European unification is based on the deeds of numerous personalities. Courageous, committed and strong women are always involved, but they are often forgotten over time. With the Women of Europe Award (in German: Preis Frauen Europas), European Movement Germany has therefore been honouring the voluntary commitment of women who have worked in a special way for cohesion and consolidation of a united Europe since 1991. In their network, the awarded women represent a broad picture of commitment, serving as role models. 

This year we award the impressive author, artist and activist Yevgenia Belorusets. Her award ceremony will take place on the evening of 08 May 2023 at the premises of the European Commission Representation in Berlin. With her work, the laureate succeeds in building a bridge between different parts of Europe and has been giving women, girls and the LGBTQ+ community from Ukraine in particular a voice in Europe for years. She is doing an extraordinary amount of work for peace in Europe at a time of hopelessness and discouragement.

Europe’s wars. Europe’s women. This is also the motto of the next event of the Women of Europe Award Network on 16.03.2023 at 6 pm in the premises of the Europäische Akademie Berlin (European Academy Berlin). We aim to set an example and discuss the role of women as fighters for justice and against the forgetting of history. We cordially invite you to join the debate. 

And now: enjoy getting to know our laureates, their passionate commitment to Europe and the activities of our network!

Yours

Katharina Wolf

President of the Network Women of Europe Award

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#EBDGrafik of the week

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EM Germany News

EBD Board positions itself for the important European political year 2024 | It was the first board meeting of the year, to which President Dr. Linn Selle and Secretary General Bernd Hüttemann welcomed the board last Friday. In addition to an exciting exchange on the positioning of EM Germany with a view to the European elections 2024 and the challenges in times of the Russian war of aggression, EM Germany was pleased to welcome a special guest: H. E. Alar Streimann, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia in Berlin, emphasized in his impulse at the beginning of the meeting the importance of European cooperation and gave insights into the current political situation in Estonia. | More (in German)

Bernd Hüttemann in conversation with Mathieu Mori | In the interests of a European public diplomacy, fruitful European policy dialogue can only be achieved through the involvement of social forces and cross-border partner organizations. Secretary General Bernd Hüttemann and Mathieu Mori, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, with the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe in May 2023 in mind, talked about the strengthening of the Council of Europe and the involvement of regions, municipalities and societal forces. | More (in German)

European policy exchange with delegation of the Liberal Democrats and the European Movement UK | What does European policy coordination look like in the United Kingdom since Brexit 2020? Board members Frank Burgdörfer and Oskar Saemann talked about this with a delegation of the British Liberal Democrats and the European Movement UK on March 1. Expectations for the European elections in 2024 were also discussed. | More (in German)

One year of war in the midst of Europe | February 24 marked the anniversary of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. In a video message, President Dr. Linn Selle called for early accession negotiations with Ukraine and stressed the need for a European reflex. Furthermore, EM Germany together with some of its member organizations supported the event „Café Kyiv – We choose freedom!“. On February 27, workshops and discussions took place under the main organization of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. President Dr. Linn Selle met on site with Laura Tatarélyté, Executive Director of the European Movement Lithuania. In addition, Dr. Selle signed the petition „Abandon Ukraine Now? Not in our name!“. | More (in German)

Upcoming Events

In order to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the EM Germany hosts its events as video conferences whenever possible.

14.03.2023 | EBD Briefing: Commission direct on Social Dialogue with Jörg Tagger, Head of Department „Social Dialogue“ at the European Commission, Tanja Bergrath, Head of the EU-Liason Office of the German Trade Union Confederation (DBG), and Arne Franke, Head of the Europe Department at the Confederation of German Employers‘ Associations (BDA). 

16.03.2023 | Europe’s Wars. Europe’s Women. European Wars from the Perspective of Women. Panel discussion of the Network Preis Frauen Europas in cooperation with the European Academy Berlin and the Europa-Union Berlin. The panelists are Jasmina Prpič, Lawyers without Borders e.V., Prize Winner Women of Europe 2012, Mariia Lutsak, Graphic Artist, Painter (tbc), Hana Camdzic, Student, Organizer of the Film Festival „Wake up Europe“ (tbc), Regina Hellwig-Schmid, donumenta e.V.. Lisi Maier, Director of the Federal Foundation for Gender Equality, winner of the Women of Europe Award 2021, will moderate the event.

17.03.2023 | EBD & EBÖ De-Briefing Governing Council of the ECB with Katrin Assenmacher, General Directorate Monetary Policy at the European Central Bank (ECB).

20.03.2023 |  EBD De-Briefing Environment Council with Dr. Wolfgang Seidel, Head of the European Department at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.

27.03.2023 | EBD De-Briefing on the European Council with Sibylle Katharina Sorg, Head of the European Department at the Federal Foreign Office and Hendrik Kaelble, Head of Unit EB1 for General European Policy, European Economic and Fiscal Policy at BMWK. The first commentary will be given by Nora Hesse, Head of the Political Team at the Representation of the European Commission in Germany.

More information

Our Presidency Calendar on the Swedish EU Council Presidency contains all dates of the semester.

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