We are honored to announce that Prof. Dr. Jan Balkenende (former Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) will deliver a keynote speech addressing the pressing challenges Europe faces today – including geopolitical tensions, economic competitiveness, and evolving security dynamics. To remain a relevant global actor, Europe must safeguard its unity, strengthen its strategic autonomy, and uphold its democratic values.

Bio: Prof. Dr. Jan Peter Balkenende, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, has served as Minister of State since 2022. From 2011 to 2016, he was a partner at Ernst & Young (EY), specializing in corporate responsibility, international affairs, and the intersection of the public and private sectors. Currently, he holds several prominent positions: External Senior Advisor to EY, Associate Partner at Hague Corporate Affairs (soon to be FGS Global from 2025), Chairman of the Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition, Chairman of the Noaber Foundation, Professor Emeritus of Governance, Institutions, and Internationalisation at Erasmus University Rotterdam, and a member of the World Leadership Alliance – Club de Madrid, an organization of former heads of government from democratic countries.

Invitations to the Dinner Debate are extended personally to members of United Europe.

After the welcome speeches by Gerald Braunberger (Publisher of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) and Jörg Rocholl (President of ESMT), who openend with Günther H. Oettinger (President of United Europe, e.V.) the two-day conference, business leaders and politicians discussed current European topics. Among the speakers were Karan Bhatia, Global Head of Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google, Andrea Casaluci, CEO, Pirelli, Dr  Markus Krebber, CEO, RWE AG, Prof Reinhold R. Geilsdörfer, Managing Director, Dieter Schwarz Foundation gGmbH, Marzena Czarnecka, Minister of Industry, Republic of Poland, Jens Spahn, Leader of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group, and Andreas Mundt, President, Federal Cartel Office. Two representatives from United Europe’s corporate members were also present: Hugh Elliott, Executive Chairman, Iberdrola Energía Internacional, and Dr. Laura Hirvi, Public Policy Manager DACH, Meta.

You can view the full recap of the EEC on the EEC website here.

Europe is an economic giant, a political dwarf, and a military worm,

as Belgian Prime Minister Marc Eyskens stated back in 1991. Gerald Braunberger, publisher of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), referenced this assessment in his opening speech. He warned: Europe is not only at risk of falling behind the USA economically, but it is particularly lacking a comprehensive Grand Strategy that defines and aligns economic, political, and military goals. The European Union’s deficits compared to the United States are glaring – both in terms of per capita income and economic performance. However, the gap also shows on another, highly modern front: space. Of approximately 10,000 operational satellites worldwide, around 7,600 belong to Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite network. The company has already received approval for an additional 20,000 satellites. In contrast, the European Space Agency is struggling with its Iris 2 project, which aims to launch just 300 satellites into orbit – a symbolic number compared to the ambitions of other global players.

Europe is thus facing a profound transformation – and it is a difficult one. Braunberger sums it up: “If we are honest, we only change under pressure. The election results of recent years should have already generated enough pressure. But today we are additionally under the pressure of three elderly men who are not based in Europe: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping. Whether it will be enough for the state to simply spend money without providing strategic answers remains questionable.”

One of the founding fathers of the EU and European visionary Jean Monnet once predicted that Europe would shape itself in times of crisis, and the sum of the solutions would define the Europe of the future. A very accurate observation – yet quick responses to unforeseen crises often remain mere improvisation. And improvisation is the opposite of strategy.

What Europe now needs is an open, public dialogue about strategic issues – a call directed equally at politics, the media, and civil society.

Gerald Braunberger, Editor of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

The Opportunities Trump offers to Europeans

were discussed by Günther H. Oettinger (President of United Europe e.V.) in his opening speech, among other topics. Between an irrational, dominant president in Washington D.C. and a rational, super-dominant dictator in Beijing, Europe now has the chance to regain trust. Trump is losing trust – and will not get it back. His trade war, his economic war, and the daily changing tariffs are unsettling investors, frightening market participants, and harming the U.S. more than any other region in the world. The embrace and simultaneous blackmail by China is also troubling many in the Arab world, Africa, and other regions. Now could be Europe’s time: as a safe haven for capital, investments, and as a reliable partner in international law – if the right conditions are created, we are able to act, and we make use of our leeway to address the big issues.

Mercosur? Even in Berlin, the trade agreement is viewed critically, and it is rejected in France, Austria, and Poland. Is an agreement possible without Europe patronizing or dominating Latin America? If not, we are missing a great opportunity. Other trade agreements – with the Emirates, India, Australia – are possible. Doors will open if they are defined based on clear legal frameworks. Trade must become a priority for the European Union now.

Warning of the “Liz-Truss-Effect”
I believe what happened with Liz Truss in the UK could also happen in Washington. The U.S. now spends more on the interest of its debt – without repayment – than on defense or healthcare. In Germany too, we are living beyond our economic means. Care, healthcare, pensions – a subsidy hole like no other. The great danger is that large subsidy programs delay urgently needed reforms. If Germany does not stay serious on budgetary issues, other countries like Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Austria will also relax their fiscal discipline. The pressure to accumulate debt is rising – and then the Eurozone will be in life-threatening danger. The Liz-Truss Effect.

Big in Big Things – Focus on the Essentials
Europe should focus on the big tasks: Big in Big Things. Member states, regions, municipalities, businesses, and the labor world should have more freedom when it comes to smaller issues. We have an AI Act – but no AI. We have a Supply Chain Act – but no rare earths. Europe is over-regulated. Six years ago, it was promised: “One in, one out.” The result: “Four in, one out.” CSRD, CSDDD, Taxonomy, GDPR – less would be more. I hope Europe’s chance to become a trusted harbor leads to setting priorities: Innovation, infrastructure, research, external security, defense standardization, cybersecurity, Europol. And on smaller tasks: restraint. The people, the developing regions, the municipalities – they all need breathing space. Less would be much more.

Defense: Recognizing the Seriousness of the Situation
A U.S. ambassador recently told me: “You cannot expect forever that 340 million Americans will protect 550 million Europeans from 140 million Russians.” The numbers speak for themselves: Germany’s GDP alone is about 4,500 billion euros – significantly more than Russia’s, which stands at about 2,900 billion. The EU as a whole: 17,000 billion. If we really want to be defensible – we could be. My concern: With debt, you can buy weapons – but you lack people to operate them. Keyword: compulsory military service. How can the Bundeswehr become attractive to the younger generation? With entry and advancement opportunities, exciting fields of work, and real career prospects?

The Turning Point Needs to Move Beyond the Barracks – onto the marketplace, into daily life, to the local pub, into the workforce. We have not yet recognized the seriousness of the situation. A conversation with Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Finns, or Poles could help.

You can view the full opening speeches here.

Sustainability and the Green Economy

Panel Discussion: The Future of Energy and Resource Supply in the EU – What needs to change?

Hugh Elliott, Executive Chairman, Iberdrola Energía Internacional
Dr Markus Krebber, CEO, RWE AG
Dr Yun Luo, Co-Founder and CEO, ROSI SAS
Benjamin Merle, CPO, Enpal GmbH
Moderator: Dr Christian Geinitz

Christian Geinitz: Ms Luo, you play an important role in the solar industry. Solar technology is considered green and sustainable, but on the other hand, this technology requires many resources and raw materials, and disposal is not exactly simple either. How do you contribute to a sustainable energy transition in solar power?
Dr Yun Luo: In fact, at Rosy, we are dealing with exactly this issue (recycling silicon). Silicon is the key material in solar cells. We have developed our own technologies to recycle and reprocess these high-purity raw materials.

Christian Geinitz: Mr Merle, is this offer that Rosy provides of interest to Enpal, one of the large solar providers? Can material that has been recycled be used in solar systems already?
Benjamin Merle: In the short term, I see few offers that are economically attractive, partly because the price of new modules is currently extremely low. However, if we want to become independent in the long run, the question is how we can keep raw materials within the country. In this regard, recycling plants are the “mines of the future.”

Christian Geinitz: Shouldn’t the disposal costs be factored into the prices of today’s cheap solar panels?
Benjamin Merle: That’s correct. There are many costs that still need to be internalized. Part of the costs are already being covered by developers, as they have obligations to decommission and recycle the systems. There are already relevant regulations in place.

Christian Geinitz: Mr. Elliott, your company is driving the distribution of renewable energy systems. As a former ambassador, you also have a political perspective on this topic, which is certainly important. What is your company contributing to the energy transition?

Hugh Elliott: When we talk about sustainability, we need to return to the basic principles and understand what sustainability actually means. In our industry, it’s primarily about electrification. Iberdrola took the step into renewable energy about 20 years ago and has transformed from a traditional energy supplier into a leading provider of green energy. Today, we are the largest energy provider in Europe by market capitalization and manage around 140 billion euros in assets. We generate and distribute renewable energy in eight to nine European countries and play an active role in the energy transition – with the goal of doing even more.

In Germany, we operate the largest offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea, which has a generation capacity of nearly 800 GW. But we’re far from finished: we’re highly interested in expanding our activities further. Our vision is to create reliable energy security with renewable energy from Europe, while also making a significant contribution to climate protection. We are not just providing a sustainable solution, but also real competitiveness. We will no longer be dependent on the import of gas or fossil fuels – we generate the energy we need when the wind blows or the sun shines. These renewable resources belong to us.

Christian Geinitz: Dr Krebber, you are the largest electricity producer in Germany, and are undergoing a transformation similar to Iberdrola’s – the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. However, in Germany, there is still a significant share of fossil fuels, and the expansion of fossil fuel-based backup power plants remains a topic. With the coal exit law by 2030 and the exit from nuclear power, Germany is facing major challenges. Do you believe we can successfully manage the coal and nuclear phase-out?

Dr Markus Krebber: The goal is to ensure a secure energy supply that is decarbonized as quickly as possible. Whether we’re talking about 2030 or 2033, that’s not the key question. What is much more important is that we reduce the utilization of coal power plants as quickly as possible. I think we have already made good progress in Europe. For the first time, we have seen a monitoring report that shows that Europe’s climate protection goals for 2030 are nearly reached – a real achievement. This has been mainly achieved through electrification with renewable energy.

But we also need to acknowledge that issues like affordability, energy security, and resilience have now become much more important – and not just since the invasion of Ukraine. Europe imports energy, and due to geopolitical tensions, we have become much more sensitive. Then the question arises about industrial competitiveness: how can it be maintained? This, in turn, depends on energy security and affordability – a difficult triangle that we need to balance.

The expansion of renewable energy must continue, and we need far more storage technologies. The battery boom is coming – in the UK, it is already quite advanced, and now it’s really taking off in Germany too. And we need low-carbon backup capacity. Gas power plants are advantageous here because, unlike coal power plants, they can potentially be decarbonized.

Christian Geinitz: Is CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) for coal in sight?

Dr Markus Krebber: I don’t think anyone is considering installing CCS in coal or gas power plants. Why? The utilization of these plants will continue to decrease. Eventually, the utilization will be so low that emissions won’t play a big role anymore. In the end, these power plants will just be backups when there isn’t enough wind or sunshine.

Christian Geinitz: Regarding energy security: In Spain and Portugal, the lights went out. What caused this? Are renewables to blame, as some say?

Hugh Elliott: The incident in Spain was not caused by renewable energy. Technically, it is entirely possible to run a power grid entirely on renewable energy, but for that to work, the grid must be designed accordingly. At the national level, this is a very complex task. In our countries, there are organizations responsible for the operation of the grids and ensuring that the electricity supply is maintained.

What we haven’t discussed enough yet is that the grids are increasingly becoming the bottleneck for energy supply. In many countries, we already have a high share of renewable energy, but this also requires significant investments in grid infrastructure. These investments are often less in the spotlight than the generation of renewable energy, which sounds green and sustainable. Grids, on the other hand, are seen by many as just cables and wires that no one really wants right next to them. But without grids, we cannot supply electricity with clean and affordable energy.

That’s why it’s crucial that we invest more in grid infrastructure and expand interconnectivity between countries. Europe is heading in the right direction, the political framework is in place, but we need much more investment in the grids and their interconnection to reduce costs and secure energy supply in the long term.

You can watch the full panel discussion here.

Solutions for Europe: Technology and Innovation 

A European response to the challenges of technology and innovation must be confident, strategic, and long-term. It should not be content with reactive measures, but should aim to build its own technological ecosystems – economically viable, ethically grounded, and geopolitically sovereign. What such solutions might look like has been outlined by Dr Laura Hirvi, Public Policy Manager DACH at Meta (you can see Dr. Hirvi’s contribution here), Prof Reinhold R. Geilsdörfer, Managing Director of Dieter Schwarz Stiftung gGmbH, Roman Hölzl, Co-Founder & CEO of RobCo GmbH, and Daniel Krauss, Co-Founder & CIO of Flix SE.

Prof Reinhold R. Geilsdörfer, Managing Director of Dieter Schwarz Stiftung gGmbH
emphasized that our traditional industries are increasingly under pressure: the automotive industry and mechanical engineering are facing new competition, while the metal and chemical industries are suffering from high energy prices. It’s clear: we are in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution – a profound change that will affect nearly all areas of life.

The key question is: How can we break out of the current stagnation? And most importantly – where are our opportunities in Europe and Germany?

Fields with Great Potential for the Future:

• Robotics

• Defense technology

• Quantum computing

• Energy storage

• Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals

• New mobility concepts

• Semiconductor technology

All these fields are based on key technologies such as artificial intelligence, data processing, and cloud infrastructure – technologies that have long become the foundation of our modern standard of living.

But here, Europeans face a decisive question: Do we want to permanently place central digital infrastructures – such as Microsoft, Amazon, or Google clouds – in the hands of non-European countries? This question is even more relevant since these countries often have different views on data protection and informational self-determination.

We need to be aware of where our data is stored – and who ultimately has access to it. We are still, in many ways, a data colony, handing over our information almost for free to large US corporations. Digital sovereignty is, therefore, not an abstract goal but the key to real independence and sustainable development in Europe.

Europe, with its 450 million people, has enormous potential – far more than the 170 million in the US. It is time to tap into this potential. De-risking is no longer just an issue in dealing with China, but also affects our relationships with the United States. This does not mean we should abandon trade or cooperation – on the contrary. But we need to make them more equal.

Only if we regain control over our digital key technologies can we shape Europe’s future in a self-determined and successful way.

You can watch the full speech here.

Daniel Krauss, Co-Founder & CIO, Flix SE

explained that the vision of Flix SE was clear from the very beginning: We want to make mobility in Europe affordable, sustainable, and accessible. The decisive impulse came from the legal liberalization of the long-distance bus market – a political step that not only sparked movement in Germany but in 43 countries, even enabling expansion into the US, such as through the acquisition of Greyhound.

What sets Flix apart from others is our platform model: we combine the entrepreneurial energy of medium-sized bus companies with digital technology, smart planning, and efficient distribution. Our success was also made possible by the rapid implementation of European law into German law – an example of entrepreneurial opportunities through smart policy.

We bet on entrepreneurial courage: instead of operating everything ourselves, we built a network with regional bus companies that went beyond previous growth limits. A nationwide system emerged that was based on cooperation rather than displacement.

The long-distance travel market is growing globally – and the demand for affordable, digital, and climate-friendly mobility solutions is increasing. More and more people are consciously giving up their cars and booking online. This lowers costs and improves planning. Those who are also price-attractive will be better found in digital search engines.

Deregulation can create growth. We developed an existing ecosystem – not destroyed it. The often-used “disruption” wasn’t destruction in our case, but a creative combination of existing strengths. This led to the largest network for ground mobility – with affordable prices, smart connections, and strong growth potential.

A key success factor is Simplicity – the principle of simplification. It’s about reducing complexity, eliminating unnecessary elements, and focusing on what’s essential.

Our vision remains ambitious: By 2040, we want to be CO₂-neutral in Europe. This is realistic – provided the political framework supports it. In other markets, such as India, we already operate the largest e-bus fleet – where the conditions are much more advanced.

You can watch the full speech here.

The economic Policy Debate: The role of the German Government in Europe’s economic Success – a controversial Assessment

The German economy is struggling, Europe is anxiously watching its industrial competitiveness – and the federal government is under pressure to kick-start growth again. In a controversial debate moderated by Heike Göbel, leading figures from politics and business discussed Germany’s role in European economic policy.

Participants included Jens Spahn, Parliamentary Group Chairman, CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Britta Haßelmann, Member of Parliament, Chairwoman, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen parliamentary group, Armand Zorn (SPD), Christian Dürr, Member of Parliament, Deputy Chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag and entrepreneur Sarna Röser. They all share concern about Germany’s economic standing, but their views on what needs to be done couldn’t be more different.

Spahn: Economic Shift and Tax Cuts
Jens Spahn, leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, called for an “economic shift back to growth.” As specific measures, he announced in the short term: “30 percent depreciation on equipment investments,” the first corporate tax cut in two decades, and significantly reduced energy costs by 2026 – including the abolition of the gas levy. He emphasized that the reduction of bureaucracy should no longer remain just on paper: “Reporting obligations and receipt requirements must go.”

Zorn: Reforms Yes – But Think Structurally
Armand Zorn, deputy leader of the SPD parliamentary group, expressed openness to short-term impulses but warned against a purely “investment booster”: “We also need structural reforms.” He also pointed out the need for better skilled labor retention and called for a European-coordinated economic strategy.

Haßelmann: Invest Wisely and Socially Fair
Britta Haßelmann, leader of the Greens parliamentary group, stressed the importance of prioritizing public investments: “Transformation, infrastructure, climate protection, education – these are our future fields.” She sharply criticized blanket tax cuts, especially with regard to financing at the local level: “Favorite projects like VAT cuts in the restaurant sector do not belong in the investment program.”

Dürr: Strengthening Trust, Taking Demographics Seriously
FDP leader Christian Dürr praised the planned investment launch but warned against focusing on the wrong priorities: “Permanent subsidies for network fees are not an investment.” For him, the key is: “It’s about the bigger picture – trust in the location, demographics, education, and business-friendly conditions.”

Röser: Europe Needs Economic Strength
Entrepreneur Sarna Röser reminded that Germany must compete in the international arena: “The moral finger-pointing won’t get us anywhere – free trade agreements are not a luxury but a prerequisite for economic strength.” Europe must present itself more strategically and confidently.

Europe, the USA, China – Strategies Against Uncertainty

Geopolitical challenges also came up in the discussion. Jens Spahn advocated for a strong relationship with the USA: “Our security and prosperity depend on the USA.” At the same time, he called for lower tariffs – “0 percent on everything” – and a clear European stance towards China.

Haßelmann countered with a call: “The response to ‘America First’ can only be ‘Europe United’.” Trade agreements must be fair and transparent – national solo efforts have no place in a globalized world.

Conclusion: A Lot of Agreement on the Goal – But Little Agreement on the Way

The debate revealed: The direction – more growth, more investment, less bureaucracy – is largely consensual in political Berlin. However, the means remain highly disputed. Between tax relief, structural reform, social responsibility, and geopolitical challenges, the federal government faces an economic policy balancing act.

The crucial question remains: Can Germany be both the investment driver of Europe and maintain social balance and ecological goals? The time for mere announcements seems to be over.

You can watch the full discussion here.

Location Europe

Panel Discussion: Focus on the European Economic Area – Evaluation of Initiatives to increase Competitiveness and Innovative Strength

In a lively discussion, Marzena Czarnecka, EU Council President, Minister of Industry, and Minister for Energy Security, Republic of Poland, Mark Böhm, CEO of Noventi Health SE, Andreas Mundt, President of the German Federal Cartel Office, and Peter Lochbihler, Global Head of Public Affairs at Booking.com, examined the current political and economic challenges facing Europe – especially in light of the recent elections in Poland and the geopolitical situation.

Europe’s Priorities

Czarnecka views the political situation in Poland post-election as more complex than before but still manageable. From a European perspective, this reflects a general trend toward the right. The EU cannot focus solely on itself but must also compete geopolitically with players like the USA, China, and Russia. Particularly, China is becoming an increasingly dominant economic power, while Russia is potentially becoming more economically dependent on China.

Czarnecka supports the recommendations from Mario Draghi’s Competency Compass:

• Education – The career ambitions of young people often reflect a lack of real-world relevance (for example, 90% of students want to become YouTubers).

• Financial Structure – Europe needs a balance between solidarity at the EU level and national responsibility.

• Economic Security – Companies must be provided with stable and reliable conditions.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Federal Cartel Office, added that while progress is being made, it is happening too slowly. To truly strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, deep reforms must be initiated – particularly in the areas of:

• Education and Infrastructure

• Bureaucracy Reduction

• Digital Sovereignty

• Capital Market Union

Energy Prices – A Central Challenge

Another major topic was the high energy prices in the EU, which are about three times higher than in the US. As a potential solution, Czarnecka sees a balanced mix of renewable energy and nuclear power. France shows that amortized nuclear power plants currently represent the most cost-effective form of energy. Without state support, the energy transition will not be economically viable – public assistance is essential here.

You can watch the full discussion here.

Interview – Live Broadcast

Gerald Braunberger, publisher, F.A.Z., in conversation with Dr Markus Söder, Bavarian Prime Minister  (Member of the Bavarian Parliament, CSU)

Gerald Braunberger: Do you believe that the relationship between Europe and the United States will change?

Markus Söder: We hope that we can manage the situation well. However, what we can truly expect is the unexpected. I feel that the Americans are definitely interested in us – and also in the nation-states. At the same time, there is a significant reserve towards the European Union. The construct is neither fully understood nor liked. Therefore, it is important that all Europeans in the USA do not get involved in individual deals but ensure that the European aspect as a whole is strengthened. We should not split or let ourselves be played off against each other.

Gerald Braunberger: When we look at the economic situation in Europe: Where do we need to make the biggest effort?

Markus Söder: The biggest obstacle is bureaucracy. In addition, energy production needs to be stronger and cheaper. Our costs are, especially in comparison to the Americans, far too high. More investment is needed – in innovation, research, defense technology, and space exploration. These are areas where Europe could expand its strengths. We need to get much more out of the available opportunities, which also depends on the framework conditions.

In the field of defense, there needs to be, besides money, a clear structure: Where should we invest? Drones, missile defense systems, high-precision weapons? Procurement processes also need to be radically streamlined, with long-term and reliable framework conditions.

Gerald Braunberger: Don’t we need much stronger cooperation between governments and businesses in Europe, so that they can order together? One problem with the defense industry is that very few large quantities are produced because everyone has special wishes.

Markus Söder: There is a lot of tug-of-war, and it must be clearly defined who is best at what and where the most effective production should take place.

Gerald Braunberger: Shouldn’t we support private initiatives, like those in the USA, much more? Can we hope to become more competitive with a “Musk-like” approach?

Markus Söder: We should definitely do that. Six years ago, I was already talking about space exploration. A lot of money has been invested since then, we have over 12 billion euros in sales volume and more than 500 companies – it works. Of course, we won’t overtake the Americans so quickly, but we can get closer.

When dealing with our American friends, we should always keep clarity and truth in mind. Cowardice is not rewarded. In the end, only a certain amount of strength helps. Only those who are strong themselves can stand together. I don’t want Europe to end up being just a kind of Disneyland where Americans and Europeans travel to admire how beautiful old Europe was. Where we are good, we need to get better, and where we are bad, we need to get much better.

You can watch the interview here.

SAVE THE DATE 2026

We are very pleased to announce the European Economic Conference (EEC) #5. We will inform you about the program and guests in due course.

We thank the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and its publisher Gerald Braunberger, the F.A.Z. conference team, and the ESMT for the successful conference and collaboration.

The post Smart Minds Move Europe: European Economic Conference #4 – Review 2025 and Save the Date 2026 first appeared on United Europe.]]> https://www.united-europe.eu/2024/09/dise-energy-conference-in-wroclaw-25-26-september-2024/ Tue, 03 Sep 2024 08:55:50 +0000 https://www.united-europe.eu/?p=24468 For the second time, United Europe is joining as an institutional partner for the 10th DISE Energy Conference, organised by the Lower Silesian Institute of Energy Studies (DISE) in the vibrant city of Wroclaw,…

Over 260 guests registered for the conference, with two-thirds being company representatives, along with representatives from foundations and decision-makers at both state and federal levels. Gerald Braunberger, publisher of the FAZ, and Jörg Rocholl from the ESMT led political interviews featuring Wolfgang Schmidt, head of the Federal Chancellery, and Friedrich Merz, chairman of the CDU, among others.

Advantage Europe – Why Europe plays a decisive role: “The European Union is Germany’s most significant national concern,” quoted Wolfgang Schmidt, head of the Chancellery, referring to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s statement. “Our focus is always on ensuring that the EU prospers and that compromises are achievable. As Ivan Krastev once observed, many citizens are uncertain about the future and fearful of losing their status. So, how do we restore competitiveness and regain the trust of our citizens? Three key priorities stand out: securing reasonable and affordable energy prices, reforming network fees, increasing the supply of liquefied natural gas, and addressing the shortage of skilled labor and reducing bureaucracy. Structurally, we must also significantly accelerate the expansion of renewable energies. To meet our goal of generating 80 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030, we need to install the equivalent of 43 soccer fields of photovoltaic area every day until then. And here’s the good news: we are already achieving 35 soccer fields per day.”

You can watch the entire interview with Wolfgang Schmidt here.

“The EU needs to become more competitive,” Merz and Schmidt agreed, particularly in comparison to the USA and China. Another deficit of the EU, according to Merz, is the lack of a unified European capital market. Companies like CureVac and BioNTech prefer the New York Stock Exchange over European exchanges. Merz also emphasized the need to build a European defense industry. “With our fragmented industry, we are not able to be competitive. Out of 100 euros, 80 euros go to companies outside the EU. We need to stop designing specifications for joint projects in such a way that they become national projects again. We need to move towards joint projects. If it doesn’t work with all 27 states, then with those who are willing,” said the CDU party chairman.

You can watch the full interview with Friedrich Merz here.

“Cutting red tape: wish or reality?” asked Peter Adrian, President of the DIHK, Jörg Dittrich, President of the Central Association of German Crafts, and Klemens Haselsteiner, CEO of STRABAG SE. If we want to regain our competitiveness, we need to regain trust. Bureaucracy promises security to a dissolving security society, but this promise is no longer deliverable. Trust in the future and in society is needed. For the transformation process, entrepreneurial freedoms are necessary, and we need streamlined and unified regulations. Europe must look beyond its own borders. How can we align our trade policy with America, China, and Asia? The Commission must set framework conditions that ensure international competitiveness and allow the economy to breathe. After the Green Deal, the needs of small businesses and industry must be addressed.

This was followed by the Economy Talk with Vanessa Cann (Co-Founder of nyonic and Board Member of the AI Association), Julia Reuss (Public Policy Director for Central Europe at META), input on the US election campaign from former Obama’s campaign advisor Julius van de Laar, economic keynote speeches by Michael Kotzbauer (Board Member of Commerzbank AG) and Wolfgang Meier (CEO of Pirelli Deutschland GmbH), focusing on green financing and investments in high-tech locations.

Günther H. Oettinger, President of United Europe, who opened the second day of the third European Economic Conference, initially had little positive to say in response to Heike Göbel’s opening question, However, he also saw opportunities that Europe should seize.

“We always thought the West had won, that democracy would be exported, that it would have radiance and appeal. And now the backlash. We are in the middle of a battle of systems. How can democracy withstand autocracy and dictatorship, how can the social market economy withstand the planned economy, how can peace and respect for borders be maintained? We are doing too little for our security. We need a Europe that protects, with a strong Germany, with material, financial, and regulatory efforts also against fascists and populists from the right and left.

The citizens of Europe expect more to be done for security. Countries bordering Russia are already acting accordingly. There will be no defense commissioner in Europe because there is no European army. But there can be a commissioner for armament who efficiently develops the defense industry, reduces 16 types of tanks to two, promotes standardization, achieves synergies in weapon systems, and ensures the stockpiling of weapons and ammunition at the European level.

Competitiveness
In the last five years, the word “competitiveness” was not welcome in Brussels. But now we have a development that challenges the Green Deal. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced that there will be an Industrial Deal alongside the Green Deal. Climate protection is undoubtedly a top priority. However, the approach that Europe and Germany are currently taking is far from exemplary. China is responsible for 33% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the USA accounts for 16%, India for 9%, Europe for 7.5%, and Germany for 2%. If we fail to achieve a smart balance between pragmatic climate protection, industrial growth, and competitiveness—particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises—and if we do not maintain and enhance prosperity, others will not follow our lead, and we will not establish ourselves as leaders in this domain.

Lisbon Strategy
In 2000, we decided in Lisbon that we wanted to become the most innovative and creative continent in the world, but since then, we have been falling behind annually. The USA is growing by 2.5% this year, Europe by 1%, Germany by 0.2%. And if we do not significantly increase competitiveness of our industry with more research funding, with longer working hours, we will not move forward.

“Competitiveness” means maintaining and making our quality of life, standard of living, and foundations future-proof. “It’s the economy, stupid”: This applies to Europe these days more than ever. Mandate holders in Brussels must strive for economic growth.”

What Are Europe’s Opportunities?

Horizon Europe
If we do not invest more in European research networks, we will never be able to compete with the research power of California, Boston, Shanghai, and Beijing. We will not be able to keep up with Microsoft, Google, Apple, or the American defense industry. But in the European team—Delft, Munich, Aachen, Darmstadt, Milan, Oxford, London, and Zurich—we have the potential, the excellence, and the capacity. Therefore, we need more funds; this network must be supported with European funds.

Internal Market
The capital markets union is currently a hot topic: Capital in Europe is flowing out, and there are not enough incentives for fundamental reform. We urgently need a single market for money and investors in a pan-European context. As the ECB lowers interest rates, one question becomes increasingly clear: What does fiscal discipline mean? It starts with the debt brake in Germany, continues with the Maastricht criteria, and concerns the immensely high national debt in France and Italy. I believe that Triple A ratings and the creditworthiness of Europe and its nation-states must be a focus in the coming years. I don’t know if I will live to see it, but at some point, the fiscal situation in the USA will burst. In the long run, this development will not be successful.

What Happens After the European Elections?
In the face of wars and crises, Europe should not wait until October to know who will take which positions and how top posts will be filled. Europe, Macron, Scholz, and Tusk, should strengthen their cooperation. Germany should not snub its partners, such as France, by ignoring any of the neighbor’s concerns.

Bureaucracy
Ms. von der Leyen promised: One in, one out! The result of the European machinery was four in, one out! The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, Taxonomy, ESG, CSR, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive are just some of the regulations, mandates, prohibitions, and reporting requirements for European companies. We need to bolster security and reduce bureaucracy. This must also become a focus, or else anti-Europeans will continue to be on the rise.

The time of decline has begun for the West, for democracy, for prosperity, and for growth. Resisting that will be the art of the European Union in the coming years. The EU needs to become more effective in handling major issues and leave people and member states alone when it comes to smaller matters..”

You can watch the full speech by Günther H. Oettinger here.

For more information and videos on all the panels of the third European Economic Conference, please visit the European Economic Conference website at the following link.

SAVE THE DATE 2025

We are very pleased to announce the European Economic Conference #4. We will inform you about the program and guests in due course.

We thank the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and its publisher Gerald Braunberger, the F.A.Z. conference team, and the ESMT for the successful conference and collaboration.

The EU is essential for Europe’s economy and freedom. It creates a common market of over 445 million people, providing unprecedented access to trade, investment and innovation. By promoting the free movement of goods, services and capital, the EU enables businesses to realize their potential, open up new markets and generate growth. The third F.A.Z. European Economic Conference in the ESMT in Berlin provides a platform for representatives of European business, politics and academia to discuss the role of the EU in promoting economic growth, social cohesion and sustainable development. The conference promotes relevant debates and solutions for a strong Europe. We invite everyone to get actively involved and shape the future of Europe together.

The F.A.Z. European Economic Conference provides a platform for high-caliber representatives of European business, politics and science to discuss the role of the European Union in promoting economic growth, social cohesion and sustainable development. The conference promotes relevant debates on current challenges and solutions for a strong Europe – in the year of the 2024 European elections, this discourse is more important than ever!

Prof. Harald James, from the Princeton School of Public & International Affairs, will open the EEC with a keynote speech on “Europe is stronger than we think”. Other guests are, among others, Friedrich Merz, Chairman of the CDU Germany and Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag; Wolfgang Schmidt, Federal Minister for Special Tasks and Head of the Federal Chancellery; Peter Adrian, President of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Dr Marie Jaroni, Head/SVP Decarbonisation, ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG,  and Günther H. Oettinger, President United Europe e.V.

Over the past decade, the Munich Cyber Security Conference (MCSC) has been a pivotal platform fostering global dialogue on cyber threats. From groundbreaking keynotes to collaborative workshops, MCSC has navigated the evolving landscape of digital security. The MCSC (15 February to 16 February) reflects at this milestone event on the next era of cyber resilience. #MCSCAnniversary

Please consult the MCSC Website for references of past editions including the conference report 2023.

United Europe is delighted to be once again a co-initiator of the second European Economic Conference in Berlin this year. How can we deliver on this promise permanently for Europe’s economy and society? This question will also be the central theme of the conference in 2023. This time, we want to find answers to how the climate-friendly transformation of the economy and society can be shaped despite inflation and how a threatening loss of prosperity can be mitigated, which tools help against dependence on global supply chains, how a new energy security policy can be financed in the EU, and which digital tools must be available in the transformation to a crisis-proof and more independent European economic area.

These questions surrounding the necessary economic transformation of Europe are at the heart of the second European Economic Conference on 14 and 15 June 2023 in Berlin. The conference will create a platform for high-calibre representatives from European business, politics, and academics, and will give key voices and relevant debates the space they deserve.

Invited guests are Dr Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Lars Klingbeil, Party Chairman, SPD, Member of the Bundestag, Dr Magnus Brunner, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Austria and Dr Daniel Risch, Head of Government, Principality of Liechtenstein. and Günther H. Oettinger, President, United Europe.

Please find all other information about the program, speakers and registration under the following link.

We thank Gerald Braunberger, Publisher, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Jörg Rocholl, President, ESMT Berlin for their engagement and cooperation.

1. The U.S. has shown itself to be a resolute leader of the West and a ‘European power’. How sustainable is the closing of ranks?
2. The intention to make the EU a geopolitical power must take shape: through a powerful foreign policy and defence mechanisms against foreign economic coercion. Could Germany take the lead?

After a welcome note from Günther H. Oettinger, President of United Europe, we are delighted to announce Kurt Volker (Former US Ambassador, Distinguished Fellow, CEPA), Ljudmyla Melnyk (Researcher at Institut für Europäische Politik), Dr Josef Braml (Secretary-General, Trilateral Commission / German Group) and Iryna Stavchuk (Program Coordinator at the ECF and former Deputy Minister at the Ministry of environmental protection of Ukraine) as our panellists.

Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, Exec Vice President/Senior Advisor, Bertelsmann Stiftung, will host our panel discussion.

Please confirm your attendance by sending an email to events@united-europe.eu.

“Is the European Union a guarantor of prosperity with an ecological, viable and sustainable economy? Not anymore! We have been, once, and Germany was a founding member. Think about Robert Schuman, Jean Monet, the Coal and Steel Community, the Single Market, and the EU enlargement. And today? Europe is in crisis. Europe is the demoted continent. Germany is in the middle of a recession with the highest inflation ever recorded in history.

We have an ECB which, in my opinion, has far too late realised, that it has one main task, namely monetary stability. Instead, the ECB flooded the market. The war came along unpredictably. But the flooded market and the low-interest rate policy – both give pause for thought. Normally, interest rates would have to be lowered now if they had been raised before! The European economy has since long ceased to be where we still think it is. Of the 100 largest companies in the world, the most important European company is the Swiss corporation Nestle – just outside the European Union. The German corporation’s SAP or Linde is somewhere between 100th and 120th place.

Europe – a guarantor? As far as I know, not anymore. We need a new success story for Germany and for the European Union. We need to build on innovation, growth, on a strategy that creates jobs and that helps to finance all this without permanently increasing the debt burden.

I’m not a mathematician, but I know the math doesn’t add up anymore. Our social systems are no longer sustainable. We urgently need a plan in Germany and Europe that is innovative and can also bring the continent back to the forefront in terms of economic policy and competitiveness. First and foremost, this has to do with education and lifelong training until the age of 70. Retirement at 70 should be the headline for the next decade. That, too, is a taboo no one wants to hear.

Another critical point is the topic of infrastructure and investments in rail, road, waterway, airway, and digital roads and all this has to happen in a coordinated way across borders.
Whose infrastructure is ready? Switzerland’s – with the highest costs per capita. Whose is not ready? The Germany’s!

The Germans are blocked in the realisation of infrastructure. This is evident in all the projects that are currently underway. Now we finally want to speed up the approval of two floating LNG terminals. We need that for every infrastructure of public interest. A speeding up of the legal process, a shortening of the procedures!

The guarantor of prosperity in the European Union is the single market. 430 million people, one standard, no borders, and freedom of movement for goods, commodities, and services. Germany is ultimately the pioneer when it comes to completing the internal market. The completion of the internal market is an important factor that costs nothing, only the goodwill of the Council, Parliament and Commission. Once we have a completed internal market, it is a question of opening up to the outside world with the implementation of various trade agreements. We have achieved a lot in recent years: agreements with Japan, South Korea, and Australia. But a lot is still on the table, many trade agreements have not yet been ratified, and Mercosur is blocked. Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil are growth countries. If Europe does not organise trade transatlantically, it will be organised pacifically, then this region will turn away towards Asia. RCEP should have been a wake-up call. 14 Asian countries, all not in friendship with China, some of them bullied by China like Australia or Japan, have concluded an agreement that means 30% of the world’s value-added volume. We must conclude trade agreements with countries in Asia and South America and finally understand that they do not tick 100% as we do. We will have to build massive agreements with the US. We have to move now. All these agreements must have priority in Brussels, but unfortunately also in the national parliaments. First and foremost in the German Bundestag.

Jean Claude Junckers coined the phrase ”Capability of World Politics‘  at the 54th Security Conference in Munich. Europe must become capable of global politics. Europe is not yet capable of being a decisive player on the world stage. Europe could be if we would act with one voice, speak with one voice. When it comes to energy policy, I would like to see not national ministers travelling to Qatar, Norway, and Algeria, but a European delegation. One Commissioner, and two ministers on a European scale. If we want to complete the internal energy market on a European scale, it makes no sense for 27 dwarfs to turn up in Qatar, curtsey and disappear. This means: divide et impera, divide and rule. Europe must no longer allow itself to be divided and dominated. It must present a united front to the outside world. Then we would finally have weight in this battle of systems between the USA, our partner and Asia.

A final, very topical thought. In the next few weeks, critical central decisions of interest to Europe will take place. On 16 October, the CPC Party Congress begins. There will be weeks of discussion, and in the end, Xi Jinping will be elected for another five years or for life. An autocrat regains power.

On 8 November there are mid-term elections in the USA. Then it will be decided whether Joe Biden, a friend of Europe and Germany, remains capable of acting in Congress in both chambers or is already a “lame duck”.

Then everyone will fly to Bali, where the G20, the conference of the world’s 20 powerful heads of state and government, will take place on 15 and 16 November. Many Europeans will be there. I would hope, and hope dies last, that Europe will speak with one voice after all. Italy, France, Germany, the UK, and the European Commission, coordinated with Washington DC, but not with orders from Washington DC. And with a clear message to Xi Jinping.

For never have we had such an abundance of crises as at present. We are not defenseless, but we are all very concerned about whether the European Union will hold in its unity. In addition to Russia’s war against Ukraine, there is the threat of an escalation of China against Taiwan. Actually, we democrats should know that dictators can be taken at their word. If our grandparents had read “Mein Kampf”, we would have known Hitler and his true intentions earlier.

If we had taken Putin’s talk seriously in 2001, we would have known more about Crimea, the Donbas and the terrible war that Putin is now to blame for. Xi Jinping is also talking straight. He says he wants to take Taiwan in this decade. Are we taking him seriously? What will happen if Xi Jinping turns Taiwan into a West Berlin, i.e. cuts it off or, even worse, bombards it with missiles? Then the Americans will have to decide whether Biden’s word is good. Then aircraft carriers would land there and the Americans would invite us to join in. But how is that supposed to work if the Bundeswehr helicopters fly at most as far as Warsaw? Then the Americans would invite us to adopt sanctions. And it’s clear that sanctions like those against Russia do have an effect. And China is dependent on technology from Europe and the USA. But the sanctions don’t affect Bulgaria, Estonia or Malta. They hit the German business model.

We must have an interest in preventing a China-Taiwan escalation. We must have an interest in Xi Jinping not stopping his economic development like Putin and gaining land as a tsar, but in Xi Jinping giving priority to the prosperity and well-being of his people. For this, he needs the world. For this, he needs technologies from Europe and the USA for a limited period of time.

Bali is the right place to make this clear with one voice. And Bali is the right time for this. Only Europe has the ability to maintain our prosperity internally, in the internal market, for research, for freedom of movement, and for our image of humanity. And Europe can gain authority externally as a united whole – something that is not possible for 27 individual member states.

Please find under the following link all the contributions of the European Future Conference.

We would like to thank Mr Günther H. Oettinger, Mr Gerald Braunberger, the publisher of the F.A.Z., the team of the F.A.Z conferences and the colleagues of the ESMT for the joint organisation of the first EEC in Berlin on 26th and 27th of September in Berlin,

“If Europe speaks with one voice, then Europeans could live in happiness, in prosperity and without borders.” Winston Churchill already knew what a united Europe could mean for Europeans. All the more important was this first joint conference, the European Economic Conference (EEC) on the future of Europe, United Europe initiated in partnership with the F.A.Z. and the ESMT (European School of Economics) on 26 and 27 September in the historic former Council of State building in Berlin.

Europe sees itself confronted with a number of existential challenges not seen in decades. Are topics such as digitalisation and climate protection still a priority at the moment? How does Europe achieve new, value-based sovereignty in the face of changing geopolitical tensions? What is the status quo of the Single Market and the European Economic Area?

“Europe will be forged in crisis, and will be the sum of solutions adopted for those crises.” This formula was used by Jean Monnet (1888-1979), the most significant founding father of the EU, to describe the logic of European integration. It is always quoted when the process is challenged. This is also the case today.
The EEC discussed possible solutions to crises together with Dr Anton Hofreiter, Chairman of the Committee on European Union Affairs, The Greens, Christian Lindner, Federal Minister of Finance, FDP; Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar, Director, Institute for Digital Society, ESMT; Adonis Georgiadis, Minister for Development and Investment in Greece, Klaus Regling, Managing Director at European Stability Mechanism, Siegfried Russwurm, President of the Federation of German Industries, Daniel Gros, Director of the Brussels think tank “Centre for European Policy Studies” (CEPS); Prof. Dr B. Jacobs, Professor of Public Economics, School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands; Maria Röttger, CEO & President, Michelin Europe North; Kimon Zorbas, Head of Public Affairs, DATEV eG and the participants.

Dr Anton Hofreiter, Chairman of the Committee on European Union Affairs, expressed concern that Europe is no longer able to deal with all the crises at once. After all, one crisis does not disappear because another is more pressing: “When we think of Ukraine, we have made mistakes as a society and as the previous government. The hope of finding a diplomatic way with Russia was false. We were wrong, the Eastern Europeans were already right in 2014. They were right in 2008 and they were right about Chechnya. We have been too weak against autocracies and dictators. We didn’t want to see the development of Russia and China in the last few years. If we want to make Europe more capable of acting, we as Germany must assume our leadership role. Leadership does not mean pushing through German interests but rather using Germany’s power in Europe’s interest and implementing European interests.

Siegfried Russwurm, the President of the Federation of German Industries, predicted what’s in store for Europe and whether there is enough energy in the EU this winter. Russwurm’s foresight is rather bleak: “There will be just enough energy in Germany. It will crunch but not on a large scale however in some corners it will be very difficult. Fatalism is not a trait of entrepreneurs. It is remarkable how many companies are considering relocating their businesses abroad. Let’s not kid ourselves.”

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner explained the German positions and his financial policy-making, on which not only Germany’s but Europe’s stability depends: “About ten years ago, I met Hans-Dietrich Genscher, for a series of talks in preparation for a joint book (“Brückenschläge”, 20213). It was about the importance of Europe and the European peace process. I said, Mr Genscher, after all, you can’t base the benefits of Europe on peace alone, peace is what we have! What a mistake: now we are at war again on European territory.”I am very concerned about macroeconomic developments. The expansionary fiscal policy over the past years has contributed to record-high inflation in Germany and Europe. Inflation is the greatest threat to our economic foundation in Europe. We must respond to the challenge as a matter of urgency – in the monetary union and in the European Union.”

Kerstin Andreae, Chairwoman of the Executive Board and Member of the Presiding Committee of the BDEW reassured the protection and support of gas importers: “In a chain where we have an importer, an energy supplier, an intermediary and a customer, we cannot let the importer down. That would lead to an uncontrollable domino effect. The Russian gas dependency is something we are all to blame for, collectively.”

Under the following link, you can have a look at all the contributions of the European Economic Conference.

We thank the publisher of the F.A.Z., Mr Gerald Braunberger, the F.A.Z. conference team and our colleagues at ESMT for jointly organising the first EEC in Berlin on 26 and 27 September 2022.

These questions surrounding the future of Europe will be the focal point of the 1st European Economic Conference on 26.-27. September 2022 in Berlin. The conference will create a platform for high-calibre representatives from European business, politics, and academics, and will give key voices and relevant debates the space they deserve. The following speakers will discuss with you the current status of the European Economic Area and potential scenarios for the future: Christian Lindner, Federal Minister of Finance, Germany, Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of Economy and Innovation, Lithuania, Nadia Calviño, Minister for Economy and Digitalization, Spain, Dr Anton Hofreiter, Chairman of the Committee for European Union Affairs, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, Lars Klingbeil, Co-Chair, SPD, Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar, Director, Digital Society Institute (DSI), ESMT Berlin, Siegfried Russwurm, President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Günther H. Oettinger, President of United Europe e.V.

In collaboration with United Europe and the ESMT (European School of Management and Technology), the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung invites you to get involved in the dialogue about the future of Europe and to join influential figures in European public life in intensive discussion to create momentum for a strong Europe.

The main day of the conference will be complemented by an exclusive pre-event evening, which will enable direct discussion between speakers and selected conference participants during an inspirational supporting programme.

The conference will be held in German.

Please find the preliminary programme under the following link.

• Jean-Pierre van Aubel, EEAS Expert in Defence Policy and Strategy
• Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar, Director of the Digital Society Institute, ESMT Berlin, Ambassador-at-Large for Cyber Diplomacy and Head of the Cyber Diplomacy Department at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Prof. Dr Markus Kaim, Senior Fellow, International Security, SWP
• Moderator: Rieke Schües, Managing Director, United Europe

Highlights of the discussion

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, emphasised in her greeting quoted by Günther H. Oettinger that Putin’s aggression against Ukraine confirmed the need for and the timeliness of the Strategic Compass. Since the end of February, several Member States have announced new and substantive investments in defence. Leaders have committed to devote an additional 200 billion euros to defence capabilities over the coming years. Europe needs not only to spend more on its defence but also to spend better and together. Not only through joint research and development for defence, but also through joint procurement. Fragmentation and duplication are the enemies within. Investments worth 200 billion euros can unlock new economies of scale for our defence industry, leading to lower costs, more focused investments and greater capacity to meet rising demand in defence. More than ever before, the defence of Europe requires the Member States of our Union to act together.

Bodo Lehmann, Head of the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the European Union in Brussels outlined, that a coherent and cohesive European security and defence policy remains a challenge. A couple of weeks ago, on the 21st of March this year, the European Council approved the so-called Strategic Compass. A new strategy that high representative Josep Borell described as a turning point for the European Union as a security provider. The European Union needs to come to decision-making procedures with qualified majorities and a common EU foreign policy. The Strategic Compass can be a useful starting point for a stronger and more self-confident European Union.

Günther H. Oettinger, President of United Europe, emphasised that history proceeds by slow evolution and sudden accelerations. This is also true for European defence. Our cooperation on defence matters has intensified – slowly but steadily – for several years now. The Strategic Compass is conceived as a step in that process. The European Union should do more for its eastern neighbours, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. The war these days is old-fashioned. It’s about the weapons of the last century. The next war against Europe will come from digital technologies and Europe is not sufficiently prepared for this. This makes today’s discussion on the Strategic Compass all the more important.

Jean-Pierre van Aubel, an EEAS Expert in Defence Policy and Strategy, explained that the Strategic Compass provides for the first time in European history a threat analysis. The war in Ukraine, energy security, food security, the consequences of climate change, regional conflicts, and cyber-attacks are threatening the European Union. The threat analysis is the basis of the Strategic Compass demanding a more comprehensive answer than Europeans are used to. The crisis will not go away, and the European Union needs to be prepared and able to act. In addition, the 81 action plans of the Strategic Compass need to be financed. How do we counter cyber attacks, how can we guarantee access to strategic domains at sea but also in space? The European Union needs to invest in the operational sector, but the Europeans shouldn’t just spend more money, they should spend their money better. The current crisis has made one thing clear: The European Union is still too dependent on others. These days, everyone is talking about European dependencies on Russia. But the dependence on China is many times higher. To strengthen strategic autonomy, the EU should act together with its partners, e.g. strengthen cooperation with NATO, the United Nations and the OSCE. To ensure that the measures adopted by the Strategic Compass are put into practice, the member states have agreed to report to the highest level of the European Council on their progress.

Dr Markus Kaim, a Senior Fellow in the Security Policy Research Group, SWP, would have liked to hear more about the future of US-EU relations in security and defence. “The emphasis is on US-EU relations because we tend to focus exclusively on NATO. And that would be my next question: How do we have to imagine an independent EU? I think that’s one of the homework assignments that European governments need to reflect on. The European Union is interested in becoming an effective security provider. What we desperately need here is political reform. Even if the EU will be equipped with capabilities, the question remains: Who will decide on the use of military means in the future?”

Heli Tiirmaa Klaar, Head of the Cyber Diplomacy Department at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlined, that the EU has many gaps in their defence capabilities. What needs to be done is to close those gaps in the real hard defence capabilities. And I’m glad to hear that there are 81 action plans by the EAS to do this. In the Ukraine war, we have to show strength and power. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s the conventional military or it is the cyber offensive. We have to show some teeth. And this is what Russia is afraid of. Russia is not afraid of our thoughts, prayers or any other humanitarian action. So we have to show strength and power. I think we have quite a good focus on the fight against disinformation. We have had many directives, regulations and other regulatory documents in the last ten years. However, our capabilities still need to improve significantly in the future. The Strategic Compass does not compete with NATO’s objectives.

The complete statement from Ursula von der Leyen is available under the following link  Strategic compass.

We thank our panellists for the engaging discussion. A warm thank-you also goes to our cooperation partner, the Würth Group, especially to Ms Schily and Ms Rau for their great cooperation, and to the staff of the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the European Union in Brussels.

United Europe co-organised the panel discussion „A New Generational Contract: Visions for Business, Politics and Society“.

Panellists:

• Mamphela Ramphele, Co-President of the Club of Rome
• Claudia Plakolm, State Secretary for Youth, Austria and chairwoman of the ÖVP
• Friedrich Merz, Member of the German Bundestag, leader of the CDU parliamentary group
• Moderator: Prof. Christoph Frei, Political scientist, publicist and since 2006 Professor for the history of political ideas at the University of St. Gallen

Highlights of the discussion:

Prof. Christoph Frei: Ms Ramphele. Where do you currently see the greatest challenge with the view to intergenerational equity and fairness?

Mamphela Ramphele: I’ would like to start by quoting a fellow Club of Rome Member, Roman Krznari. In his book „The Good Ancestor“ he identifies what he calls the pathology of short-termism as the greatest threat we are leaving to the next generation. This short-termism is displayed fully in how we overconsume with little regard for the next generations. But also how politicians just look at the next polls making choices they know that they are not good for the next generations. Same thing with business. With an eye on the share price, they make decisions which are not in the interest of the future.

Indiginalised wisdom that is still embraced by many in the world embodies the privileging of intergenerational co-responsibilities as the core element of philosophies. Women in particular are trusted with keeping the seed. This reference for life gets passed on from one generation to another. Humanity is being challenged with multiple planetary emergencies because we do have not this wisdom. This has to do with our willingness to change our mindsets. And that’s not impossible because we are all born with an innate capacity for learning how to be human in a new way.

Prof. Christoph Frei: Mr Merz, if I may repeat that question: Where do you currently see the major challenge with the view to intergenerational equity?

Friedrich Merz: My first point is that we are seeing the beginning of a new world order in terms of how this war in Ukraine is changing our entire framework of doing politics. This war is more than just a local event in the eastern part of Europe. It changes our complete political order. We are seeing a new global distribution of power politically, militarily and economically. Two powers on earth are already identified: The United States of America and China. The open question is: Where will be the European position, the African position, the Pacific Area position and where will be the Russian position? The weakest player in this present politically is the European and we are wondering where we should go in terms of European unity and strength to provide our work to this new political order.

I fully agree with what Mamphela Ramphele said at the very beginning: We are suffering the pathology of short-termism. How can we overcome this issue? If we are not willing to reduce consumption and to increase spending and investments then we will not be able to resolve the problems. This includes our pension systems and I give you one number: More than 1/4 of our federal budget in Germany is spent every year to subsidise the pensions system. That’s why I’m focussing on the spending and the budget. This includes investments in infrastructure and investments in education. And that is what we are lacking here in Germany. And my observation is that we are lacking in many other parts of the European Union.

Prof. Christoph Frei: Thank you, Friedrich Merz. I may assure you that we have the same situation in Switzerland. Claudia Plakolm: Where do you see the greatest challenges when it comes to this issue of intergenerational fairness?

Claudia Plakolm: I just want to underline what Friedrich Merz has said. It’s not just only a challenge in Germany or Switzerland, we also have this big challenge in Austria and many other European countries. Intergenerational fairness poses a lot of challenges for many governments all over the world. One of the most pressing issues in our welfare state is to create a sustainable and fair pension system. And let me give you one example from Austria: In 1970 the average Austrian was retired for 8 years and nowadays the average Austrian is retired for 22 years. That brings many challenges, not only financial challenges but also topics like age loneliness.

Another aspect is that current times confront a key narrative which is long underpinned in society: the key narrative that each successive generation would become better than the generation before. In past, we have an implicit contract and an intergenerational agreement which says, that future societal needs should be met. We have Climate change as a big issue, we have worth conditions on our public budgets, and we have the technological change. And it shows us that we have to put the young generation at the centre of this discussion and talk more openly about intergenerational fairness.

Prof. Christoph Frei: Dr Ramphele: I like to confront you with something Friedrich Merz said: “The war in Ukraine changes everything.” I wonder, how that resonates with you. To bring us back to this topic here, to the intergenerational equity, after all, on the African continent demographics are slightly different from what we see in Europe. Young people do makeup society in Nigeria. The median age at this point is 18 years. So the intergenerational issue must be a different one in African societies. Could you elaborate on that?

Mamphela Ramphele: First on the war in Ukraine: There is a saying in African culture: “When the elephants fight, the grass suffers“. This is a global challenge. Africa cannot stand outside. But I also would like to call the wisdom of one of our good ancestors, Desmond Tutu: “There can not be neutrality when an elephant is standing on the tail of a mouse.” And so we have to address the war in Ukraine as an entire human package.

I come back to the issue of demographics. Yes, Africa is blessed with one of the youngest populations, but Africa is also cursed with the oldest median age of its leadership. This mismatch doesn’t work! And this is the aftershock of the colonial conquest. And so for us, on the continent, the challenge is, how to relearn the wisdom of intergenerational shifts in leadership. The eldest are respected not because there are running but because of stepping beside so that the young people can bring the wisdom and the creativity needed in each new challenging era.

Yesterday we have listened to the former minister of trade and industry from Botswana, Bogolo Kenewendo, one of the youngest politicians in her country. She transformed Botswana’s registrational businesses from 49 days to less than 7 days. Why? She’s not afraid of change, not afraid to explore the unexplored. But we have also heard yesterday from Switzerlands President Ignazio Cassis who challenged the young people: „Don’t wait for my generation to do things to prepare for your future. No. You are the changemakers, you are the ones who have to seize the moment. Each generation must find its mission.” My plead to the young people in this room and elsewhere on the globe and particular on the African continent is to repeat what President Cassis said: „We need a revolution!“ A revolution of mindset so that we can see the benefits of the wisdom of interconnectivity and interdependence.

Prof. Christoph Frei: Where do we start changing mindsets? How do we go about changing mindsets?

Mamphela Ramphele: The beauty of mindset changing is that we don’t need a school. It’s a question of having conversations in safe spaces where ever you are. It starts with challenging yourself. We at the Club of Rome are proposing that the only way we can emerge from these multiple planetary emergencies is to be willing to learn again, to learn how to be human again. Those conversations should be taking place in every community, in every business, in every government, cabinet, and in every parliament so that we always can ask ourselves: Is this really a good decision to make if we are thinking about the new generations?

Prof. Christoph Frei: Let’s go back to you, Friedrich Merz and to more subjects, you have been emphasising for a long time and that is budgetary responsibility, and financial sustainability For you the issue of intergenerational equity has a lot to do with how much we earn and how much we spent. Do you stick to what you say?

Friedrich Merz: Yes, I stick to that what I’ve said. But this is not austerity! This is in my view fiscal discipline to have enough room for spending on investments and education. So my plea or my idea is, that we should come back to what has helped us in the past and what will help us in the future. You might have heard that our chancellor created the word „Zeitenwende“. But what does that mean if we take that seriously? „Zeitenwende“ means, that we have to change almost everything within our priorities. And that is my point. To set up new priorities means that we have things or ideas or projects which are extremely important and that is of course defence but also education, infrastructure and investments, but behind that, we find consumption and subsidising our pension system. So that is what I mean. It’s not austerity, it’s just fiscal discipline to create enough room for spending on new priorities. This is not the politics of austerity! This is the right opposite of that, it’s the politics of being able to invest. And that is what we have to do in most European member states including Germany, Austria and others.

Prof. Christoph Frei: Claudia, tell us, what could be done to make that intergenerational dialogue really engaging?

Claudia Plakolm: The problem is the demographic element. We have a big challenge to give the young generation a voice also in decision making. In Austria, we are some kind of frontrunner, since we implemented 15 years ago the voting age at 16. We are one out of two European countries, the other one is Malta. It has a big impact on politics because politicians focus more on the young generation, they put youth politics in their programmes. What consequences has a law on children and young people concerning financial issues or environmental issues? We should not divide the generations, we should collaborate.

Prof. Christoph Frei: Friedrich Merz: With you as a political leader would we see an ageing vote in Germany coming down to 16?

Friedrich Merz: This is part of the political programme of the German government and will be negotiated in a broader framework of our election system which has to be changed fundamentally. The court of the constitution urges us to reform our election system more or less completely. And that’s the reason why I can’t give you an answer yet. I very much hope that we will be able to do that this year.

We thank the organisers of the St. Gallen Forum and our panellists for the deeply interesting and lively discussion.
Please find the full recording of the panel discussion here (01:18:10).

In March, the European Council approved the “Strategic Compass”, a 50-page strategy paper for European defence and security policy. The Strategic Compass aims to provide answers to security threats and geopolitical dynamics and to path the way for a common EU security and defence policy in the coming years.

The EU plans to build up a joint intervention force of 5,000 soldiers by 2025, to better coordinate armament projects and to harmonise the military budgets of the member states. Will the EU be able to pool its resources better? Will the EU be able to react decisively to the security crises?

The expert round takes place in Brussels at the Representation of the State Baden-Württemberg to the European Union, Rue Belliard 60/62, 1040 Brussels. From 18:00 hrs onwards, you are welcome to stay for a reception with informal discussions and a flying buffet.

If you’re interested in participating please register here.

We look forward to your participation and a lively discussion!

Among the speakers are the CISOs of Apple, Audi, and Google, as well as the heads of various international cybersecurity authorities such as BSI, NCSC, Interpol, and CISA. As guests of honor we expect Lisa Monaco, US Deputy Secretary of Justice, her counterpart Georg Eisenreich as well as Margaritis Schinas, EU Vice President and responsible Commissioner for the Security Union. We are also pleased to welcome Four-Star General David Petraeus.

The event will be live-streamed on the website of the Munich Security Network. Further information on the programme and the speakers can also be found on the website

In addition to the live programme, you will also find interviews with outstanding experts from the European Space Agency (ESA), Airbus and Intel, among others, on the website.

We thank you for your interest and look forward to seeing you on Thursday at the Digital Edition of the MCSC.