Energy-sector challenges have shaped international relations since early history, making energy a key component of geopolitics. Understanding current global and regional energy and economic trends is therefore essential. Armenia, like many European Union countries, faces significant challenges...

Five years after the bloody military coup and amid a civil war, elections have taken place in Myanmar. They were neither free nor fair, nor was any attempt made to keep up an appearance of even minimum democratic standards. From the outset, the main purpose of the elections was not political...

We study the sustainability of international trading rules in a multipolar world. A rules-based equilibrium is shaped by three forces. A static temptation to exploit market power undermines cooperation, while two dynamic forces support it: the efficiency gains from rules and the cost of...

Das Postgraduate Programme for Sustainability Cooperation (PGP) des German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS, vormals DIE) bildet seit 1965 Nachwuchs für die deutsche und europäische internationale Zusammenarbeit aus. Wie erfolgreich ist das Programm in der Förderung des...

Das Postgraduate Programme for Sustainability Cooperation (PGP) des German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS, vormals DIE) bildet seit 1965 Nachwuchs für die deutsche und europäische internationale Zusammenarbeit aus. Wie erfolgreich ist das Programm in der Förderung des...

This Country Partnership Framework (CPF) presents the planned engagement of the World Bank Group (WBG) in Azerbaijan over the next five years (FY25-29). The CPF is guided by the government's strategy for socio-economic development for 2022-26 (SEDS) and the WBG's most recent strategic analysis -...

Armenia, a landlocked country in the South Caucasus with a population of three million, has registered important achievements over the past two decades. Between 2000-2023, Armenia achieved robust economic growth averaging 6.3 percent, above the average for Europe and Central Asia (excluding...

This Country Partnership Framework (CPF) sets out the World Bank Group's (WBG) priorities in helping Haiti restore governance, sustain essential public services, and resume growth. The CPF covers the period from fiscal year (FY) 2025 to 2029 and responds to priorities that the government...

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential contribution of cross-border vocational education and training (VET) exchange partnerships within the context of tandem exchanges between VET institutions in the Rhine-Waal Euregio region in the Netherlands and Germany. These tandem...

Bulgaria has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past three decades. Despite this transformation and although European Union (EU) membership in 2007 raised expectations of living standards rapidly converging to EU levels, progress on a range of development challenges has been uneven....

After decades of volatile low growth and low investment, Pakistan has fallen behind its peers in key metrics of development. It now has an opportunity to durably take another course. The economy is recovering from the recent crisis as the government has launched an ambitious program of fiscal,...

This Country Partnership Framework (CPF) sets forth the World Bank Group (WBG) strategy for supporting Namibia's goals to reduce poverty and inequality as outlined in its national development plans. Although the WBG has historically had a limited engagement in Namibia, the authorities have...

Two phenomena are increasingly reshaping the world economy. One is the growing and well-documented importance of climate transition policies that differ across countries. The other is the stark rise of geoeconomic fragmentation (GEF) concerns. While differences in climate transition policies are...

In response to growing critical raw material demand and increasing instability in global supply chains, the European Union has established Strategic Partnerships with resource-rich third countries. These partnerships aim connect raw material projects in third countries with European industries,...

Since the entry into force of the Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) in 2009, European Union Member States may use the so-called cooperation mechanisms (statistical transfers, joint projects and joint support schemes) to meet their renewable energy targets cost-effectively, contributing to...

This study takes a critical look at Franco-German relations in the field of international cooperation along the entire humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) spectrum to better gauge the usefulness of bilateral collaborative action in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Both the corresponding...

In the 50th year of its existence, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is more than ever looking for a new role. The war in Ukraine and other conflicts in the OSCE area show how important the work of civil society organi­sations is in times of war and crisis -...

The world is falling behind on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a situation exacerbated by recent geopolitical disruptions and challenges to international cooperation. This policy brief, based on a virtual roundtable in the context of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) with...

This publication looks at how EU countries investigate abuse and ill-treatment at their borders. While more incidents are now raised with judicial authorities, convictions remain rare. Covering incidents up to the end of 2024 - including serious cases and shipwrecks - it also highlights the role...

This publication looks at how EU countries investigate abuse and ill-treatment at their borders. While more incidents are now raised with judicial authorities, convictions remain rare. Covering incidents up to the end of 2024 - including serious cases and shipwrecks - it also highlights the role...

Over the past decade, Croatia has demonstrated significant progress in economic development and improvement in living standards for its citizens. Economic performance during this period, including the country's strong recovery following its pandemic-induced recession, was underpinned by sound...

This Country Partnership Framework (CPF) outlines the strategic approach to the WBG's proposed engagement in Nepal for FY25-31. The design and priorities of this CPF are informed by a comprehensive analytical and evaluation program, 4 a broad-based consultative process, and, critically, the...

As Europe's closest neighbour and strategic partner, Africa shares strong ties and mutual interests with the European Union. Their partnership is evolving into a forward-looking alliance addressing critical global challenges such as climate change and clean energy transition in support of...

In the context of the upcoming new Pact for the Mediterranean expected for Autumn 2025, this study explores the role of Local and Regional Authorities (LRAs) in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, drawing on a targeted survey conducted in April 2025, analysis of best practices and desk research. It...