Since 1949, the EM Germany supported by representative  associations and organisations, has stood up for a strong European policy in Germany. The foundation for our work is EM Germany’s Political Demands, which we develop annually with our roughly 250 member organisations in close and sometimes controversial dialogue.

Since last week, a new draft of Political Demands has been available, prepared by the General Secretariat on the basis of feedback from the first round of consultations in the spring. As our #EBDGrafik shows, our members are invited to amend the draft in dialogue through our Exclusive events and in writing by 29 August. The draft resolution will then be prepared for the 2022 General Assembly in October.

As diverse as our membership is today, as broad are our Political Demands: they deal with constitutional issues of the EU and the Council of Europe as well as technical policies from the Green Deal to the EU Due Diligence Act.

In this breadth of our Political Demands, the General Assembly has also set clear priorities since 2020. With the so-called EM Germany priorities, members give us a clear mandate to speak out on issues such as the rule of law, EU enlargement as well as migration and asylum policy.

With EM Germany’s Political Demands as a compass and EM Germany’s priorities as the focus of our political work, we have thus rolled out the „legitimacy carpet“ for the coming year. We, therefore, look forward to lively participation in the second round of consultations.

Yours

Bernd Hüttemann

General Secretary of the European Movement Germany

#EBDGrafik of the week

EM Germany News

Exchange between the Rotary Club Berlin-Metropole and EM Germany’s Secretary General Bernd Hüttemann | At the Rotary Club Berlin-Metropole, EM Germany’s Secretary General Bernd Hüttemann spoke about the plans of the Czech EU Council Presidency. The participants also discussed the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the rule of law in the EU. | More (in German) 

Cooperation in times of crisis – EM Germany Briefing on the Czech Council Presidency 2022 | The Czech Council Presidency has to cope with enormous challenges – all participants of the EM Germany Briefing on the Czech Council Presidency on July 13, 2022, at the European House in Berlin agreed on that. In his opening statement, Tomáš Kafka, Czech Ambassador in Berlin, emphasized above all the EU’s ability to cooperate and compromise as key strengths in dealing with crises. Together with Sibylle Katharina Sorg, Head of the European Department at the Federal Foreign Office, Dr. Kirsten Scholl, Head of the European Department at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, and Patrick Lobis, Deputy Head of the EU Commission in Germany, Kafka discussed the challenges and priorities of the Council Presidency. EM Germany’s Secretary General Bernd Hüttemann moderated the EBD Briefing, which was held in cooperation with the Czech Embassy and the Representation of the European Commission. | More (in German)

Resilience over Efficiency – Briefing on EU Trade Policy | The challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war against Ukraine also call for a paradigm shift in EU trade policy. In the EBD Briefing: Commission Direct on July 8, 2022, Dr. Sabine Weyand, Director General for Trade in the European Commission, provided information on changes, negotiations, and innovation in EU trade policy. There was also a discussion with participants on the enforcement of sanctions in trade relations, Brexit, the negotiations on the EU trade agreement with India, and the German government’s paper for the ratification of CETA. | More (in German) 

Daring more Council of Europe | More visibility for the Council of Europe, also in the German civil society and association landscape, this is what EM Germany’s Secretary General Bernd Hüttemann talked about on July 7, 2022, with Frank Schwabe MdB, Head of the German Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. | More (in German) 

Germany’s role in the EU enlargement process | The enlargement of the European Union and the EM Germany policy proposal to anchor a democracy bonus in the EU budget were the central topics discussed by EM Germany’s Secretary General Bernd Hüttemann and European Policy advisor Markus Vennewald with Ambassador Sabine Stöhr, Commissioner for the Multiannual Financial Framework and EU Policies at the Federal Foreign Office. | More (in German) 

New EM Germany Council Presidency Calendar at the Start of EU2022CZ | Under the motto „Europe as a Task,“ the Czech Republic marked the beginning of the second phase of the France-Czech Republic-Sweden trio presidency on July 1. But how will the European policy agenda be shaped in the coming six months? The EM Germany’s new Council Presidency calendar provides a comprehensive overview. If you are interested in receiving a printed copy, please contact us. | Download 

Upcoming Events

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

24.08.2022 | EBD Exclusive – Consultation on EBD Policy 2022/23 „Making Europe Fit for the Future“

26.08.2022 | EBD Exclusive – Consultation on EBD Policy 2022/23 „Shaping Global Europe“

29.08.2022 | EBD Exclusive – Consultation on EBD Policy 2022/23 „Deepening European Democracy“

30.08.2022 | Brussels Alumni in Berlin

More information

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

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