Publications

China and Europe:

Can the EU and the UK find a shared strategy?

The EU, the UK, and several European countries have developed strategies to deal with China, yet Beijing’s rise, its support for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, and the growing unreliability of Donald Trump’s United States as an economic and security partner have sharpened the dilemmas facing European policymakers. Trade between China and Europe—including the UK—now accounts for more than one-third of global trade, with the balance heavily in China’s favour and its surplus widening. Despite repeated expressions of concern from Brussels and London, these imbalances remain unaddressed. The challenge for Europe lies not only in the sheer size of its trade deficit, but also in its dependence on China for a wide range of critical goods. China’s industrial overproduction continues to undercut European manufacturers both in their domestic markets and abroad.

More flexibility, less control?

Reorientation of the financial instrument for the EU's future partnership policy

On July 16, the European Commission presented a first draft of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the seven-year EU budget for 2028-2034. The initial proposal allocates €1.98 trillion for the next seven years. The package also includes a first draft regulation for the so-called “Global Europe Instrument” : this is to become the central financial instrument in the new MFF for shaping the EU's relations with its global partners. In many respects, the regulation represents the paradigm shift in European development policy that has been gradually taking place over the past few years towards a partnership policy that places greater emphasis on the EU's own interests. At the same time, the first draft also reflects the awareness that the EU finds itself in a different geopolitical environment than it did at the beginning of the current MFF (2021). Accordingly, the draft contains numerous innovations that attempt to take these circumstances into account. Some of these are nevertheless controversial and are likely to meet with opposition in some cases, particularly regarding the European Parliament's (EP) and Member States' limited powers of oversight. In any case, the negotiations between the Commission, the EP, and the Member States on the MFF, which are expected to last another year and a half, are likely to result in a number of fundamental changes that will also affect the Global Europe Instrument.

Latin America's Switzerland under pressure

On the State of Democracy in Costa Rica Ahead of the Elections: Between Populism and Organized Crime

On February 1, 2026, Costa Rica will hold nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections. This election could mark a turning point for one of America's most stable democracies and is seen as a crucial stress test for the resilience of the country's democratic institutions. Deep-rooted structural problems such as deficits in the education system, high unemployment and lack of prospects – especially among young people – economic inequality, a worsening security crisis and institutional tensions in a highly polarised political landscape form a tense starting position.

Making Global Gateway Work: Reflections on the Impact so far and the Future of the Initiative Towards the Indo-Pacific

by Hildegard Bentele MEP, Dr. Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, Olimpia Kot, Marcin Jerzewski and Jacob Mardell

Launched in 2021, the EU’s Global Gateway aims to combine strategic ambition with sustainable partnerships worldwide. The initiative seeks to turn Europe’s financial and regulatory tools into instruments of global influence while adhering to principles of transparency and cooperation. This compendium examines its implementation, regional engagement, and lessons from global infrastructure initiatives to inform Europe’s strategic presence.

María Corina Machado wins the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025

Exemplary commitment to democracy

A special day for democrats in Venezuela, Latin America, and around the world: on October 10, 2025, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition politician María Corina Machado. The Konrad Adenauer Foundation congratulates her on behalf of all political forces in Latin America that are committed to freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.

Zwischen Sicherheit, Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und Klimapolitik - die dänische EU-Ratspräsidentschaft ist herausgefordert

Bestandsaufnahme zur Halbzeit der dänischen Präsidentschaft

Als Gastgeber des informellen EU-Gipfels am 1. Oktober in Kopenhagen rückte Dänemark ins Zentrum der europäischen Aufmerksamkeit: im Vorfeld des Gipfels waren vermehrt Drohnen über dänischen Flughäfen und militärischen Einrichtungen gesichtet worden, die die dänische Regierung als „hybride Angriffe“ bezeichnete. Die Häufung besorgniserregen-der Drohnensichtungen auch in anderen europäischen Städten veranlasste die dänische Ministerpräsidentin Mette Frederiksen gar von einem „hybriden Krieg” seitens Russlands zu sprechen. Der Gipfel, bei dem die gemeinsame Verteidigung Europas und die Unterstützung der Ukraine im Vordergrund der Debatte standen, markierte die Halbzeit der dänischen Ratspräsidentschaft. Das bietet Anlass, auf die Vorhaben der dänischen Präsidentschaft zu blicken und Zwischenbilanz zu ziehen.

International perceptions of Germany’s and Europe’s competitiveness

Opportunities, challenges and policy recommendations

As part of the project the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung surveyed experts from emerging and developing countries as well as German and European business representatives around the world about the role of the EU and Germany as economic actors in their respective countries and regions. Their responses form the basis of this analysis. The goal is to assess Germany’s and Europe’s competitiveness in the global markets and provide policy recommendations to strengthen Europe’s competitive position in the race for new economic partners.

Dr. Gerhard Wahlers im Büro der KAS

Herr Dr. Gerhard Wahlers, Stellv. Generalsekretär und Leiter der Hauptabteilung Europäische und Internationale Zusammenarbeit der KAS, traf sich am 7.10. im Rahmen eines Besuchsprogramms in Bulgarien mit den Mitarbeitern der KAS Bulgarien und des KAS Medienprogramms SOE.

Minerales críticos: El caso del litio

Serie: Perspectivas

Esta publicación, elaborada conjuntamente por la Fundación Konrad Adenauer y el Centro de Estudios Internacionales de la Universidad Católica, examina los desafíos y oportunidades que representan los minerales críticos, y en particular el litio. A partir de un análisis comparativo, propone reflexiones y recomendaciones sobre la gobernanza, la competencia global y el carácter estratégico del litio como recurso clave.

Beyond Fragmentation: Policy Options for Digital Harmonization

Reflections from the second KAS-WISC Roundtable on Digital Trade

Writing rules for the digital economy is a balancing act. Everyone agrees that to derive the maximum benefit from the digital economy requires keeping obstacles to trade to a minimum. Yet, there is also a consensus that questions of national security, consumer protection and competition are of crucial importance. For political, economic and strategic reasons every government insists on a degree of sovereignty in striking this balance and it’s no surprise that governments disagree on how best to regulate the digital economy. But industry officials argue forcefully that a marketplace which is regulated in a fragmented manner severely limits opportunities for growth and innovation.