How can the European Union’s policies, both internal and external, be shaped with stronger involvement of right-wing political forces?
The European Parliament elections were held in the member states of the European Union (EU) from 6 to 9 June. According to forecasts and predictions, parties on the right of the political spectrum in particular made significant gains. The elections leading to a new European Parliament and a new European Commission will have an impact on international cooperation. This was the focus of the board meeting of the European Think Tanks Group (ETTG), at which Dr Axel Berger, Deputy Director (interim), represented IDOS on 20 June in Brussels. In an exchange with the heads of important European think tanks, he reflected on the outcome of the EU elections and their potential impact on the international cooperation of the European Union. However, the strong growth of right-wing populist and far-right forces is not just a European development, but also a phenomenon that has been observed at international level for several years. The increase in autocratisation and polarisation processes worldwide is not only putting the EU’s development policy to the test, but also international cooperation on a global level. Against this backdrop, the Tidewater Conference of the Development Assistance Committee, which took place in Bonn from 26 to 27 June, focused on the importance of trust in a changing political context. In her keynote speech, Prof. Dr Anna-Katharina Hornidge, Director of IDOS, shed light on how common interests can be strengthened and expanded in times characterised by confrontational narratives.
