EN 
NL How walls are still seen as a solution in 'Fortress Europe'
Today marks exactly 23 years since the Berlin Wall fell. For Europe, it seemed the impetus to blur borders and bet on unity and free mobilisation. Divisions caused by physical walls seemed to be a thing of the past. Today, however, walls are on the rise again Between Poland and [...]
AIV advice: Cabinet, make clear what is at stake in Ukraine
Photo: solidarity demonstration by Dutch people with Ukraine on Dam Square, February 2022 On 7 July, the House of Representatives asked the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) to write an urgent opinion on the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Today, 20 October, the AIV issued a number of urgent recommendations. The gist of the advice? The government [...]
Approaching winter opens Europe's gas labyrinth
As winter approaches, European countries are increasingly concerned about where their energy should come from. While Hungary, Serbia and Turkey are negotiating to open Russia's gas tap, other countries are instead relying on their neighbours' reserves. Last week, available [...]
Russian terror: 'October 10 was a terrible day for millions of Ukrainians'
Residents of Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine were woken up by loud explosions on Monday, 10 October. It is the first time since June that the capital has been attacked. FMS spoke to Bogdan Ferens, who was in Kyiv on the morning of the attacks. "10 October was a terrible day for millions of Ukrainians," said [...]
Sham referendums and reservists - Putin's convulsive attempt at reversal
Kharkiv after a missile strike, 2022 (Flickr) Referenda have been announced in the Russian-occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson to join the Russian Federation in the near future. The annexation referendums not only disregard the sovereignty of the Ukrainian state, but at the same time are mainly intended to further mobilise [...]
The four trees commemoration: where past and present meet
Protests against the Belarusian regime, Minsk, August 2020 (WikiMedia Commons) Last Friday 16 September, the annual four trees commemoration in Eindhoven took place again. This commemoration commemorates four opposition members who disappeared in Belarus in 1999 and 2000. Today, it is still uncertain what happened to Anatoly Krasovsky, Viktor Gonchar, Yuri [...]
After 3 years, the FMS says goodbye to Remy van Aanholt
After three wonderful years, Remy has decided to realise his ambitions for a fairer world in another workplace. From 1 August, he will start working at the Judicial Council in The Hague. It is with pain in his heart that he is leaving the FMS, as these were three special years. On his last day at the office, Remy looks back on this, in a candid conversation with colleague Max Landheer.
Retrospective Interview Russia expert Gijs Kessler
On Monday 23 May, we spoke with Russia expert Gijs Kessler, affiliated with the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam. A specialist in the social and economic history of the Soviet Union and Russia, Kessler lived in Moscow between 2002 and 2016. He recently published his book "Russia: country that wants to be different".
Next Monday, 23 May: Interview with Russia expert Gijs Kessler
This Monday, 23 May, FMS director Arjen Berkvens will hold an interview with leading Russia expert Gijs Kessler, affiliated to the International Institute of Social History. Very recently, Kessler published his latest work; "Russia - country that wants to be different". Kessler is a specialist on the social and economic history of the Soviet Union and Russia, and lived in Moscow between 2002 and 2016.
Autocratic leaders in Serbia and Hungary record major election victory
Pro-European, democratic parties in Eastern Europe are suffering a setback after autocratic incumbents in both Hungary and Serbia won major electoral victories. Parliamentary elections were held in both countries on Sunday 3 April. In addition, presidential and local elections also took place in Serbia. The elections were characterised by an uneven playing field between the rulers Orbán (Hungary) and Vučić (Serbia), and the opposition. In both countries, the opposition was united but failed to achieve any successes.
