Bertelsmann Stiftung "Press release"

A decade after the Brexit referendum: What ten years of public opinion data reveal about EU-UK relations

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

On 23 June 2016, British voters chose to leave the European Union, sending shockwaves across the continent. A decade later, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the wider world have all changed profoundly. Against the backdrop of renewed debates about the UK's relationship with the EU, the Bertelsmann Stiftung presents public opinion data collected over the past ten years. The findings suggest that Brexit has neither triggered wider fragmentation within the EU nor driven British and European public opinion permanently apart. Instead, they point to a shared preference for pragmatic cooperation.

Andreas Pinkwart to join Bertelsmann Stiftung Executive Board

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart, renowned economist and former Deputy Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, will join the Bertelsmann Stiftung Executive Board as of July 1. He will lead the nonprofit foundation together with Executive Board Chairwoman Dr. Brigitte Mohn and Executive Board Member Wilhelm-Friedrich Uhr.

Europeans call for greater independence: Support for U.S. as Europe’s Top Ally Drops Sharply

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Europe is rethinking its place in the world. After decades of close cooperation with the United States, nearly three in four EU citizens now say the Union should ‘go its own way’. A clear majority of Europeans do not see the U.S. as a trustworthy partner any longer. A year and a half into the Trump presidency, the share of respondents identifying the U.S. as Europe’s most valuable ally has fallen by 20 percentage points. While China fails to gain ground as an alternative partner, Europeans are recalibrating alliances within the West. Our new study illustrates this shift.

More Autocracies Worldwide – But Democratic Resistance Is Growing

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

Democracy continues to lose ground globally. This is the central finding of our Transformation Index BTI 2026. When the BTI was first published 20 years ago, democracies still outnumbered autocracies. Today, 56% of the 137 countries assessed are governed autocratically. Yet autocratic rule rarely translates into better governance. The BTI findings challenge the notion of authoritarian efficiency, showing that autocracies are more prone to corruption and less capable of effective, consensus-based policymaking than democracies. Cases such as Poland and Brazil demonstrate that societal resistance to authoritarian overreach, combined with reform-oriented political leadership, can reopen pathways toward democratic renewal.

How the price of CO2 will affect heating costs in Europe

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

The EU-wide carbon price planned for the buildings and transport sectors from 2028 will change heating costs for around 100 million households across the European Union. The effects will differ markedly between member states.

Germans would value more trustworthy online health information

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Most people these days look online for answers to questions on health. However, many have doubts on the integrity and quality of the information provided by social media platforms and AI chatbots. The Bertelsmann Stiftung would like to contribute to promoting reliable sources and increasing confidence in digital information on health by means of its new "InfoCure" international initiative.

Providing a future for the next generation

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Developing a climate-resilience strategy in Germany, Europe and worldwide is crucial for future generations in light of advancing climate change. It is essential for the continued existence of humanity and life on earth. Such a strategy will necessarily require a transformation of society and the economy towards a sustainable way of life and sustainable production. How to achieve this goal is the topic scientists from the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and of Social Sciences will be discussing with experts and young people from European cities and regions at the European Climate Resilience Summit on August 28 and 29 in Vienna. The summit’s partners are the Bertelsmann Stiftung, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC). The summit will conclude with a call to action, including an appeal for stakeholders to connect within European networks and shape the required change.

Better harnessing the democratic potential of gaming communities

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:45:49 +0200

In Germany, gaming is mostly seen as an economic factor or a form of entertainment. What is often neglected is how the players of digital games think and act politically – especially when they interact with each other in gaming communities, such as Twitch and Discord. In these digital spaces, high levels of socio-political engagement and trust in democracy coexist with a very diverse – but sometimes also problematic – culture of debate. It is important to finally understand gaming communities, take them seriously, and get their members politically involved.

Bertelsmann Stiftung restructures its Executive Board

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The Bertelsmann Stiftung is restructuring its Executive Board: Chairman Hannes Ametsreiter is leaving the foundation at his own request and by mutual agreement as of July 31, 2025. He is departing to assume new duties in the private sector once again. Brigitte Mohn, a member of both the Executive Board and the founding family, will lead the Bertelsmann Stiftung on an interim basis as chairwoman of the Executive Board. Daniela Schwarzer will continue to serve as a member of the Executive Board, alongside Brigitte Mohn. As part of a planned expansion of the foundation's governance body, Wilfried Uhr is being appointed to the Executive Board as Chief Operating Officer. Uhr has held various management positions at the Bertelsmann Stiftung since 2000, most recently as Senior Vice President Corporate Operations.

Many advanced economies remain ill-prepared for present challenges

Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 +0200

A shifting geopolitical landscape, sluggish growth, digital transformation, the climate crisis and accelerating demographic change are testing the capacity of OECD and EU countries to innovate and adapt like never before. Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway are among the best positioned. But the analysis of 144 indicators from the Bertelsmann Stiftung's Sustainable Governance Indicators (SGI) reveals a troubling pattern: most advanced economies are still not adequately equipped to deliver sustainable policy.