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IMAGO / Kyodo News

South Africa’s G20 Presidency

A Signal for Multilateralism

The South African G20 summit was a prestige boost for the country at the Cape. South Africa proved itself a capable host, a skilful negotiator, and a determined advocate of multilateral solutions. However, the presidency faced the challenge that the United States, in particular, increasingly boycotted the format over the course of 2025 and stayed away from the summit itself. In addition, new developments in the war in Ukraine as well as the sobering outcome of the COP30 negotiations shaped international reporting and overshadowed the summit.

Gregor Jaecke, Dr. Christoph Wiedenroth
December 1, 2025
Country reports
NongAsimo, stock.adobe.com

Three years of ChatGPT – an interim assessment

Where do we stand and what does the future hold for the European economy?

ChatGPT has spread rapidly in Germany in the private sphere, primarily among younger people. Companies, on the other hand, are more hesitant and exploratory in their use of the technology as artificial intelligence. The decisive factors here are not only the technical characteristics of ChatGPT, but also product features such as transparency and specifications. For Europe, therefore, it is not a question of replicating ChatGPT with a delay. Rather, it is important to develop its own models or adapt non-European ones so that they are better suited to institutionalised structures as products.

Leonie Mader
November 26, 2025
Facts and Findings
IMAGO / Branislav Racko

Resignation of deputy prime minister sparks dispute among governing parties

Further tensions within Fico's coalition government are to be expected. Meanwhile, the government is taking action against the anti-corruption authority.

Slovak Deputy PM Peter Kmec (Hlas-SD) resigned amid a scandal over about €200m in EU R&D funds, after media linked selected projects to a party donor and a presidential adviser. The case deepens rifts in Fico’s Smer–Hlas–SNS coalition, as Hlas demands equal standards for Smer ministers and hints at a crisis. At the same time, Fico’s plan to replace the independent whistleblower office raises fresh rule-of-law concerns. It is expected that both developments will have significant impact on political situation in Slovakia during the last parliamentary session at the end of the year.

Dr. Marco Arndt, Michal Petrík
November 26, 2025
Country reports
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V.

Inclusion and employment of people with disabilities

Inclusion worldwide – current status in Croatia

Disability is a global, social, and health challenge that affects many people. People with disabilities often face barriers such as limited access to education, services, and employment. Although progress has been made in Croatia, integration into the labor market and society remains insufficient. Structural barriers, prejudice, and lack of mobility make participation difficult. In addition, few people with disabilities attain higher education. In 2022, the “Law on the Register of Persons with Disabilities” was passed to collect relevant data and plan policy measures. Nevertheless, the figures show that further reforms are needed to achieve true equality and inclusion.

Anita Šakić
November 25, 2025
Country reports with a difference
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

Power games at sea

When maritime law erodes: The Baltic Sea, the South China Sea and Europe's security vulnerability

In the wake of global power shifts, the world's oceans are increasingly becoming the focus of authoritarian power politics. Countries such as Russia and China are deliberately undermining maritime law in order to strategically shape maritime spaces, a practice known as “lawfare.” In the Baltic Sea, acts of sabotage reveal Europe's vulnerability, while in the South China Sea, China demonstrates how law becomes a question of power. Both cases illustrate that when maritime law is undermined, Europe's security, capacity to act, and rules-based order are jeopardized.

Lara Müller
November 24, 2025
Facts and Findings
VMRO-DPMNE

Local elections in North Macedonia: Convincing victory for ruling parties

Vote of confidence for the government one year after the parliamentary elections

The ruling parties achieved a major victory in the local elections in North Macedonia. Both Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s VMRO-DPMNE and the Albanian partners in the VLEN party alliance won the most mayoral offices and municipal council seats nationwide.

Daniel Braun, Davor Pasoski
November 21, 2025
Country reports
KI M365 Copilot

Global Governance in Crisis

Does the G20 Still Play a Role in Times of Geopolitical Fragmentation?

For many years, the G20 has suffered from thematic overload, institutional weaknesses, and growing geopolitical tensions. Yet it is an indispensable format for global governance and must therefore regain its legitimacy and effectiveness. This can only succeed if it focuses on its core mandate, develops the troika into a multi-year planning body, strengthens the OECD as a quasi-secretariat at institutional level and gears its working methods more strongly towards realisable outcomes. Germany should work towards this together with its partners.

Gunter Rieck Moncayo, Nikolaus Rischbieter
November 21, 2025
Facts and Findings
KAS Ecuador

No new constitution for Ecuador

Defeat in constitutional referendum forces President Noboa to reflect

In a referendum, the Ecuadorian people have rejected President Daniel Noboa's proposal to convene a constitutional assembly by a surprisingly clear margin. Three other constitutional amendments proposed by the head of state were also rejected. The result is a bitter defeat for Noboa, but also an opportunity to change his style of government, which is often perceived as lacking transparency.

Johannes Hügel
November 20, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

Gaza’s Post-War Order: Restart under Oversight?

What Resolution 2803 means for the future of the Gaza Strip

The UN Security Council has voted in favor of a resolution drafted by the US that internationally underpins US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan for the future of the Gaza Strip. Among other things, the plan calls for the establishment of an international stabilization force (ISF), which, according to the US, several unnamed countries have already agreed to join. Resolution 2803 was supported by 13 countries, including the US, France, and the UK. The two veto powers, Russia and China, abstained from voting.

Simon Engelkes
November 19, 2025
Country reports
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

The end of the political centre?

Outcome of the presidential and parliamentary elections in Chile

In the presidential and parliamentary elections on 16 November, the majority of Chileans voted for extreme positions. Jeannette Jara, candidate for the left-wing alliance Unidad por Chile and an active member of the Communist Party since the age of 14, will face the ultra-conservative right-wing candidate of the Partido Republicano, José Antonio Kast, in the runoff election on 14 December. The clear loser of the election is the moderate centre-right alliance Chile Grande y Unido, led by candidate Evelyn Matthei.

Olaf Jacob, Mirya Maier
November 18, 2025
Country reports

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