The Heinrich Böll Foundation is one of Germany’s political foundations, closely affiliated with the Alliance 90/The Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen). It focuses on key issues of contemporary political ecology, including sustainable development, democracy, human rights, participatory governance, and gender equality. With a global network of more than 30 offices, the Foundation fosters international exchange and cooperation, particularly among civil society actors, on these critical topics.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation in France
The Foundation’s Paris office, with a team of seven, works on the one hand on ecological and social transformation, primarily in France and Italy, covering topics such as the energy transition, sustainable agriculture and food systems, green mobility, and the role of municipalities. On the other hand, it is engaged in the revitalization of democracy, addressing challenges such as populism, diversity, and migration, while contributing to the development of a common European foreign and security policy.
Below, you’ll find detailed descriptions of our current programs.
Energy, Ecological and Social Transition programs
In the light of the ongoing ecological and economic crises, ecological and social transformation is one of the key challenges of the 21st century. It also presents a major opportunity for economic development and job creation in France and across Europe.
Our coordinator Sarah Champagne is responsible for this area and, among other activities, organizes the annual Green Mayors Conference in Strasbourg. This event promotes cross-border dialogue between France and Germany, bringing together local decision-makers and offering valuable insights from experts from both countries. In cooperation with various French partner organizations, the Foundation also supports workshops, study trips, and even a Climate Festival in Bordeaux.
In both French and Italian, we regularly publish articles and adapt key publications (such as articles or environmental atlases) with the aim of informing and engaging civil society. In Italy, our colleague Benjamin Fishman builds partnerships with local organizations and participates in events such as Earth Med Day in Palermo.
Democracy and the European Union program
The crisis of confidence in democratic institutions, processes, and actors poses a major challenge and gets also increasingly exploited by far-right populism, which seeks to divide societies and spread hatred. The Heinrich Böll Foundation is committed to revitalizing democracy by promoting inclusive and participatory approaches, and to building a common Europe that prioritizes the rights and voices of its citizens.
The Paris office organizes a wide range of activities, including panel discussions (such as a an event on structural police violence and racism in 2025), lectures and exhibitions (like Thousand Dreams in Bordeaux, featuring stories of LGBTQI+ refugees), as well as conferences and study trips (for example, an upcoming trinational trip with young journalists from Germany, France and Italy focusing on memory culture and right-wing extremism).
Foreign and Security Policy program
In the face of growing international challenges, Europe has the capacity to act, especially through the Franco-German partnership, which can drive forward cooperation and help bridge divergent national interests. The Heinrich Böll Foundation supports this vision by promoting a shared European approach to foreign and security policy.
In 2025, with the launch of France’s Feminist Diplomacy, the Foundation published a report on Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP). In connection with this, our program coordinator Mathilde Lanciaux—who also leads the Democracy and EU program—organized the promotion of the report, for example with a webinar featuring the report’s author alongside two other experts. Our focus on FFP reflects its promising potential to advance gender justice and its core objective: contributing to more peaceful and inclusive international relations.
How to find us
Our office is located at 80 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris.
Feel free to contact us by phone at +33 1 84 86 15 81 or email us at info@fr.boell.org.