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Europe and North America

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Our focus in Europe

The work of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s Foundation offices in Europe is of particular importance. Our central concern is to strengthen and deepen European cooperation while at the same time stabilising bilateral links between the individual member states. In the face of the major challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the current focus, alongside economic and social recovery and a lasting resolution of the crisis, is on making the European Union as a whole stronger, fairer and more sustainable. In addition to global challenges such as climate change and increasing competition between systems, the focus is on digitalisation and innovation to strengthen Europe’s ability to act both internally and externally.

Party-political cooperation thereby is a particularly well-established tradition in Western Europe and an important instrument for KAS to promote the bilateral dialogue between the member states. However, changes to the party-political landscape across Europe is also putting established partnerships under increasing strain. In Southern Europe - among others due to the coronavirus pandemic - the image of Europe has recently become tarnished to some extent. Southern Europe has at times felt inadequately supported by its European partners in the three major crises - the coronavirus pandemic, the financial and the migration crises. In the coronavirus crisis, criticism of and dissatisfaction with the EU have now reached a new peak and are unfortunately beginning to manifest in fundamentally pro-European circles. It is this trend that the Foundation offices are seeking to counteract with their measures.

In view of the generally worrying increase in populist and nationalist stances in many countries of the EU, particularly in Southern and Eastern Central Europe, KAS’s measures continue to focus on supporting partner organisations in politics and civil society to strengthen their influence on policy-making and their role in the democratic system.

At the heart of the debate and the work of the KAS offices in Eastern Central Europe are the issues of security and defence policy alongside the current state and future of European integration. Here, it is the task and goal of KAS to restate the common European positions with greater vigour. Another focus is on cooperation with relevant state and civil society actors as they continue to come to terms with their communist past. In general, polarisation of the political landscape can also be observed in the region. For KAS, therefore, a particularly crucial task is to strengthen civil society as an important long-term stabiliser for relations.

Overall, the East-West divide between the old member states of the European Union in Western Europe and the new member states in Central and Eastern Europe has widened in recent years. These fractures are manifesting again and again in discussions about the rule of law, the independence of state institutions and the role of national identities, nations, patriotism and nationalism.

KAS also continues with high-profile events to work towards the rapprochement of the non-member states of the Western Balkans with the European Union, in South-Eastern Europe as well as in Brussels and Berlin, and to support regional cooperation within the framework of the Berlin Process initiated by Chancellor Angela Merkel. The interplay - and, in many cases, tension - between loyalty to values and interest-driven politics fundamentally shape the engagement in the Western Balkans, especially in the context of party-political cooperation.

In Eastern Europe, in view of Russia’s tense relations with the “West” and parts of its immediate neighbourhood, the focus continues to be on the geopolitical situation, as well as on the far-reaching and yet partially stalled political, economic and social transformation processes in the states involved in the EU’s Eastern Partnership. The work of KAS in Eastern Europe therefore focuses on supporting the establishment of democracy and the rule of law as well as social and economic development, while at the same time promoting rapprochement with the EU within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and dialogue on regional security policy issues.

 

Our focus in North America

Under the US administration of former President Donald Trump, the perspective of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s transatlantic work experienced a shift. In this occasionally unorthodox US administration, the viewpoints of Germany or the EU were not always well perceived. The discourses on reinforcing a common European position and focusing on Europe’s capacity to act gained momentum as a result. With regard to the new US administration under the 46th President Joe Biden, it remains important to advocate shared positions to find stronger common ground on key issues of the transatlantic relationship. While some basic strategic directions of the Trump administration are likely to remain, the return of the US to multilateral agreements is expected. With regard to NATO, the European partners should be prepared to be called upon to make more efforts within the framework of the defence alliance. The KAS office in the US is therefore engaging in matters of shared interest with Europe, such as trade, climate and security policy.

With five offices in Europe and North America, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is working on multilateral issues of concern to the international institutions and organisations located there. From the United Nations headquarters in New York, the Foundation’s office is working to strengthen the multilateral order and to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The office there is also concerned with the issues of peace and security, the implementation of Agenda2030 and with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies in the field of digital governance. From its Geneva office, the Foundation has been involved in the work of the World Health Organization (WHO) since long before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, where its contributions include reporting, background discussions, informative events and publications. Other focal points include the issues of world trade, refugee movements and migration, human rights, humanitarian aid and digitalisation. The Washington D.C. office monitors the work of the World Bank Group. From its Brussels office, the Multinational Development Policy Dialogue of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung concerns itself with the external dimension of the work of the European Union. From its base in Vienna, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung deals, among other things, with issues of arms control and peacekeeping.

 

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Topic pages of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

We are significantly involved in the following KAS-wide thematic pages. Here you will regularly find various contributions (including publications and events) from our department.

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Russian War of Aggression on Ukraine

Europe and International Affairs

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Management

Management

Dr. Lars Hänsel

Dr. Lars Hänsel

Head of the Department Europe and North America

Lars.Haensel@kas.de +49 30 26996-3526

Team

Team member

Marcel Schmidt

Marcel Schmidt

Desk Officer for European Affairs and Multilateral Dialogue

marcel.schmidt@kas.de +49 (0) 30 26 996 - 3671
Team member

Jonathan Nowak

Jonathan Nowak (2020)

Desk Officer for Northern Atlantic

jonathan.nowak@kas.de +49 30 26996-53368
Team member

Alexander Beribes

Portrait von Alexander Beribes

Western Balkans / Southeastern Europe

alexander.beribes@kas.de
Team member

Loretta von Plettenberg

Foto_Plettenberg

Policy Advisor for Western and Southern Europe (EU)

loretta.plettenberg@kas.de +49 30 26996-3935 +49 30 26996-5 3935
Contact

Ingrid Garwels

Ingrid Garwels

Desk Officer for Europe and North America in the Department International Dialogue Programs

Ingrid.Garwels@kas.de +49 30 26996-3520 +49 30 26996-3558
Contact

Carola Fritz

Carola Fritz

Conference Assistant for Europe and North America in the Department International Dialogue Programs

Carola.Fritz@kas.de +49 30 26996-3484 +49 30 26996-3558

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Publications on this topic

Ilulissat, Grönland [2023], Julian Tucker (KAS Regionalprojekt Nordische Länder) Julian Tucker (KAS Regionalprojekt Nordische Länder)

Elections in Greenland

A Clear Signal Towards Independence

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal IMAGO / Scanpix

Broken alliance in Estonia

The collapse of the coalition government

Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance IMAGO / MediaPunch

Showdown in the Oval Office

US Opinions on the Future of Trump's Ukraine Policy

Deutsche und Französische Fahnen IMAGO / Zoonar

Bundestag election 2025: France hopes for policy change in Germany

The rise of right-wing populists, influence from Russia and the USA as well as policy changes in the area of security and defence are the focus of election reporting.

Presidents Day Protest Natalie Wright IMAGO / Middle East Images

Canada faces the threat of a trade war with the U.S. in this election year!

The EU and Canada should respond more strongly together.

Enver Hoxha IMAGO / Everett Collection

Albania and religion – a globally unique case

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation commissioned a study on religious issues.

Police and protesters face off in Georgia IMAGO / NurPhoto

Georgian Knot: Local Repressions and International Isolation

For weeks, Georgia has been caught in a destructive cycle of protests and repression, isolating the country on the international stage.

World Economic Forum and Präsident Donald Trump IMAGO / Avalon.red

Trump’s Trade Warriors

Trade Experts Share Common Goals, Diverge on Methods

Moldau Transnistrien Energiekrise, Bild aufgenommen im Januar 2025 IMAGO / SNA

Transnistria without gas and Chişinău in crisis mode. A difficult winter in the Republic of Moldova

Russia's gas supply freeze aims at political stability in the country

GERB bildet Regierung mit drei Partnern unter Ministerpräsident Rossen Scheljaskow National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria

Political crisis in Bulgaria resolved for now?

GERB forms government with three partners under Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov

Kroatien Präsidentschaftswahl Zoran Milanovic 12.01.2025 IMAGO / Steinsiek.ch

Presidential Election in Croatia 2025

Milanović Secures a Decisive Victory, Highlighting Political Divisions and Tensions with the Government

Donald Trump and Marco Rubio IMAGO / Newscom World

The Team for “America First”

Trump Relies on Experienced Foreign Policy Experts and Loyal Ideologues

Gitanas Nauseda IMAGO / NurPhoto

Government Formation in Lithuania

New Leadership Under Challenging Circumstances

Pierre Poilievre spricht bei einem Vortrag IMAGO / ZUMA Press

The U.S. Elections and the End of Comfort for the Canadian Government

Just a few weeks before taking over the G7 presidency, the election campaign in Canada is already well underway

Romanian and European flags side by side IMAGO / Russian Look

Presidential elections annulled after hybrid attack

Romania is fighting for democracy on two fronts

Prime Minister Michel Barnier during the National Assembly IMAGO / ABACAPRESS

Government overthrow in France

Germany's closest partner in the crisis

Man Voting in Bucharest, Romania IMAGO / Xinhua

Parliamentary elections in Romania: Majority urgently needed

Majority urgently needed

Personen bei der Abstimmung zu den Parlamentswahlen in Litauen 2024 IMAGO / Xinhua

Parliamentary elections in Lithuania

Loss of power and leadership crisis of the Christian Democrats

US Wahlen 2024 und Spenden IMAGO / Tetra Images

Money Makes the Vote Go Round?

Campaign Finances in U.S. Elections

United Nations General Assembly Hall UN Photo / Loey Felipe

UN Pact for the Future

Multilateral reform plan without guarantee of success

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Media library

KAS USA Online Event

After the German Election: Results, Reasons and Ramifications

How have the voters decided? What where their reasons? What is coming next?

Deutschlad vor der großen Koalition

Wahlergebnisse in Deutschland

Jakov Devčić, Leiter der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Serbien und Montenegro sprach für RTS über die gesellschaftlichen Trends in Deutschland, die durch die Wahlergebnisse aufgezeigt...

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Fena/Sektor für Öffentlichkeitsarbeit der PSBiH
Besuch des Direktors der KAS im Repräsentantenhaus von BiH

Gespräch mit Parlamentspräsident Denis Zvizdić von NiP am 13. Februar 2025

Zvizdić und der Direktor der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in BiH Raabe sprachen über wichtige Schritte für den Fortschritt BiHs in Richtung EU. Medien berichteten über den Austausch.

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New episode of „Auslandsinfo. Spotlight“

WHO without the USA: A risk for global health?

Trump completes the USA's withdrawal from the WHO. What are the consequences of the withdrawal of the largest donor?

KAS USA Video

David McAllister: IDU-Forum and the Future of International Cooperation

David McAllister, Chair of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, talks about the future of international cooperation.

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