stock markets are losing the race for initial public offerings (IPOs). While the US has recently seen highly prominent listings, Europe has produced few comparable IPOs. Yet strengthening the European stock markets would benefit both individual companies and Europe as a whole. In a new policy paper, we explain how this could be achieved.

European Business Survey - Bridging the Gap between Geopolitics and Corporate Strategy

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Geopolitical uncertainty has made economic security a central issue on the EU agenda. Companies are playing a crucial role in reducing strategic dependencies, strengthening resilience and diversifying supply chains. A pilot survey of 228 companies operating in Europe offers initial insights into how businesses assess geopolitical risks and what they expect from EU policymakers.

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Citizen Participation: New Report and Policy Brief published

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200

In the report Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Citizen Participation, the OECD and the Bertelsmann Stiftung examine how artificial intelligence can support and improve citizen participation. Based on 50 real-world cases from 22 countries, the study presents nine types of AI applications, assesses their opportunities and risks, and provides recommendations for responsible use. An accompanying Policy Brief offers a concise overview of the key insights.

Democracy needs a future

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 17:13:34 +0200

Democracy is often assessed in terms of its performance today. However, our policy brief shows that people’s views of the future also shape how they experience democracy. Those who expect future generations to be worse off are significantly more likely to be dissatisfied with how democracy functions. Expectations about the future are therefore closely linked to how people evaluate democracy and emerge as an important source of democratic legitimacy.

New position paper: Strengthening citizen participation in Europe through civic tech in the age of AI

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0200

How can citizen participation succeed in Europe amid rising polarization, declining trust, and AI-driven communication? A new position paper by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra explores the role of civic technology – and outlines the political and structural conditions needed to unlock its full potential. The publication “European Civic Technology and Citizen Participation in the Age of AI – A needs perspective” analyzes the needs of citizens, civic tech providers, and public administrations. It highlights a key challenge: digital participation must be accessible and easy to use, while also delivering meaningful political impact.

New Publication: A Guide to the MFF Negotiations

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0100

A tight budget and rising demands for spending – talks on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) are heating up. Our guide explains how the EU budget works and what is at stake in the negotiations ahead.

Incubating Integration in the 28th Regime with Regulatory Pilots

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0100

How to test deeper harmonisation beyond company law The European Commission is set to propose the ‘28th regime’ - a single, opt-in rulebook to help startups scale across borders. But a narrow focus on company law leaves legal barriers to scaling untouched. The Commission should leverage the current political momentum by combining a strong company law core with targeted, time-limited regulatory pilots in areas such as insolvency and labour mobility to test deeper harmonisation.

Paris: Network for Participation & Deliberation in Europe strengthens citizen participation – High-level event sends political signal

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Democratic systems across Europe are under pressure. In this context, the Network for Participation & Deliberation in Europe convened its sixth network meeting in Paris. Over three days, leading experts in participation worked intensively on advancing strategic approaches for effective citizen participation. What makes this network unique is that it consists of the implementers of participation – civil servants and participation professionals from across Europe and from European institutions.