Europe
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Europe (FNF Europe) operates offices in Brussels, Prague, Vilnius, and Geneva.
By connecting EU experts, civil society, and decision-makers, we aim to foster open dialogue and explore liberal policy solutions to European challenges. In collaboration with our liberal partners, we create engaging formats and campaigns to promote fundamental rights, the rule of law, geopolitics, and geoeconomics. Additionally, we coordinate EU co-funded projects in areas such as the internal market, digitalization, and innovation.
News
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The Dutch Liberal Gamble: D66 and VVD Revitalize Dutch Politics and European Cooperation
A bold minority government puts Dutch liberalism to the test. Can D66 and VVD deliver stability, security, European cooperation without a majority? Read how this could reshape Dutch and EU politics.
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One Europe - FNF Restructuring
FNF Europe Merges with FNF East and Southeast Europe. From 1 February, we become ONE European region with the Head Office in Brussels, growing together to shape the future of freedom across our continent. We are delighted to welcome our FNF colleagues from Ukraine, Türkiye, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to begin this new chapter under the leadership of Jules Maaten!
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Imagine Portugal: The Rise of Optimistic Institutionalism
As Europe grapples with the rise of populist rhetoric, Iniciativa Liberal is rewriting the political playbook through ‘Optimistic Institutionalism’, distilled in the forward-looking motto “Imagine Portugal.” By moving beyond technocratic messaging, Portuguese liberals reframed their appeal around culture, knowledge, and growth. The impact was historic. In the first round of the presidential elections, liberal support surged from 5% to 16%, tripling its previous share and delivering the strongest result ever for liberals in Portugal.
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Cyprus’s EU Presidency
Positioned at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Cyprus has taken on the EU Council Presidency with an ambitious agenda centred on security, strategic autonomy, enlargement, and Mediterranean partnerships, while carrying unresolved internal questions into its European leadership role.
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The Digital Euro
Europe’s digital euro is no longer a theoretical debate. As key political decisions approach, the project is becoming a test case for how the EU understands digital sovereignty, competition, and the role of markets in the digital age.
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Europe's demographic dilemma between aging and migration
Europe is undergoing a profound demographic shift, which can only be tackled effectively through targeted reforms and a modern, clearly rule-based European migration policy.
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Rebuilding Public Trust in the Digital Age
In an era of rapid digital transformation and rising disinformation, public trust in democratic institutions is under unprecedented strain worldwide. Young liberal leaders are showing how transparent algorithms, citizen-built civic tech, and digital literacy can rebuild confidence in democracy. Their approaches also offer Germany and other EU member states a blueprint for making digital governance both innovative and genuinely accountable.
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Launch: Solving the Climate Puzzle - How Systems Thinking Supports Environmental Decision-making
Why are we still procrastinating on so many climate issues? A crucial key is to learn to see behind the complexity barrier. Our new publication "Solving the Climate Puzzle" shows how.
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Legal Defeat for Hungary and Poland
This morning, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) announced a landmark ruling, in which it rejected Hungary's and Poland's challenges to the rule of law conditionality in the allocation of EU funds. What does the ruling mean for the EU in general and the future of democracy and the rule of law in Hungary and Poland?
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Eyes on France - video series on the French Council Presidency 2022
In our video series „Eyes on France”, we shed light on the role of France holding the Presidency of the Council of the European European from January 1 to July 31 2022.
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Report launch: "Migrant Entrepreneurs - A chance for innovation and growth in post-covid Europe“.
Migrant entrepreneurs in Germany and France contribute largely to local- and national economies but are often overlooked. The report addresses how migrant entrepreneurs contribute to the societal and economic growth in Europe and highlights challenges that migrant entrepreneurs face in access to visa- and entry regulations as well as to support structures.
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France-Germany: reconcilable priorities?
Writing recently in Der Spiegel, the Secretary of State for European affairs, Clément Beaune, underlined the indispensable nature of the “Franco-German alliance”. For decades it has been a vital and undeniable paradigm of European integration policy: without an understanding between Paris-Berlin there is no hope! The adoption of the NextGenerationEU recovery plan in July 2020 demonstrated this vividly.
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A Modern Agora
Emmanuel Macron’s idea of a (citizens’) Conference on the Future of Europe needs more support in Germany. It has been running since June, but so far hardly anyone knows about it.
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Franco-German Relations: The Prospects For A European Leap Forward
Turbulence in Franco-German relations has often ensued from the occupant of the Élysée or the Chancellery being replaced. Dealing with a new partner from another party, with a different temperament or from another generation has sometimes required time to create good chemistry or, failing that, a modus vivendi between the two leaders.
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Defeat in a parliamentary by-election exposes the UK government’s woes, brings new hope for Liberal Democrats
The Prime Minister looks increasingly embattled. A man who claims to carry the mantle of Winston Churchill, the hero of whom he has penned a biography, appears to possess little of Churchill’s strength in adversity. Eager to shift public attention away from his personal troubles, he has engaged in needless and damaging conflicts with France over fishing rights and aspirant migrants and in battle with health experts over Covid.
Social Media
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📝 Submit a short proposal (max 1,000 characters) by 15 July 2025. Selected essays will: ✅ Win €1,000 ✅ Be published in a Europe-wide collection ✅ Be brought to life by visual artists 🌐 Open to all – from across Europe and beyond. Proposals can be submitted in English or German. Whether you’re an expert or just passionate about freedom and democracy, share your vision with us. ❗ No full essays yet – just your proposal. 👉 Learn more and submit via link in comments #Europe2050 #ProjectEurope2050 #FNF #LiberalEurope #FutureOfEurope #EssayCompetition
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🌟 40 Jahre Schengen: Europas leise Revolution 🇪🇺 Am 14. Juni 1985 begann mit dem Schengen-Vertrag ein neues Kapitel: Ein Europa ohne Binnengrenzen. Heute ist Schengen ein Symbol für Freiheit, Handel und Zusammenhalt – und ein strategischer Anker für Deutschland und Europa. 📖 Artikel von Jules Maaten ➡️ https://www.freiheit.org/europe/40-years-schengen-treaty-europes-quiet-revolution-and-germanys-strategic-lifeline 💬 Interview mit MEP Jan-Christoph Oetjen ➡️ https://www.freiheit.org/de/40-jahre-schengen-bilanz-und-bedeutung
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🛡️ Security for Freedom Why liberal democracies must act NOW. ⚠️ Freedom, human rights & the rule of law are under threat. In a time of global instability, we need to act — not react. 🎥 In this video: 🔹 Europe's security challenges 🔹 How to counter authoritarian regimes 🔹 Why security is key to freedom 🔹 What it takes to defend democracy in the 21st century 🙌 Featuring insights from: Delphine Pronk (European External Action Service - EEAS) Alice Stollmeyer (Defend Democracy) Maria Martisiute (European Policy Centre) Laura Tatarelyte (@FNF Baltic States) 📣 Because hope is not a strategy. Let’s build a future rooted in freedom, security & democracy.
