The last eighteen months have challenged our societies and made significant changes in German’s defense and security policy necessary. Yet, the fundamental debate on how Germany must respond to a changed world order is still at its beginning.
Central to a renewed debate on security must be the future of the EU, which has been a guarantor of peace, security and prosperity on the continent. The Russian war in Ukraine has made it clear that member states of the EU need to cooperate more closely in order to continue to promote security on the continent.
How do these changing times affect our commitment to a stronger EU and a more secure Europe? What role should Europe play in an increasingly multipolar world? How do we need to improve in order to secure peace and security in Europe in the long term?
This is not only a matter of looking at classical security policy. Questions of democratic and economic resilience are also becoming more pressing: How do we strengthen social cohesion in times of internal and external threats to democracy dividing our continent? And how can we make our economy more resilient?
Join us to discuss these questions at the international Tiergarten Conference entitled "The German Zeitenwende: A Chance for a Stronger Europe?" on October 10, 2023.
Peer Teschendorf
Peer.Teschendorf(at)fes.de
Susanne Böhme
Susanne.Boehme(at)fes.de
Press Contact
Johannes Damian
Presse(at)fes.de
Sabine Fandrych, Member of the Executive Board of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Host: Catrina Schläger
Europe is in the middle of a transformation. Climate change has to be tackled, global power relations are changing, inflation and the energy crisis are increasing the financial pressure on citizens. People's insecurities are being exploited by forces inside and outside of our societies to sow doubts about democracy. How can we strengthen our social cohesion and democracy? What instruments do we need for this at national and European level?
Keynote: Katarina Barley, Vice-President of the European Parliament, What must the EU do to protect Europe's democracies?
Host: Matthias Jobelius
Break with refreshments
European sovereignty also requires economic strength. This fuels a debate about the means to achieve it: How can progressive policies secure competitiveness within the single market? And is more common EU funding needed for the energy transition and strategic industrial policy to prevent inefficiencies, fragmentation, and divergence in the EU? Given divergent member state interests, what might stronger joint financing of economic sovereignty look like and how can it be achieved? How can social democratic actors advocate for sustainable financing that enables the EU and all member states to meet the challenges of the “Zeitenwende"?
Keynote: Magdalena Andersson, Prime Minister (2021-22) and Minister of Finance (2014-21), Sweden
Host: Cédric Koch
The EU faces new challenges in establishing and maintaining security on the continent. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has exposed the weaknesses of defence capabilities and highlighted the need for deeper cooperation. But what should this cooperation look like? What role should Europe play to foster peace and security in the world? And how should Germany contribute to it?
Keynote: Nils Schmid, Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, SPD Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag
Host: Tina Blohm
Martin Schulz, President of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung e.V.
Networking Lunch
(Event in cooperation with CEPS; separate invitation, FES conference room in House 2)
The Tiergarten Conference is the annual international foreign and security policy conference of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Since 2012, international experts and political decision-makers have come together every year in expert discussions and public events to analyse strategic issues and develop progressive options for action. With its public events, the Tiergarten Conference makes the results of these discussions accessible to a broad public and thus contributes to a differentiated debate on foreign and security policy in Germany. The Tiergarten - a place of international relations and the seat of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung's international work.