Germany under pressure: Defending democracy against hybrid threats

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Russian hybrid threats are increasingly testing Germany’s security architecture. In a TVP World interview, IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer discussed the need to strengthen Germany’s capacity to counter espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks and foreign interference while preserving the constitutional safeguards that distinguish a democracy from the actors seeking to undermine it.  

The challenge is not limited to the digital sphere. Disinformation operations, interference in democratic processes, suspected sabotage activities and threats to critical infrastructure are part of a wider pattern aimed at creating insecurity, eroding trust in public institutions and portraying democratic states as incapable of protecting their citizens.  

Germany’s planned reforms of its security and intelligence structures, as well as investments in drone-related capabilities, therefore respond to a changing threat environment. Yet expanding operational powers also raises fundamental questions. Germany’s post-war legal and institutional framework deliberately placed strict limits on domestic security powers. Any adaptation must remain subject to effective parliamentary, judicial and public oversight.  

A resilient response requires more than new technical tools or stronger intelligence capabilities. It also depends on societal resilience: media literacy, civic education, trust in democratic institutions and a clear understanding that freedom of expression must not become a shield for coordinated foreign operations intended to dismantle the democratic order.  

Democracies must be able to defend themselves. The central task is to do so without sacrificing the rule-of-law principles and fundamental rights they are defending.  

Watch the full interview on TVP World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noaNRpow6xg   

Péter Techet in der ARD-Tagesschau über Péter Magyars bisherige Politik

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In einem Bericht der ARD-Tagesschau wurde Péter Techet ebenfalls zu den ersten 100 Tagen der neuen ungarischen Regierung und zu Péter Magyars bisheriger Politik interviewt.

Den Beitrag können Sie hier ansehen: 100 Tagen Magyar – Wo Ungarn mit seinem neuen Regierungschef steht

Péter Techet im ARD-Mittagsmagazin über die ersten 100 Tage der neuen ungarischen Regierung

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Im ARD-Mittagsmagazin sprach Péter Techet live darüber, was die neue ungarische Regierung in den ersten 100 Tagen erreicht hat.

Das Video kann hier nachgeschaut werden (im Ausland nicht verfügbar): ARD Mittagsmagazin – alle verfügbaren Videos – jetzt streamen!

Sebastian Schäffer on AfD’s rise in Germany

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IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer spoke to TVP World about the current political situation in Germany and the AfD’s strong polling in Saxony-Anhalt.  

The AfD’s rise represents a serious danger to democracy. Its political agenda and rhetoric challenge democratic institutions, weaken social cohesion and contribute to the normalisation of positions that stand at odds with constitutional principles.  

At the same time, democratic parties need to respond more effectively to the issues on which the AfD is gaining support. Questions of migration, security, economic uncertainty and political representation cannot be left to a party that mobilises dissatisfaction without offering workable solutions.  

The response must not be to adopt the AfD’s language or politics. Democratic parties need to show that they can address legitimate concerns through credible policies, effective governance and a clear commitment to democratic values.  

The whole interview can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrDD6iCUX28

Péter Techet on STVR Pátria Rádió about the increased security threat in Germany

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In an interview with the Hungarian-language program of the Slovak Radio STVR, Péter Techet analyzed the increased security threat in Germany and the planned changes to the Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst, BND). 

The interview can be listened to here: Németország emeli a fenyegetettségi szintet az orosz szabotázs és kiberakciók árnyékában – Pátria Rá… 

Sebastian Schäffer on transparency in German defence procurement

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Sebastian Schäffer commented on growing concerns about transparency and political influence in Germany’s defense procurement for the Researchers & Reporters Network (RRN). He highlighted the contradiction between booming defence exports and increasingly opaque, fast‑tracked procurement decisions, warning that weakened democratic oversight risks undermining public trust and creating space for lobbying and disinformation. 

Read the full interview here: https://rrn.com.tr/en/transparency-must-be-ensured-in-defense-procurement/

Read the Turkish version here: https://rrn.com.tr/savunma-alimlarinda-seffaflik-saglanmali/

This interview was also referenced by Turkish news outlets BirGün and Ege’ye Dair.

Péter Techet for Magyar Hang on the meeting between Péter Magyar and Friedrich Merz

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Péter Techet for Magyar Hang on the meeting between Péter Magyar and Friedrich Merz 

In the Hungarian weekly Magyar Hang, Péter Techet was asked about the meeting between Péter Magyar and Friedrich Merz in Berlin. Techet emphasized that German-Hungarian relations have traditionally been strong due to the close economic ties between the two countries, and that Germany, particularly the CDU, will continue to be important for Magyar. At the same time, he noted that differences between Budapest and Berlin are already becoming apparent regarding the issue of Ukraine. 

Techet also pointed out that the CDU/CSU and German business interests had previously played a significant role in helping Viktor Orbán maintain his power in Hungary. In this respect, he argued, it is also the responsibility of the Tisza Party, which together with the CDU/CSU belongs to the European People’s Party, to place bilateral relations on a new footing. 

Finally, Techet suggested that Magyar’s appearance in Berlin, especially his sharp criticism of President Tamás Sulyok during the press conference, may have been met with some incomprehension in Berlin. 

You can read the article here: https://hang.hu/magyar-hang-plusz/gazdasag-ukrajna-meg-egy-kis-trollkodas-magyar-peter-nemetorszagi… 

Péter Techet on Klubrádió about the Magyar–Merz meeting in Berlin

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On the Hungarian radio station Klubrádió, Péter Techet talked about whether and how German–Hungarian relations might change following a political shift in Budapest, and to what extent differing views on the war in Ukraine could strain those relations.

The interview can be listened to here: https://www.klubradio.hu/archivum/esti-gyors-2026-junius-02-kedd-1815-58162

21st DRC (Danube Rectors’ Conference) Summer School: Imagining Europe’s Future

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DRC SUMMER SCHOOL ON REGIONAL COOPERATION

EU36: Imagining Europe’s Future

 

26 July – 1 August 2026

Regensburg, Germany

An intensive one-week programme for students and researchers 

What will Europe look like in 2036? What could a European Union of 36 member states mean for its political, economic, and societal future? The summer school EU36 invites participants to explore these questions from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Whether understood as a forward-looking vision of the European Union in ten years’ time or as a scenario of an enlarged Union, EU36 serves as a framework to critically examine transformation processes within and beyond Europe. Participants will engage with key challenges and opportunities shaping the EU’s future – ranging from geopolitical shifts and economic restructuring to social cohesion, migration and democratic governance.

By bringing together students, researchers, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds, the summer school fosters dialogue across disciplines and encourages innovative thinking about Europe’s role in a rapidly changing global landscape. Through lectures, workshops, and interactive discussions, participants will analyse current developments, present their own research and develop ideas for the future of the EU.

DETAILS OF THE SUMMER SCHOOL 2026

We are looking for young researchers with a scientific background and/or a strong interest in deepening their knowledge of developments in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe!

  • Date: 26 July – 1 August 2026
  • Application deadline: 31 May 2026
  • Target group: BA, MA, PhD level students and scientists
  • Registration fee: none
  • Accommodation: provided and covered by the organisers (if needed)
  • Travel: covered by the organisers up to 200 €
  • Language of instruction: English
  • Course location: Regensburg
  • Organisers: Danube Rectors’ Conference (DRC), Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM), OTH Regensburg
  • Publication: possibility of contributing to one of the IDM’s publications e.g. policy paper or study

TOPICS

1.  Geopolitics and International Relations: This strand explores the European Union’s role in an increasingly contested global order. It looks at enlargement and neighbourhood policy as key strategic tools, alongside the EU’s relationships with major global actors such as the United States and China. Questions of security, defence cooperation, and the pursuit of strategic autonomy will be central, particularly in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions and shifting alliances.

2. Economy and Transformation: This theme prioritizes the green transition as a driver of the EU’s future competitiveness and resilience. It explores how climate-neutral growth, supported by the Single Market and digital innovation, can strengthen the EU’s economic position, while addressing inequalities and promoting convergence across member states, especially in an enlarged Union.

3. Migration and Demography: This strand addresses one of the EU’s most debated and politically sensitive areas. It will explore migration governance, asylum systems, and border management, as well as broader demographic trends such as ageing populations and labour shortages. Discussions will also consider how mobility and migration intersect with questions of social inclusion and integration across European societies.

4. Democracy and Desinformation:  This theme connects the EU’s institutional framework – governance, decision making, and rule of law – with the lived reality of democracy at citizen level. It explores participation, polarisation, and the influence of disinformation, and how these dynamics affect trust, cohesion, and democratic resilience in an expanding Union.

Please note that participants will have the opportunity to present their own research. Applicants’ research topics should align with the themes outlined above. The programme, including lectures and workshops by Regensburg-based and international professors as well as a cultural programme, will be published in the coming weeks.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please send the following documents to info@drc-danube.org by 31 May 2026, at the latest:

  1. Answer the following questions:
    Description of research subject/interest (100 words)
    Would you like to present your research during the DRC Summer School? (yes or no)
    What is your motivation to attend the DRC Summer School? (120 words)
  2. Your CV (maximum 2 pages)

Please send all above-mentioned documents as one file, the only accepted format is PDF with a maximum file size of 3 MB for all documents.

Selected participants will be informed latest by 15 June 2026.

ORGANISERS

SPONSORS

Sebastian Schäffer in Fair Observer: Germany’s Military Service Act and the Governance Gap

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A provision of Germany’s Military Service Modernisation Act (WDModG) that entered into force on 1 January 2026 required men aged 17 to 45 to obtain advance approval before spending more than three months abroad. It went unnoticed for three months. Once discovered, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius reversed it within days  without substantive parliamentary debate. 

In his latest article for Fair Observer, IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer, himself German and based in Vienna for over a decade, argues that the problem is not the strategic direction of European remilitarization, which is sound but the democratic process behind it. Drawing on the contrast with Austria’s notification-based model under the Military Act, he calls for clarity, visibility and structured public debate as Europe rebuilds defence frameworks dismantled after the Cold War. 

Read the full article here: https://www.fairobserver.com/politics/germanys-conscription-misstep-exposes-a-deeper-european-problem/