It’s common knowledge that the Russian Federation annexed Crimea in a flagrant flouting of international law. Less widely known, however, is the manner in which Russia is going about consolidating its position in the Black and Caspian Sea region. Increasingly, this part of the immediate EU Neighborhood is being transformed into a conflict zone. Our new policy paper examines how Russia, Turkey, China and other powers in the region interact there and explores Europe’s opportunities for action.

Ahead of the elections on November 3^rd, Americans are losing faith in their democracy. This gets illustrated in the new documentary film from the Bertelsmann Foundation in Washington, DC, which we will premiere to the European audience on Thursday. You are kindly invited to the virtual premiere!

After years of bitter division on how to deal with migrants, the European Union has finally unveiled a new plan. But it is unlikely to gain widespread traction, not least as attitudes towards refugees have hardened amid the corona crisis.

Our second megatrend report outlines the central effects of the Covid pandemic on the medium and long-term development of digitization and globalization. It also examines the interactions between these megatrends, which have been particularly hard hit by the crisis, and demographic change, and their impact on our economic and social system.

Sweden once again won the title of European innovation leader last year, a feat the country owes not least to its state innovation authority Vinnova: “We help increase Sweden’s innovative capacity and sustainable growth. We strive to turn Sweden into a driving force in a sustainable world.” Author: Benjamin Dierks

Taiwan’s first Digital Minister Audrey Tang has made Taiwan—with the help of the tech community and civil society—a world leader in innovative citizen participation. Europe can certainly learn a lot from Taiwan and Audrey Tang. We spoke to her.

According to a Bertelsmann Stiftung survey, Europeans are much more critical toward Israel than is true of the reverse. There is also a lack of agreement on the issue of Europe’s responsibility for Israel.

Technologies such as contact-tracing apps and facial recognition software are raising hopes for improved containment of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, several algorithmic decision-making systems (ADM) have been rapidly implemented throughout Europe. In this special issue of the Automating Society Report, the Bertelsmann Stiftung and AlgorithmWatch provide an overview of European ADM systems designed to combat the pandemic as well as a classification of the various digital tools in use and the consequences they have for society.

Especially in times of a global recession, the EU should prioritize spending where it provides the most benefit to citizens and Member States in the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. In their paper, Michael Thöne and Helena Kreuter show how the concept of European public goods allows such a prioritization of EU politics and provides a compelling narrative for a reorganization of EU politics towards more sovereign decision-making – but only where it is truly needed.

Brigitte Mohn, Member of the Executive Board, Bertelsmann Stiftung