With our General Assembly we start into an autumn that will be challenging for all of us and for Europe’s ability to act. The cost of energy and the escalation game of a Russian aggressor cornered by the Ukrainian struggle for freedom lie as shadows of uncertainty and concern over the coming months. The camps of the political fringes are taking already advantage of this and are already sowing disinformation and resentment against the West, Nato and the EU. 

In this situation, I am pleased that we, as a network of around 250 associations and federations in Germany, have agreed on EM Germany’s political demands that names Russia’s war as an attack on liberal democratic Europe and thus reaffirms the fullest support for Ukraine. 

We need a European integration landscape of democracies in freedom that strengthens the European institutions internally and is open externally to EU accession of countries that share our values. It is also up to the German government, after the German debacle of the political aberration of the Nord Stream pipelines, to promote this integration landscape in a strictly pan-European and value-oriented way. However, it is also in our hands as democratic  associations and federations to help shape a free Europe. Not only in this autumn of challenges must the rule of law and democratic diversity on our continent be promoted by all of us. 

Because, after all, this war is about our value system, so we should defend it with joint forces. Since 1949, EM Germany has known its responsibility to strengthen European democracy in freedom. 

Yours 

Linn Selle

President of the European Movement Germany

#EBDGrafik of the week

EM Germany News

EM Germany General Assembly sets political agenda for 2023 | The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and its consequences call political certainties into question and demand more commitment to Europe and democracy. EM Germany is an example of democracy in action, as demonstrated by the votes on the Political Demands and the election of the Executive Board at the General Assembly on 10 October. The delegates of the more than 250 member organisations set – with the adoption of the EM Germany’s political demands, the working priorities of the association and the seven political priorities for the work of the newly elected board – the political and personnel path for the upcoming year. The speeches and contributions to the discussion at the meeting picked up on the zeitgeist of the so-called „Zeitenwende“ and emphasised European values such as democracy and the rule of law, solidarity in Europe and the ability to act in the face of the current challenges. | More (in German)

EM Germany elects new Executive Board | After the digital conference in 2020, this year’s board election could again be conducted in presence. For the next two years, 29 representatives of the member organisations have a mandate for the managing body of EM Germany. With large majority the board was elected, including President Dr Linn Selle, the Vice-Presidents MEP Michael Gahler (foreign policy speaker of the EPP parliamentary group in the European Parliament), MP Christian Petry (European policy speaker of the SPD parliamentary group) and Manuel Sarrazin (Special Envoy of the German Government for the Western Balkans) and the Treasurer RA Peter Hahn were again voted into their offices. Due to EM Germany’s statutes, this will be Dr Linn Selle’s last two-year term as President of EM Germany. | More (in German)

„Don’t forget the Single Market!“ – EM Germany De-Briefing Competitiveness | The Single Market as the core of the EU must be specially protected in the event of crises. To this end, the EU Commission is proposing a single market emergency instrument. Dr Kirsten Scholl, Head of Department for European Policy at the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, informed the participants of EM Germany’s De-Briefing Competitiveness about the instrument and a proposal for an Ecodesign Regulation. The meeting was moderated by Bernd Hüttemann, EM Germany’s Secretary General. | More (in German)

Review of the Italian elections: EM Germany Public Diplomacy Exclusive – Italy | On 23 September, Italy elected a new parliament, moving significantly to the right with the election results. How to proceed and what this means for European integration and German-Italian relations was discussed at the second EM Germany Public Diplomacy Exclusive – Italy moderated by Secretary General Bernd Hüttemann. The German Ambassador in Rome, H.E. Viktor Elbling, the President of the European Movement Italy, Pier-Virgilio Dastoli, and heads of the Italian offices of EM Germany’s member organisations gave their assessments. | 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.

03.11.2022 | EP rapporteur in dialogue: Birgit Sippel

09.11.2022 | EM Germany De-Briefing ECOFIN & Eurogroup

10.11.2022 | College of Europe online consultation for applicants and interested students

11.11.2022 | EM Germany Executive Board meeting

23.11.2022 | EM Germany De-Briefing AGRIFISH

More information

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

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