Sophia Beiter for AlQahera News on the European Council summit

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Research Associate Sophia Beiter recently spoke with AlQahera News about the ongoing European Council summit on 26 and 27 June 2025, where EU heads of state address pressing economic challenges, as well as ongoing developments in Ukraine and the Middle East. Beiter commented on the proposed 18th package of sanctions against Russia, which Slovakia and Hungary have already indicated they may oppose. She also highlighted the divergent positions within the EU on the conflict in Gaza, as well as discussions about a trade agreement with the United States in view of the tariffs imposed by President Trump. 

You can find the interview here. 

NATO must pivot East – or risk irrelevance

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In his latest article for New Eastern Europe, Mihai Razvan Ungureanu highlights the urgent need for NATO to shift its strategic focus toward its Eastern members. He argues that as security threats increasingly emerge from the East, the alliance must realign its resources, leadership, and infrastructure to better support countries on the front line, such as Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states. Ungureanu calls for stronger regional cooperation, greater investment, and a renewed commitment to defending the Eastern flank, warning that NATO’s relevance depends on its ability to adapt to these new challenges.

Read the whole article here.

Gastkommentar in Die Presse: „Wenn Aufgeben keine Option ist“

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In seinem aktuellen Gastkommentar in der österreichischen Tageszeitung Die Presse schildert IDM-Direktor Sebastian Schäffer eindrucksvoll seine jüngste Reise in die Ukraine. Der Beitrag trägt den Titel „Wenn Aufgeben keine Option ist“ und rückt Menschen in den Mittelpunkt, die trotz anhaltender Bedrohung, täglichem Luftalarm und politischer Unsicherheit nicht müde werden, für ihre Freiheit, ihre Rechte und eine europäische Zukunft zu kämpfen. 

Basierend auf zahlreichen Gesprächen mit Vertreter:innen der Zivilgesellschaft, Journalist:innen und Aktivist:innen thematisiert der Artikel nicht nur die Widerstandskraft der ukrainischen Gesellschaft, sondern auch die Rolle Europas – und insbesondere Österreichs – in einem Krieg, der längst nicht nur die Ukraine betrifft. 

Schäffer appelliert an ein langfristiges Engagement und mahnt, nicht in Gleichgültigkeit oder Kriegsroutine zu verfallen. Gerade in Zeiten wachsender Müdigkeit in der öffentlichen Debatte sei es entscheidend, Haltung zu zeigen – und hinzusehen, wo andere lieber wegschauen. 

Zum vollständigen Artikel.

Sebastian Schäffer and Malwina Talik for Fair Observer on Russian Influence in CEE

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In their article “Russian Influence in Central Europe Evolves from Disinformation to Democratic Erosion”, published in Fair Observer, Sebastian Schäffer and Malwina Talik explore how Russian disinformation in Central Europe has developed to erode democratic processes. Focusing on recent elections in Romania and Poland, the authors highlight the Kremlin’s evolving strategies to influence elections and destabilise democratic institutions. They call for enhanced media literacy, stronger regulation, and coordinated responses to counter these hybrid threats. 

Read the full article here.

Danube Salon 2025: Facing Polarisation – Embracing Dialogue

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The Danube Salon, held within the framework of the Europaforum Wachau, focused this year on the theme “Facing Polarisation – Embracing Dialogue.” The event took place on 12 June 2025 at the Landesgalerie in Krems and featured a distinguished panel of speakers: Lukas Mandl (Member of the European Parliament), Petra Korlaar (Deputy Mayor of Mikulov), Stefan Benedik (Head of the Department of Public History, House of Austrian History), Malwina Talik (Research Associate at IDM), and Svitlana Telukha (historian specializing in oral history research). The session was moderated by Sebastian Schäffer (Director of the IDM). 

Memory and Dialogue Across Borders 

The panelists explored how memory, identity, and historical narratives can be used to counter polarisation and foster inclusive dialogue across borders, generations, and communities – highlighting the roles of political institutions, local actors, museums, and oral history in promoting democratic resilience and a shared European culture of remembrance. 

In the opening, Petra Korlaar shared her personal experiences as Deputy Mayor of the Czech city of Mikulov, located just a few kilometers from the Austrian border. She reflected on the enthusiasm for cross-border exchange following the 1989 revolution. While people initially embraced the new opportunities for transnational dialogue, over time many began to take open borders for granted, and transnational dialogue was thought to be no longer necessary. Drawing on her own projects, including literary residencies for Czech, Austrian, and German writers, she emphasized that there is still a need for exchange opportunities today. When such spaces are offered, people often gladly participate and come to appreciate the importance of fostering dialogue and cooperation – especially in the face of growing polarisation. 

Dialogue in Times of Tragedy 

Lukas Mandl referred to the tragic school shooting that occurred on 10 June in Graz, expressing that, despite such a terrible event, it remains meaningful to come together in a respectful way. He underscored the importance of community and dialogue, particularly also after tragedies, and highlighted how timely and relevant the topic of polarisation is in today’s context. 

In response to the question of how the EU can more effectively support resilience against polarisation, particularly among younger generations in Central and Eastern Europe, Lukas Mandl highlighted the establishment of a Special Committee in the European Parliament on the European Democracy Shield, created to address emerging geopolitical challenges. He emphasized the importance of education, combating disinformation, and fostering human encounters as key tools in countering polarisation. Mandl also referred to the informal parliamentary group on European remembrance, underlining the need to academically engage with history. He noted that this dimension has been lacking in the Western Balkans (WB6) and should not be overlooked in Ukraine. 

Historical Narratives and Democratic Resilience 

During the following panel discussion, Stefan Benedik, Malwina Talik, and Svitlana Telukha shared their personal views, professional experiences, and research findings on historical narratives, remembrance, and polarisation. When asked what “facing polarisation and embracing dialogue” means to them in their personal or professional work, especially in relation to memory and history, they emphasized the importance of practicing self-criticism, engaging in dialogue even when disagreeing, and listening to voices often absent from the general discourse. 

Museums as Forums for Dialogue 

On the role of museums in depolarising public debates in times of rising extremism and misinformation, Stefan Benedik emphasized that a museum should not only be a place for reflection but also a forum for discussion. He warned that today, the main challenge does not stem from contested memories, but rather from the fact that the very fabric of knowledge-based societies is being challenged – that critical thinking is being delegitimized, and that this disrupts democracy. Moreover, he pointed out that the establishment of memorials is often a top-down process that does not involve communities. He suggested adopting more democratic approaches to history, emphasizing that history should be seen as a process and does not necessarily need to be finalized as a product. 

History Is Never Neutral 

Malwina Talik pointed out that it is impossible to represent all voices, and therefore history is never truly neutral. This creates space for manipulation or the use of history for political purposes. She also emphasized that certain perspectives have been silenced for a very long time – for example, those of minorities or during communist regimes. Furthermore, she stressed that history is approached differently in democracies than in autocracies or backsliding democracies: in the latter, there is little or no space for discussion. It has been shown that, after targeting the judiciary and the media, such regimes often move on to rewriting history books. 

Ukrainian History as a Battlefield 

Svitlana Telukha shared her personal experience as a historian dealing with Ukrainian history in a time of war. She explained that history in Ukraine is currently a battlefield. After the full-scale invasion began, she wondered what she could do and decided to give recorded personal narratives a space, also to highlight societal resilience. She emphasized that in her personal approach, which includes both oral and graphic elements, it is important not only to collect material but also to publish it already now – not to wait, as “the rockets are flying now.” At the end of the discussion, she also stressed the importance of listening to one another, describing it as a very powerful act. 

We want to thank the Europaforum Wachau, the ARGE Donauländer and the University for Continuing Education in Krems for their longstanding cooperation in the framework of this event. A special thank you goes to Teresa Stummer. 

Danube Salon 2025 in the newspaper “Bezirkszeitung”: https://www.meinbezirk.at/niederoesterreich/c-politik/kultur-des-erinnerns-im-fokus-europaeischer-debatte_a7377023  

There is a time for diplomacy, clarity: World must now recognize which moment we are in – opinion

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Our colleague Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu contributed an article to The Jerusalem Post addressing the challenges posed by Iran’s recent regional hostile activities and the broader implications for Western diplomacy. In his analysis Ungureanu argues that hesitation and ambiguity in responding to Iran’s aggression could have serious consequences, urging clear and decisive action from the Western alliance. 

Read the whole article here.

Sebastian Schäffer for Carnegie Europe on the Future of Schengen

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IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer contributed to Carnegie Europe’s latest expert discussion on the future of the Schengen Area. In the piece “Taking the Pulse: Is Schengen Still Fit for Purpose?”, leading experts reflect on the challenges and prospects of border-free travel in Europe.

Read his comment below:

“Schengen is more than a policy framework; It’s a foundational symbol of European unity. But symbols only endure when they are upheld in practice. Forty years on, the Schengen model remains conceptually fit for purpose, yet politically fragile.

The creeping normalization of internal border controls reflects a shift from temporary exception to semipermanent policy. What used to be extraordinary—such as checks during major football tournaments or G7/8 meetings—has become routine. This “permanent provisionality” is unacceptable and erodes citizens’ trust in the promises of European integration.

Instead of allowing Schengen to become collateral damage in national debates on immigration or security, the EU must recommit to its principles—through solidarity at the external borders, coordinated immigration governance, and the political courage to defend free movement. This also means completing the European project by integrating the Western Balkans. As long as these countries remain in limbo, borders continue to shift inward—not physically, but functionally—creating zones of exclusion that undermine the credibility of EU enlargement and unity.

Schengen’s future will not be secured by fences or fear, but by restoring trust and upholding the freedoms it was built to guarantee. In times when others are trying to shift borders by force, this is needed more than ever.”

Read the whole article here.

Malwina Talik for Ukraine Crisis Media Center on Poland’s newly elected president

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Poland elected a new president, Karol Nawrocki, a Polish historian supported by the Law and Justice party. During the campaign, he advocated a tougher stance on Ukraine, particularly regarding Euro-Atlantic integration and national memory politics. In an interview for Ukraine Crisis Media Center, our colleague Malwina Talik commented on what his election means for bilateral relations, how Ukraine should shape its relationship with the future president, and what the electoral campaign reveals about sentiments within the Polish society.

Watch the whole interview here.

Péter Techet for STVR Pátria Rádió on the school shooting in Graz

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For the Hungarian-language program of Slovak Radio, Péter Techet spoke about how Austria reacted to the shooting at a secondary school in Graz and what is currently known about the perpetrator. 

The conversation can be listened to here. 

Péter Techet for ORF Ö1 about the Pride Ban in Hungary

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Péter Techet, research associate at the IDM, spoke on the Austrian public radio station ORF Ö1 about the restriction of fundamental rights in Hungary in connection with a possible ban of the Pride Parade in Budapest, the silence of the churches on the matter, and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s fear of losing power. 

The programme can be listened to here.