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smarterpix / HayDmitriy

AI training requirements should be reformed to be more practical

Article 4 of the AI Regulation: Good for bureaucracy, bad in practice

Article 4 of the AI Regulation leads to abstract, one-off training courses that can be easily controlled bureaucratically. In practice, however, they offer little real added value; what is needed instead are agile, sector-specific teaching and learning programmes. The passage should therefore be modified with the Digital Omnibus.

Leonie Mader
February 20, 2026
kurzum
Smarterpix/ sweet_tomato

Europe in the Age of Geoeconomics

Can the “Buy European” Approach Strengthen Europe's Competitiveness and Resilience?

In addition to countervailing duties, international alliances, and innovation promotion, “Buy European” is being discussed as a tool for strengthening European industry. However, “Buy European” should be a last resort and only applied in narrowly defined areas. A combination of targeted countervailing duties in cases of unfair competition and an aggressive free trade agenda would be more effective.

Tim Peter
February 19, 2026
kurzum
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

One year of Mahama and NDC government in Ghana

Between macroeconomic stabilisation and unresolved structural problems

The year 2025 marked a political turning point in Ghana: with John Dramani Mahama's return to the presidency in January 2025, an experienced political figure who stands for both substantial infrastructure investment and economic turmoil in Ghanaian politics once again took the helm. One year on, the question now is: where does Ghana stand today? What progress has the new NDC government made – and what challenges remain?

Anna Wasserfall
February 19, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / CTK Photo

Czechia's defense and Ukraine policy under the new Babiš government – a first impression

From expansion to stagnation

The security policy environment in which the Czech Republic has found itself since Russia's war against Ukraine has led to a change in defense planning in recent years. Under Petr Fiala's (ODS) government, Czechia was prepared to gradually increase defense spending and left no doubt about its support for Ukraine. However, the new coalition government of Andrej Babiš, formed by the populist ANO party, the right-wing extremist anti-system SPD (Freedom and Direct Democracy) party, and the populist-conservative Motorists' Party, is charting a new course in many areas.

Dr. Marco Arndt, Alena Reslová, Martina Beránková
February 19, 2026
Country reports
Smarterpix/ Ale_Mi

Perceptions of Jordanian Foreign Policy: Change and Continuity

Surveys show shifts in foreign policy priorities and partnerships while maintaining the basic orientation of Jordanian foreign policy

In the context of regional instability, Jordanian foreign policy remains shaped by a pragmatic approach and a focus on maintaining security and stability. At the same time, economic challenges are leading to an increasing public expectation for specific foreign policy results for Jordan’s economy. While the US and Saudi Arabia continue to lead the field of Jordan’s partner countries, confidence in the US’s stabilizing role in the region is shrinking. The image of Germany is recovering compared to the previous year, despite criticism in the context of the Gaza war.

Veronika Ertl, Laura Schranz
February 17, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / Anadolu Agency

Energy as a Strategic Factor: Türkiye’s Growing Importance for Germany and Europe

Successes and potential of Turkish energy policy

Following the EU's import ban on Russian gas, Europe will have to seek alternatives. In this context, Türkiye could become even more important than before. It is continuously diversifying its energy sources and suppliers, while also looking for energy reserves within its own borders. This is gradually making it more independent. Türkiye is already a key energy transit country. Despite its existing dependencies, particularly on Russia, it is expected to become an increasingly attractive energy partner and potentially an energy trader for Germany and Europe in the future. Cooperation in renewable energy holds potential for both sides. The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 31) in November in Antalya will provide further insights into how energy and climate policy goals can be aligned.

Dr. Markus Hildebrand
February 16, 2026
Country reports
Imago/ Ipon

Does the new military service bring security and equality?

How the Military Service Modernisation Act will strengthen the Bundeswehr and German society

In order to increase the number of personnel in the Bundeswehr and thus Germany's defence capability, the Federal Government has passed the Military Service Modernisation Act. This is primarily based on voluntariness and attractive conditions. Although the reform is likely to meet the federal government's targets for the number of reservists, experts are advocating for stronger mandatory elements. These should also include women and a legally sound answer to military equality (Wehrgerechtigkeit). Otherwise, there is a risk that the target of 260,000 active troops by 2035 will not be reached.

Martin Bieber
February 16, 2026
Monitor
CC0 1.0 Universell

Vance in Armenia – A Tailwind for Yerevan?

As the first U.S. Vice President, JD Vance visits Armenia– TRIPP, defense cooperation, and new momentum in the peace process.

For the first time, a U.S. Vice President visited Armenia — arriving not only with investment pledges, but with a broader geopolitical offer. TRIPP, nuclear cooperation, and new arms agreements signal a qualitative deepening of relations between Washington and Yerevan. For Prime Minister Pashinyan, this provides momentum in an election year; for Russia and Iran, it marks a further shift in the regional balance of power. The EU, in turn, faces the question of whether and how it can play an active role in shaping this emerging dynamic in the years ahead.

Florian Binder, Marlon Husmann, Jakob Wöllenstein
February 13, 2026
Country reports
KAS

“A strong, powerful voice in the polyphonic chorus of European literature“

Obituary for Cees Nooteboom

As Cees Nooteboom walked through the empty streets of Munich during the coronavirus lockdown in spring 2020, a poster caught his eye with the question “Does the afterlife begin here?” For him, it was a mission. The result was a cycle of poems about the transience of the world and the power of stories, a meditation on the memory of war and a hymn to life. Nooteboom knew what he was writing about. In 1944, his father died in the bombing of The Hague.

Prof. Dr. Michael Braun
February 12, 2026
Obituary
KI M365 CoPilot

Rule of Law in Southeast Europe 2025

A Region at the Crossroads: Progress, Stagnation, and Decline

At the end of 2025, the World Justice Project (WJP) has published the newest index on the Rule of Law developments worldwide. The data helps to draw a picture of the situation in the countries under scrutiny and present a broad range of information. This regional report synthesizes data from the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2025, the European Commission country assessments, and our own examination to provide an overview of judicial independence, corruption, government constraints, and fundamental rights across ten Southeast European nations. The region presents a complex landscape of diverging rule of law trajectories in 2025. While Croatia and Romania are regional leaders in the WJP Rule of Law Index, Serbia has become one of the countries with the sharpest decline worldwide. Bulgaria and Moldova have shown weaknesses, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo have undergone difficult developments. Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania are showing some improvements in their rule of law. Finally, corruption remains a universal challenge in the region.

Dr. Pavel Usvatov, Dr. Mahir Muharemović
February 11, 2026
Country reports

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Facts and Findings

Selected contributions to the series with international relevance

The series informs in a concentrated form about important positions of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung on current topics. The individual issues present key findings and recommendations, offer brief analyses, explain the Foundation's further plans and name KAS contact persons.  

International Reports

Journal for international issues, foreign policy and development cooperation

International Reports (IR) is the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung's periodical on international politics. It offers political analyses by our experts in Berlin and from more than 100 offices across all regions of the world. Contributions by named authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial team.

Die Politische Meinung

Zeitschrift für Politik, Gesellschaft, Religion und Kultur

Die Politische Meinung ist eine Zweimonatszeitschrift, in der ein breites Spektrum politischer, gesellschaftlicher und kultureller Themen der Gegenwart dargestellt und diskutiert werden. Sie bietet als Bezugspunkte fundierte Analysen historischer Hintergründe und eine der individuellen Eigenverantwortung verpflichtete, im christlichen Menschenbild verankerte Ethik. Die jeweiligen Themenschwerpunkte werden von einer inspirierenden Bilderstrecke, namhafter zeitgenössischer Künstlerinnen und Künstlern, vertieft.  

Research and Sources on Contemporary History

In der Reihe „Forschungen und Quellen zur Zeitgeschichte“ veröffentlicht das Archiv für Christlich-Demokratische Politik seit 1980 wissenschaftliche Studien zur Christlichen Demokratie, Darstellungen zur Geschichte der Bundesrepublik und der CDU sowie Biographien wichtiger Repräsentanten. Zu den 50 bisher erschienen Büchern zählen auch Quelleneditionen, wie Protokolle von Parteigremien oder Tagebücher von einflussreichen Politikern. Die Publikationen sind im Buchhandel erhältlich.

Interviews

In our series "Interviews", talks and discussions are held with experts from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. on various topics.

in short

Concise, reduced to the essentials, but always highly topical. In our series “in short”, our experts summarise an issue or problem on a maximum of two pages.

Country Reports

Short political reports of the KAS offices abroad

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is a political foundation. Our offices abroad are in charge of over 200 projects in more than 120 countries. The country reports offer current analyses, exclusive evaluations, background information and forecasts - provided by our international staff.

Monitor

The Monitor series deals with one main topic at a time from the perspective of KAS experts and places it in the political and social context on the basis of a few key points.

Event Reports

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, its educational institutions, centres and foreign offices, offer several thousand events on various subjects each year. We provide up to date and exclusive reports on selected conferences, events and symposia at www.kas.de. In addition to a summary of the contents, you can also find additional material such as pictures, speeches, videos or audio clips.

Handouts for Political Education

Grundlageninformationen zur Beteiligung
an aktuellen politischen Diskussionen

Mit der Reihe „Handreichungen zur Politischen Bildung“ möchte die Politische Bildung der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung interessierte Bürgerinnen und Bürger über politische Entwicklungen informieren, Orientierungen in Sachfragen geben und das Interesse an politischer Mitwirkung stärken. Die Handreichungen verstehen sich als Grundlageninformationen zur Beteiligung an aktuellen politischen Diskussionen.

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Completed publication series

Working Paper

Broschürenreihe mit Darstellungen und Positionen, die kurzfristig auf aktuelle politische Fragen reagieren

The Woman in Our Time

Lebensentwürfe von Frauen –
was hat sich verändert?

Jede Ausgabe widmete sich einem Schwerpunktthema aus Politik und Gesellschaft, der Arbeits- und Familienwelt, aus Kultur und Literatur und diskutierte dieses aus frauenpolitischer Sicht.

Insights

Berichte aus der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

Die Herausgabe der "Einblicke" ist ausgesetzt. "Einblicke" hat alle drei Monate über die Arbeit der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung berichtet.

Sociopolitical Series

Veröffentlicht wurden herausragende Dissertationsschriften mit gesellschaftspolitisch relevanten Themen von Stipendiatinnen und Stipendiaten der Begabtenförderung und Personen, die ihrem Promotionskolleg „Soziale Marktwirtschaft“ kooptiert sind. Die Reihe gab den Autorinnen und Autoren ein wissenschaftliches und publizistisches Forum und brachte aktuelle Themen in die öffentliche Diskussion ein.

Basic Questions of Christian Democracy

In dieser Reihe erschienen im Jahr 2006 Texte namenhafter Autoren zu Grundfragen der christlichen Demokratie.

In Conversation

Kulturpolitische Umschau

Zeitschrift mit Berichten aus Bundestag und Bundesländern, Gastbeiträgen, Rezensionen und Presseauswertungen zur aktuellen Kulturpolitik.

In Plenary

Broschürenreihe der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung mit den Beiträgen von Konferenzen, Fachtagungen und Kongressen, die von längerfristigem Interesse sind.

In Plenary Compact

Die Broschüren im DIN-A-4-Format fassen kurz und knapp die Ergebnisse von Konferenzen, Fachtagungen und Kongressen zusammen, die von längerfristigem Interesse sind.

KAS International

Information from the Division of European and International Cooperation

This series informs about current important events and developments of our work to point out our wide spectrum of activities.

Materials for the Work on Site

Kleine Schriftenreihe zu aktuellen Themen der Kommunalpolitik

Mit der eigenen Reihe "Materialien für die Arbeit vor Ort" bereitet die Stiftung zu aktuellen Themen wichtige Informationen in handhabbarer Form auf, so dass sie in der kommunalpolitischen Praxis nutzbar sind. Eine weitere Serie unter dem Titel "Diskurs kommunal" befasst sich mit besonderen Aspekten der Kommunalpolitik.