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Mercosur boat at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
EU- Mercosur Free Trade Agreement
Odilia Abreu

The Spanish-German Axis: A Strategic Driver of the EU-Mercosur Agreement

The EU-Mercosur free trade agreement is putting a strain on the traditional Franco-German axis, revealing disagreements between the two powerhouses. France, heavily influenced by its powerful agricultural sector, remains opposed. Germany, however, is actively pushing for the agreement's ratification. In this scenario, Berlin seems to have found a new strategic ally in Europe: Spain.

A sculpture and flags in front of the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
NATO
Jeroen Dobber

NATO Summit 2025 – Allies meet in The Hague for a numbers game

Amid growing global instability, NATO leaders will meet in The Hague on 24-25 June for the annual NATO Summit. Item number one on the agenda: defence spending. The leaders are expected to agree on boosting their defence budgets to 5% of GDP and thereby keep US President Trump on board of the Alliance.

South Korea’s Minister of Education visits an elementary school to observe a class using AI-based digital textbooks.
AI Education
Zeynep Gezen

South Korea slows down on AI education

South Korea’s government wanted to modernize its education system with AI textbooks. But the project failed due to lack of preparation and skepticism from parents – A sobering example for others to consider.

Ortsschild von Schengen in Luxemburg
40 Years Schengen Treaty
Jules Maaten

40 Years of the Schengen Treaty: Europe's Quiet Revolution and Germany's Strategic Lifeline

40 years ago, the Schengen Agreement was signed by Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. A review by Jules Maaten.

Altare della Patria in Rome
Italy
Odilia Abreu

Coalition Momentum: A New Era for Liberals in Local Italian Politics

Italy held the first round of its local elections at the end of May, followed by the second round on June 8–9 across numerous municipalities in 14 of the country’s 20 ordinary-statute regions. The second round coincided with five national referendums on labor law and citizenship reforms, creating a politically charged weekend with both local and national implications.

Liberal Academy Armenia 1
Education in Armenia

Armenian Liberal Academy 2025

FNF Armenia’s 2025 Academy brought together 17 young participants for an engaging deep dive into democracy, human rights, Armenia’s political landscape, and Russian colonial legacy—sparking critical dialogue on the country’s future.

GEERT WILDERS addresses a plenary session
Netherlands
Jules Maaten Jeroen Dobber

Dutch government collapse - a train crash in slow motion

Less than a year after its formation, the Dutch government collapsed on Tuesday after far-right party leader Geert Wilders withdrew his party PVV and all of his ministers from the ruling coalition. The withdrawal leaves the government without a majority, leading Prime Minister Dick Schoof to step down and resign his entire cabinet. The Netherlands can now prepare for new elections.

The challenges of migratory flows in Tunisia
Migration
Nour Boumaiza

The challenges of migratory flows in Tunisia: economic, social and political issues

Tunisia at a Crossroads: Facing record youth unemployment, brain drain, and growing migration pressures, how can the country and Europe respond? Discover the urgent realities and the way forward in our in-depth analysis.

MediaVoice cover 1
New Study:

New Study: Comparing the European Media Freedom Act and Georgian Media Legislation

"Media Voice" compares Georgia’s media laws with the EU’s Media Freedom Act. The study warns recent changes undermine democracy and hinder EU integration. Read how Georgia can align with European standards.

Lee Jae-myung, der Präsidentschaftskandidat der Demokratischen Partei Koreas, wirbt bei einer Wahlkampfveranstaltung auf dem Yongsan Station Plaza in Seoul, Südkorea, um die Unterstützung der Öffentlichkeit
Presidential election in South Korea
Frederic Spohr Zeynep Gezen

Mistrust ahead of Power Change

If the progressive candidate Lee Jae-myung wins South Korea's presidential election as expected, he will face the difficult task of uniting a deeply divided country. Many South Koreans have reservations. Partners in the West are also skeptical.

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