BSt Europe

The EU’s Preparedness Union: From Broad Ambition to Focused Action Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, systemic shocks and growing external interference, preparedness has become an imperative for European security. The EU’s Preparedness Union Strategy, issue...

The EU’s Preparedness Union is an attempt to turn Europe’s resilience ambitions into action.

But with 63 wide-ranging measures and no clear centre of gravity, it risks being just a box-ticking exercise.

@heqs.bsky.social & Goran Buldioski suggest improvements here: bst-europe.eu/security-pol...

The Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy was released overnight in the US. What are the administration’s apparent priorities pertaining to Europe? I’ve pulled out the key points from the 29-page document.
PDF: www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...

The EU’s Preparedness Union: From Broad Ambition to Focused Action Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, systemic shocks and growing external interference, preparedness has become an imperative for European security. The EU’s Preparedness Union Strategy, issue...

The EU’s Preparedness Union aims to boost Europe’s resilience, but its agenda is sprawling.

@ec.europa.eu can focus it by:

• Understanding national contexts.

• Defining a role alongside NATO.

• Leveraging EU strengths

@heqs.bsky.social & Goran Buldioski explain: bst-europe.eu/security-pol...

Turning Anglo-German Alignment into Impact Means Building Security Capability, Scaling Up Energy Supply and Smoothing EU–UK Rules Anglo-German ties have shifted from post-Brexit fatigue to more deliberate strategic cooperation. Defence coordination is tightening under new agreements, while emerging energy and economic-resilience...

German President Steinmeier begins a state visit to the UK today, reflecting a warming in Anglo-German relations. In fact, PM Starmer& Ministers Healey & Cooper were just in Berlin last month to push for deeper ties.

@jbenford-berlin.bsky.social explains the potential: bst-europe.eu/europe-in-th...

New policy brief with Thieß Petersen @bst-europe.bsky.social : More and deeper EU trade agreements would only bring moderate growth effects - around 0.6 percent of EU GDP in five years, even under very optimistic assumptions (more in some sectors). Why this matters and what to do now: 🧵

Moderate Growth, Strategic Importance: What More and Deeper EU Trade Agreements Could Deliver The new US tariffs are placing significant pressure on Germany and other export-oriented EU economies. In response, the EU is intensifying its efforts to conclude additional trade agreements and to de...

EU trade deals would bring modest growth (~0.6%) but strategic value. With pressure from US tariffs, the EU could benefit from a pragmatic approach: lean, high-impact deals over big, hard to finalise ones.

New policy brief by @etiennehoera.d-64.social & Thieß Petersen➡️ bst-europe.eu/economy-secu...

Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, has announced a major reform of his ministry to become effective in summer of 2026. As the NSC is built, the MFA refocuses.

Wadephul has emphasised three foreign policy goals: protecting Germany’s security, freedom, and prosperity. 1/

From Reaction to Proactive Strategy: A Playbook for a Phased Approach towards European Technological Agency Europe stands at a critical junction in the global digital and technological landscape, where its capacity to act decisively depends fundamentally on knowledge, investment, productivity and ecosystem ...

Tomorrow, EU leaders meet for the Summit on European Digital Sovereignty.

This new brief by experts from the newly formed European Network for Technological Resilience & Sovereignty presents a roadmap for tech resilience though knowledge, investment, & productivity.

👉 bst-europe.eu/competitiven...

On Wednesday, our colleagues @heqs.bsky.social & @etiennehoera.d-64.social graduated from @dgap.org / @merics.bsky.social's Think Tank School with a ceremony at DGAP in Berlin!

Follow Helena for info on European comprehensive preparedness and resilience, and Etienne for trade and geoeconomics.

EU conservatives vote with far right to approve cuts to green rules The outcome highlights the EPP’s willingness to abandon its traditional centrist coalition allies.

Today’s Sustainability Omnibus vote in the EP marks a turning point for the EU’s centrist coalition & sets course for the rest of the simplification agenda. The EPP broke with traditional partners, seeking a majority with far-right groups to deliver its vision of how to cut sustainability rules.
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Read our latest newsletter for insights on:

💶 EU budget debate & Europe’s strategic ambitions
🏛 The Sustainability Omnibus & EU Parliament dynamics
💻 The European Digital Sovereignty Summit
➕ And more!

Read here👉 www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/en/bst-europ...

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How Buy-European Rules Can Help Save Europe’s Car Industry Car manufacturing was the pinnacle of 20th-century industrialisation. Even today, the industry remains one of Europe’s most important sectors, if not the most important. It employs 13.6 million people...

Europe’s car sector drives jobs, R&D, and exports, but is losing ground fast to international competitors. A coordinated Buy-European EV policy can help to boost demand at home argue @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, @nilsredeker.bsky.social & @sandertordoir.bsky.social.

bst-europe.eu/economy-secu...

One Year After Niinistö: Why the EU’s Preparedness Strategy Cannot Be Wasted Since the Niinistö report was released a year ago, “preparedness” has become Brussels’ latest buzzword – and for good reason. Europe urgently needs the capacity to absorb shocks, maintain essential sy...

One year after the Niinistö report, “preparedness” risks being just another checklist exercise. Unless the EU adds value to complement NATO, reflects national realities, & boosts societal resilience, it won't deliver, argue @heqs.bsky.social & @gbuldioski.bsky.social:

bst-europe.eu/security-pol...

EU-Nachhaltigkeitsregeln: Dieser Bürokratieabbau ist für die EU gefährlich Will Brüssel seine Regulierung wirklich vereinfachen, sollte es umdenken, erklären zwei Wissenschaftler der Bertelsmann-Stiftung.

New analysis with @cdgeiser.bsky.social: The EU’s current drive to cut red tape at all costs is weakening Europe. Last week’s failed vote on the Sustainability Omnibus in the European Parliament was the culmination of extreme pressure, poorly designed proposals and political polarisation. Thread:

How Buy-European Rules Can Help Save Europe’s Car Industry Car manufacturing was the pinnacle of 20th-century industrialisation. Even today, the industry remains one of Europe’s most important sectors, if not the most important. It employs 13.6 million people...

Europe’s car industry faces a triple challenge: China’s subsidised export surge, US tariffs/IRA rollback, & weak EU demand.

@lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, @nilsredeker.bsky.social, & @sandertordoir.bsky.social argue for a coordinated "Buy-European" EV eco-bonus ➡️ bst-europe.eu/economy-secu...

The car crisis tops today’s EU summit but leaders keep staring at the wrong problem

The issue isn’t the 2035 engine ban - it’s demand falling off a cliff today

With @sandertordoir.bsky.social and @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social, we show why flipping regs won’t help - and what the EU can do instead.

How Buy-European Rules Can Help Save Europe’s Car Industry Car manufacturing was the pinnacle of 20th-century industrialisation. Even today, the industry remains one of Europe’s most important sectors, if not the most important. It employs 13.6 million people...

Read the full paper here: bst-europe.eu/economy-secu...

@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social @delorsberlin.bsky.social @bertelsmannst.bsky.social

The payoff would be a faster EV pivot, jobs saved, and scale for batteries/software/autonomy. Cheaper than future bailouts and more coherent than fragmented national schemes. This plan could stoke European demand for European EVs.

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They recommend making France’s eco-bonus the EU template: a carbon-scoring system that nudges buyers toward EU-made EVs and cleaner supply chains. It is effective, WTO-safe, and ready to scale, while also avoiding confrontation with China through higher tariffs.

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Europe’s car industry is in rough waters with sinking demand for European EVs, & the response cannot wait. In a new joint paper @sandertordoir.bsky.social , @nilsredeker.bsky.social & @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social , propose "Buy-European" EV demand support coordinated across the Single Market.

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EU Prepares 19th Sanctions Package Against Russia’s War Economy When EU foreign ministers meet at the end of August in Denmark, the current Council Presidency holder, the agenda is expected to include increasing pressure on Russia. President Vladimir Putin will on...

Ahead of the European Council meeting this week, the EU hopes to move ahead with the 19th Russia sanctions package, which now is only held up by Slovakia.

@miriamkosmehl.bsky.social explained here how the package was prepared and what it should focus on: bst-europe.eu/economy-secu...

@etiennehoera.d-64.social

The implementation of this new pact is to begin with joint projects with partners at the end of November in Barcelona, on the 30th anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. The positive development of fair neighborly relations requires the #commitment of all EU member states.

Strategic Alignment in a Fragmented Region: How the EU, MENA and the GCC Can Forge a New Triangular Partnership This analysis examines the emerging potential of a triangular partnership between the EU, Southern Neighbourhood (MENA) countries, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Based on the 2025 EuroMeSCo E...

Christian Hanelt and Nico Zillekens outlined how this could work in June:
bst-europe.eu/europe-in-th...

In a region characterized by geopolitical fragmentation, such a strategic orientation can help to bundle common interests in energy, infrastructure, innovation, and conflict resolution.

An important factor for the success of the new #MediterraneanPact is the approach of triangular cooperation across the Mediterranean and beyond to the Gulf region: cooperation between the EU and its southern neighbors and the Arab states of the Gulf/ #GCC states

The Geoeconomic Interconnectivity Index: Mapping Europe’s Interconnections in an Age of Geopolitics The EU’s neighbouring regions are undergoing deep transformation, as the liberal international order becomes increasingly contested and economic and geopolitical considerations become more intertwined...

As our expert Christian #Hanelt states: Those who understand the EU's geo-economic constraints and opportunities in a global context can forge sustainable partnerships with their neighbors; for mutual benefit. Check out our index #GEOII by Étienne Höra: bst-europe.eu/economy-secu...

In her statement, Commission President Ursula von der hashtag#Leyen emphasized the central role of economic and social interdependence.

A new pact for the Mediterranean with the aim of promoting growth, security, and stability around the Mediterranean

The EU adopted the “Pact for the Mediterranean,” a new format for cooperation with Europe's southern neighbors in the Middle East and North Africa, a strategic center #Mena.

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