Merz Meets Trump: Smiles, Strategy & Subtext in the Oval Office
Friedrich Merz, Germany’s recently appointed Chancellor, pulled off what many in Europe might call a diplomatic tightrope walk during his high-stakes visit to the White House this week. With U.S. tariffs looming and the Ukraine war grinding on, Merz arrived in Washington with a to-do list and a delicate balancing act: charm Trump, avoid a […]
🇵🇱 Poland’s Presidential Election: A Nation Divided, A Government Constrained
In a razor-thin runoff, conservative nationalist Karol Nawrocki has been elected President of Poland with 50.89% of the vote, narrowly defeating liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who secured 49.11%. This outcome delivers a significant blow to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist, pro-European government. Nawrocki, backed by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, will wield presidential […]
From SAFE to NATO: Rethinking Defence, Spending and Security
Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, defence spending and NATO’s role in global security are front and centre on the agenda. The EU has recently adopted a new joint defence procurement instrument, while NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly has been discussing the upcoming NATO Summit in June, set on strengthening the alliance’s resilience and readiness. SAFE for […]
New Webinar Series ‘Politics & The City’ Explores the Strategies Behind Political Messaging
B&K Agency, in collaboration with the platform Ads & The City, is announcing the launch of the new webinar series – Politics & the City, the place to deep dive in the world of political communications and advocacy. Politics & the City explores how political communication is constructed, contested, and communicated in the age of […]
Why the EU needs women entrepreneurs to boost its competitiveness
By closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship, the European economy could unlock billions in untapped revenue and regain its potential as a global leader. Discover how adopting entrepreneur-friendly policies for women can strengthen European competitiveness and drive sustainable growth. In most economies, the perceptions of success are based on studies of male entrepreneurs. Generally, women […]
Elections in Poland and Romania: The future of EU security and defence
As the EU discusses closer cooperation on security and defence, national elections can challenge the discussions happening in Brussels. Over the weekend, the presidential elections in Poland and Romania indicated that pro-EU candidates are still favourites, despite popular concerns about migration, the cost of living and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Poland’s Civic Coalition and […]
Vatican Welcomes Pope Leo XIV: A New Era for the Catholic Church
B&K Agency congratulates Pope Leo XIV on his election as the new leader of the Catholic Church. In this newsletter, we explore his stance on key matters and the potential role he could play in addressing today’s most pressing global and societal challenges. The Vatican Has Spoken Out Pope Leo XIV’s election—the first for an […]
The Road to Chancellorship: Friedrich Merz wins the second parliamentary vote
Friedrich Merz secured his win as Germany’s new chancellor in the second parliamentary vote. However, this was not an easy win. Today, we are looking at the events of the day and what they mean for Germany’s geopolitical leadership. Friedrich Merz wins the second parliamentary vote During the second parliamentary vote in the Bundestag, Germany’s […]
The Vatican’s Way of Shaping Global Diplomacy
In today’s newsletter, we touch upon the weekend’s events at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and their potential impact on the future of global diplomacy. A Reason to Seek Diplomatic Solutions On Saturday, the saddest day for millions of Christians around the world, the Vatican achieved a remarkable feat where Europe and its leaders […]
Can European digital and tech regulatory environment sustain competitiveness and security?
Following the latest EU Commission fines on Apple and Meta, the question rises — in its effort to boost European competitiveness and security, is European Commission unintentionally pushing out American companies for Chinese counterparts? On Wednesday, 23 April, two US tech giants received the first fines from the European Commission under the Digital Market Act: […]