Daniela Schwarzer

This sober pragmatism is driven by security and economic resilience concerns. It will be interesting to see how Germany develops its “soft power” in a more conflictual world while Germany’s image as Europe’s economic powerhouse is showing serious cracks.

German foreign policy-making will rely more heavily on strengthened intergovernmental diplomacy.

This includes partnerships with countries that “hold different opinions and whose positions may sometimes seem strange to us,” says Wadephul. 4/

While the DG for International Order will stay and absorb teams working on stabilisation, prevention etc.

But funds for crisis regions and large humanitarian budgets for external cultural and educational policy will be administered directly by the regional desks. 3/

Goals 1 and 3 will be supported by strong departments for security policy and for EU policy and geoeconomics.

The department for stabilisation created 20y ago will be dissolved, as will the department for foreign cultural and educational policy. Staff numbers at the Berlin HQ will go down 2/

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/

It was an honour to moderate this meeting with President Macron, Chancellor Merz, Commission VP Virkkunen and leading tech CEOs to discuss how to concretely advance European digital sovereignty. Impressive success stories, a strong sense of urgency and compelling suggestions for change.

Great to contribute to this weeks TTP. I make the point France's political permacrisis is bad news for European rearmament efforts.

I'm in excellent company too @georginaewright.bsky.social @dschwarzer.bsky.social.

The Geoeconomic Interconnectivity Index Geoeconomic Interconnectivity Index analyzes evolving trade/investment ties between EU, US, China, Russia 2010-2023 #geoeconomics

🌍Geoeconomic Interconnectivity Index (GEOII)

How connected is Europe to its neighbourhood, and how about the US, China & Russia?

Explore the GEOII here: geoii.eu/start

And read @dschwarzer.bsky.social's piece on how Europe must wield its economic weight here: www.handelsblatt.com/meinung/kolu...

Die Modernisierungsagenda macht auch vor dem Parlament nicht halt. Das war die positiv-stimmende Einsicht des sehr spannenden Abends zum Thema "Von Aussteigern lernen: Welche Veränderungen braucht der Bundestag". u.a. mit Julia Klöckner, Philipp Amthor, @dschwarzer.bsky.social 1/3

Taking the Pulse: Does France's Political Crisis Weaken Europe's Geopolitical Hand? While the EU tries to navigate a myriad international challenges, France is experiencing historic political disarray. What impact will instability in Paris have on Europe's geostrategic capacity?

On France’s Political Crisis

@dschwarzer.bsky.social contributes to @carnegieeurope.bsky.social "Taking the Pulse", writing how turmoil in Paris undermines Europe’s geopolitical hand from defence unity to fiscal credibility.

carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...

Yes, I think it does. Click below to read our views. Thanks @rmomtaz.bsky.social !

Thank you, @yoerialbrecht.bsky.social for showing this truely thought provoking documentary at @debalie.bsky.social - and for hosting Samuel George, our award-winning documentary director for a discussion. Really proud to see our BFNA documentaries travel Europe!@bfnadocs.bsky.social

Zusammen mit dem Monitoring-Bericht zur Energiewende hat Katherina Reiche in der letzten Woche einen Zehn-Punkte-Plan vorgestellt. Dieser weist sprachlich wie inhaltlich große Ähnlichkeiten zu einem Papier von RWE und Eon aus dem Frühjahr auf. Ein längerer Thread mit Links und Beispielen. (1/19)

Europa als Spielball: Wie kann der Kontinent zwischen USA, China und Russland bestehen? Podcast Episode · Das Politikteil · 19/09/2025 · 56m

“We need to be clear with ourselves that we have entered a phase where we are probably in a real systemic conflict with the United States” - @dschwarzer.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/d...

Same here!

EDINA IV is complete: 25 chapters, 25 national views 🇪🇺 From Norway to Sweden, Lithuania to Germany — Europe’s defence cannot afford to lag. 👉 edina-defence.org/edina04

Our Europe newsletter is out today! @dschwarzer.bsky.social shares her thoughts on current events and our colleagues' latest work.

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

Want to see it in your inbox next time? Subscribe via the homepage of our website ➡️ bst-europe.eu

Very much looking forward to our debate on Wednesday!

Michael Leigh, EU Enlargement: Exporting Stability or Importing Instability?

@stevenblockmans.bsky.social, Gradual EU integration: limits to an à la carte approach

@dschwarzer.bsky.social, Enlargement will only succeed if the EU embraces more flexibility

2/4

Foreign policy begins at home - and I would add: also boomerangs back home! Europe has not even begun to grapple with the consequences of an increasingly personalist-authoritarian US government for the fate of its democracies at home. #policyincoherence #democracy @dschwarzer.bsky.social

Home Europe's biggest economic and social event, open to all. Join the debate with 400 speakers and more than 70 conferences.

Right now at Les Rencontres Économiques d’Aix-en-Provence, one of Europe’s key economic forums 💥 #Frauenpower

👉 How do we restore faith in facts & institutions — and shape a more peaceful society?

💬 Listen to the debate with @dschwarzer.bsky.social

www.lesrencontreseconomiques.fr/en/#watch=am...

Sicherheitspolitik mit Strategie: Deutschland braucht eine Nationale Risikoanalyse In diesen unruhigen Zeiten muss Deutschland weg von reaktiver Krisenverwaltung hin zu strategischer Zukunftsgestaltung. Nötig ist eine systematische Ermittlung der Bedrohungen für unser Land.

Außen- & Sicherheitspolitik in einer Welt der Unordnung: Es geht darum, von einer reaktiven Krisenverwaltung zu einer strategischen Zukunftsgestaltung zu kommen, schreiben Stefan Mair, @dschwarzer.bsky.social & Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff @tagesspiegel.de (paywall):
www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/sich...

Today they have crossed a deep red line.

We, the people, must hold the president and his appointees accountable for this outrageous abuse against American liberty.

🇬🇪🇪🇺 Happy #Europe Day!
The people of Georgia are fighting every day to stay on the path to Europe - with courage, unity, and determination.
#EuropeDay2025 #GeorgiaProtests

Very, very sad that Joe Nye passed away.
I was lucky to exchange with him only four weeks ago. A very rich conversation on US power as always - and not without humour despite his dire analysis.
He will be dearly missed. A great scholar and a wonderful person. RIP Joe.

Allemagne : un nouvel élan Friedrich Merz sera élu chancelier le 6 mai prochain en Allemagne. Son investiture marque-elle un nouvel élan pour l'Europe ? Quelles seront désormais les relations entre Berlin et Washington ?

📻 Ce matin j’ai eu le plaisir d’être invité par Christine Ockrent au micro de l’émission « Affaires étrangères » sur @franceculture.fr pour discuter aux côtés de @dschwarzer.bsky.social, M. Krpata et M. Baloge des enjeux 🇫🇷🇩🇪🇪🇺 de l’élection de Friedrich #Merz

🎧👇

www.radiofrance.fr/francecultur...

Join @dschwarzer.bsky.social to discuss the future of #EU enlargement and the prospects for #Ukraine's membership.

🗓️ April 9, 3:30-5:00pm
🔗 ces.fas.harvard.edu/events/2025/...

@bertelsmannfdn.bsky.social @kaijaschilde.bsky.social @cmikulaschek.bsky.social

Die neuen WSI-Mitteilungen: mit einem Kommentar von @dschwarzer.bsky.social zu europäischer #Sicherheit sowie Beiträgen u.a. zu #Dekarbonisierung, #Transformation, #Fachkräftemangel in der #Pflege und Berichten zu #Mindestlohn und #Tarifpolitik ➡️ jetzt online www.wsi.de/de/wsi-mitte...

Wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation with @dschwarzer.bsky.social Germany and the Defence of Europe | Encompass Podcasts url:https://encompass-europe.com/podcasts/germany-and-the-defence-of-europe

YouTube video by Jacques Delors Institute Euroquestions #94 | The EU in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape – Adapting and Responding

💻 #Replay "The EU is an essential entity, but given the new security, economic & democratic challenges, cooperation needs to be organise also with evolving non-EU states."

Watch again our last #Euroquestions with @dschwarzer.bsky.social

Full replay 👇