The currency of the future?

by Jason Chumtong

An evaluation of Facebook’s Libra

The perception of crypto currencies as a shady payment method for criminal businesses appears to fade away. At least this is what Facebook must be speculating on. Last summer the social media company announced the development of a cryptocurrency, set to release in 2020. Its name is Libra and considering the 2 billion active Facebook users, Libra could transform Facebook into a serious actor within the international finance sector overnight.

A WTO in crisis – but not at breaking point

by Olaf Wientzek, David Gregosz

World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) dispute settlement body suspended

The Appellate Body of the WTO, responsible for settling international trade disputes, has been unable to function since 11 December. The development marks the crumbling of a pillar of the multilateral trading order. What does this mean for the cross-border movement of goods and services, cooperation between states, and the organisation itself?

Time to grow up!

by Sebastian Weise

The Internet urgently needs a new order

At first, Tim Berners Lee’s work in 1989 was intended to simplify the exchange of research results at CERN. In the end, the result of his efforts was crucial for changing the world. After all he developed the basis for a free exchange of information in which today people all over the world can participate in. But Tim Berners Lee is more than just the inventor of the World Wide Web. He is also one of the founding fathers of the idea of a free and open Internet. While the Internet has established itself as the central social medium, his original ideal of a free internet is in danger more than ever before.[1] In order to unfold the liberal and economic potential it is offering, a new or at least a further developed order is needed. One, that must also be defended against competing illiberal approaches.

China: a developing country as a global power?

by Veronika Ertl, David Merkle

China has risen to being the second-largest national economy in the world; in terms of purchasing power parity, it is even the largest. Nevertheless, China insists on its status as a developing country and the special treatment in international regimes that goes with it. This is criticised by industrial countries, above all the US, as seeking unfair advantages. The EU has also increasingly been calling for China to move away from its developing country status, while it emphasises China’s role as a partner but also as a systemic rival.

The High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development

by Veronika Ertl, Martina Kaiser

Reviewing the Review Mechanism

The High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development (HLPF), held at the level of heads of state and government, took place from 24 to 25 September 2019. It was the first meeting of the HLPF at this level since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in September 2015. In addition to the review of the current state of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this summit also served as opportunity to evaluate the HLPF with regards to its effectiveness as monitoring mechanism of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

10 key findings from UNHCR’s Global Report on refugees

by Olaf Wientzek, Christian Bilfinger

UNHCR has published its new Global Report on refugees at the end of June. The following analysis summarizes some key points from the report.

Germany needs to get a move on!

Results of the study series “Comparison of national strategies to promote Artificial Intelligence”

For an Open and Free Internet

by Tobias Wangermann

It can be seen as a symbolic act that the Federal Government signed the „Contract for the Web“ (https://contractfortheweb.org/) initiated by Tim Berners-Lee in November 2018. The contract, which is to be published in May 2019 and which governments, companies, organisations and individuals can join, is more an expression of intent than a legally binding treaty. Nevertheless, it is an important commitment to an open and free Internet and at the same time a clear message for freedom, democracy and the rule of law. In future, all signatories will have to be judged on the implementation of its principles. Not only the Federal Government signed the contract – Google and Facebook are also signatories.

“More Europe” to strengthen the Rule of Law

by Olaf Wientzek

Already today, the EU has important instruments for safeguarding the rule of law and democracy at its disposal; it is not a toothless tiger: There are however gaps in its apparatus. A "peer review" or a yearly report on the state of Rule of Law and democracy in the EU could be an important new instrument which might address one of these gaps.

Building a European Data Infrastructure

by Pencho Kuzev

European Data Infrastructure - Common Perception, Common List?” That was the title of one of panel discussions during the European Data Summit 2018 of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. We are publishing this summary simultaneously with the Recast of the Public Sector Information Directive. Tax-funded data often have the character of an infrastructure. Free access to this resource strengthens Europe's competitiveness. The inclusion of Open Data in the title of the Directive (one of our recommendations) reflects a strategic political direction to consistently make publicly funded data available to everyone.