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Bogdan Cristel, Reuters

Enhancing Energy Security in Southeast Europe

Can Romania Be Part of the Solution?

Romania’s relative energy independence could transform it into a regional provider of energy security supporting EU efforts to decouple from Russian energy. This requires commitment and will, however. For now, most infrastructure continues to be obsolete, polluting, and ill-adapted to the massive post-Communist shift in demand, threatening even the country’s own energy security. Critical vulnerabilities are precisely those where Russian dominance must be swiftly curtailed: gas and, indirectly, electricity.

Siphiwe Sibeko, Reuters

Environmental and Climate Policy in Africa

Regional Cohesion and National Challenges

The African Union’s Agenda 2063 sets out the aspiration of African countries to focus on sustainable development. The continent has gained influence at inter­national climate negotiations. However, many countries face enormous challenges when it comes to the implemen­tation of national environmental and climate targets, which cannot be explained by a lack of financial resources or technical expertise alone. Rather, good governance is a prerequisite for effectively protecting the environment and combating climate change.

Michele Tantussi, Reuters

How Sustainable Are Shock Moments?

Lessons from the War in Ukraine

The 180-degree turn of German foreign and security policy – at least in terms of rhetoric – only became possible after Russia’s open invasion of Ukraine. While some politicians, even from the ranks of the federal government, are already slipping back into old comfortable patterns of thinking now that the first wave of horror has passed, the rest of us should ask: what must be done to better prepare ourselves for future conflicts?

Reuters

New Energy Partnerships and a Boost for Decarbonisation?

The War in Ukraine and Its Repercussions for Energy Policy in Asia

The Russian attack on Ukraine has led to turbulence on the Asian energy markets. The consequences are manifold: on the one hand, the rise in the price of fossil fuels may well provide decarbonisation with new momentum in many Asian countries. On the other hand, states such as India and especially China might try to cheaply purchase Russian energy resources, which are being increasingly shunned in the West. Thus Moscow, subject as it is to sanctions, has new opportunities for energy cooperation – but risks becoming increasingly dependent.

Ahmed Jadallah, Reuters

Out of Siberia, into the Desert?

The Middle East and North Africa as Building Blocks of Europe’s Energy Transition

Russia’s war on Ukraine is increasing the pressure on Europe to wind down its dependence on Russian energy supplies. For this reason, politicians are turning their attention to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), a region that has historically been home to large quantities of fossil fuels. This seems to be a reasonable step in light of the region’s energy reserves, but it requires closer scrutiny. The MENA region, particularly the Arab Gulf states, is at the dawn of a new era of renewable energies. Instead of creating new dependencies, Europe should pursue a strategy of broad diversification of its energy sources, along with the establishment and expansion of energy innovation partnerships.

Zohra Bensemra, Reuters

Powerless against Digital Hate

African Societies and Social Networks

Social media open up unprecedented communication oppor­tunities in Africa. At the same time, they exacerbate conflicts, such as the one in Ethiopia. Facebook, just ahead of TikTok as the most important social network on the continent, is inadequately performing its moderating and supervising duties. In the same way, most states do not protect their citizens from digital attacks or surveillance. The negligence of these governments, which have a greater interest in surveillance than in protecting their own people, is turning the continent into a huge test lab for companies in Palo Alto and Shanghai. Technologically, Europe has little to oppose these trends with.

Monicah Mwangi, Reuters

Kenya’s Supreme Court Writes a Further Chapter in the History of the Rule of Law in Africa

The Failure of President Kenyatta’s Building Bridges Initiative

Kenya’s Supreme Court has halted a project through which the head of state had sought to amend key elements of the country’s Constitution. The fact that the Supreme Court judges did not go as far as the lower courts in certain aspects of their ruling has disappointed some. Nonetheless, the glass is not half empty but at least half full when it comes to judicial independence in the East African country.

Amir Cohen, Reuters

Neue Normalität im Nahen Osten?

Israel im Spannungsfeld zwischen regionalen Allianzen und globalen Machtverschiebungen

Über Jahre waren die zwischenstaatlichen Beziehungen in der Region Nahost geprägt von ideologischen Interessen, die oft zur Konfrontation führten. Doch in jüngerer Zeit ist Bewegung in dieses Szenario gekommen. Alte Frontstellungen scheinen sich langsam aufzulösen und wirtschaftspolitischer Pragmatismus die Oberhand zu gewinnen. Einer der zentralen Akteure auf dem Weg zu einer möglichen neuen Normalität im Nahen Osten ist Israel.

Jorge Silva, Reuters

Russlands sharp power in Lateinamerika

Die Region im Visier der autokratischen Internationale

Die weltweit mächtigsten autokratischen Staaten beeinflussen aktiv das politische und wirtschaftliche Umfeld in Lateinamerika. Die Unterstützung und Einflussnahme von Mächten wie Russland trifft dabei auf Regierungen und Gesellschaften, die durch politische Polarisierung, illiberalen Nationalismus und die Einschränkung der Rechtsstaatlichkeit fruchtbaren Boden für eine Stärkung autoritärer Ideen bieten. Entsprechend hat Moskau die Anerkennung und gegenseitige Stärkung illiberaler Regime unterstützt und die Werte seiner politischen Weltanschauung verbreitet. Was aber bedeutet der russische Angriff auf die Ukraine für diese illiberalen Allianzen?

Benoit Tessier, Reuters

Starke Kandidaten, schwache Parteien?

Frankreich vor den Wahlen

In Frankreich steht die Präsidentschaftswahl an, kurz danach entscheiden die Bürger über die Zusammensetzung der National­versammlung. Im Gespräch mit den Auslandsinformationen erläutern Caroline Kanter und Nele Wissmann, wie der Krieg in der Ukraine den Wahlkampf beeinflusst, vor welchen Herausforderungen das bürgerlich-konservative Lager steht und warum Präsident Emmanuel Macron die gesellschaftlichen Gräben in Frankreich nicht hat überwinden können.

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Dr. Gerhard Wahlers

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Benjamin Gaul

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